El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-11-25

they imagine themselves to be as rrea
as any wild feathered creatures De-
prived Of artificial shelter, and obliged
to live in a state as near to nature as
possible (While protected against ali
natural enemies), they thrive in an eN-
traOrdinary way No rOOSrS are pro-
vided for them; they build their nests
in the open 1t is altogether wonder
full, and, incidentally, it affords a sug-
gestion OF the possibilities which par
tial domesticatiOn might offer to the
one understands that the reason why
a frequent infusion OF wild blood into
the domestic strain IS desirable, and
even necessary, is that the latter peG~
ers OUT after a while In-breeding
causes deterioration, and most farmers
destroy the quality Of their own stock
by selling each year the biggest and
finest Of their turkeys, retaining the
inferior specimens for purposes Of
propagation The result is inevitable.
On the other hand. wild turkeys are
the select Of their race, having sur
V1Ved through generations by reason OF
their superiority to others Of their
kind Such a bird, as a father. Is in
valuable to the future Of a flock. His
offspring (when he mates with tame
turkey hens) are bigger and harder
than ordinary turkeys Furthermore,
their meat has a better flavor.
The Biological survey however. calls
attention to the fact that the wild tur-
key, unless means for its preservation
are promptly taken, must soon disap-
pear; and what will breeders do thenE
Fancters might possibly preserve the
desired qualities by prOpa CATION on
scientific lines, but II Is doubtful. Or
viOusly, the immediate point OF Inn
portance is TO prevent the threatened
extinction Of this precious bird, Il only
for the reason that 1t is absolutely
needed to preserve one Of the most i'm
portant OF our farm industries
Wild Turkeys Seek Homes.
The readiness OF the wild turkey "a
different species from the domestic
turkey which is OF Mexican origin to
accept domesticatiOn Is evidenced BY
the fact that Notwithstanding its ac-
CURED shyness, it is forever trying to
lnUru0e upon our farmyards Every
now and then gObbler OF the woods
annexes flock Of tame hens, after
triumphant battle with the less vigor-
Gus leader thereof, and marches of
Win them And IL often happens that
farmers, discovering nests fun OF wild
turkeys eggs in the forest, hatch them
ana rear the offspring, which as q
rule, are tame enOugh-thouzh later
on the birds exhibit an inclination to
roost out and to wander off on slight
One hears a great deal about the tur-
keys OF New England. and it is unde-
nIa0Ie that those OF Connecticut and
Rhode Island are superior in flavor
else they would not fetch in the mar
ket, as they do an exceptional price
Ct all the six New England states do
l-oL together produce half as manV tur-
keys as are supplied by Pennsylvanfa
alone And Pennsylvania is by no means
first among the turkey growing states
at that Indeed. she holds only the
fifth rank in this respect. Texas com
ing first, with an output OF $50 600
turkeys. per annuu. Missouri is next
with 100000, and then Illinois and
Iowa
Must Preserve Wild Species
The moral Of 1t all seems TO be that
II our output Of dOmesticated turkeys
IS to be maintained and kept up TO the
mark in respect to quality. we must
preserve the wild turkeys for the sake
OF the fresh blood and vigOr they can
be relied upon to contribute. For lack
Of such help diseases-particular an
infectious and very deadly liver com
plant called "blackhead'- already
invaded the farmyard flOczs. causing
great loss And the only practfcabIe
way to accomplish this end according to
the opinion Of the biological survey Is
to reduce the wild turkeys to a condi-
ton Of semi-dOmesticatiOn allowing
them to run as nearly free as possible.
while protecting them against the pot
hunters Rene Bache
Mutt and JEFF arr win as. Another
appearance today on Classified page.
CAV IN tn.