The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-11-01
TURKEY LAST FOWL
TO Be DOMESTICATED
But Raising for Holiday Trade
Now Is PrOfitable-MOst
Popular for Feasts.
SEVEN VARIETIES KNOWN
by MICHAEL X. BOYER,

Ever since 1855 the turkey has been
recognized as an ideal table fowl for the
Christmas feast. Years afterward. when
a Thanksgiving Day was proclaimed. II
became the centre Of attraction for those
dinners
wild nature, and Is the last OF our poul-
try to become domestlcated Its natural
food Is insects. grass and seeds as found
on range through n rough woodland.
The Rhode Island and Connecticut tur-
keys feast on chestnuts, which impart a
very attractive flavor.
There are seven varieties OF turkeys, Of
which the bronze is the largest and most
popular, the adult cock bird Weighing
thirty-six pounds The other varieties fol-
low In this order: NarragauSett. Bourbon
Red, White Holland, Black Bum and
Slate
In mating only medium sized gobblers
should be used. to strong vigorous hens
40 stock should be under three years OF
age.
Turkeys cannot stand confinement.
They must have range and be taught 10
come home at night to roos..
For marketing they are blcd from the
mouth and are then dry picked and
packed in barrels, with or without ice
according TO the condition OF the weather.
Corn Is the great fatttuiuc food. Two
thirds corn and ouc-,hird oats Is also
recommended, and an occasional feed ~
Colnmcal mush is very good. II fed twic,
day, the stock will not roam. To pen
mp stock to I've flttcncd will result i'm los
Of appetite, and at killing time the bird
viii not weigh as much as 1t did when
first put in the coop.
II was about 1888 that the turkey was
chosen "a the proper meat In England for
Christmas dinners. II was, however.
nearly 100 years afterward that this royal
bird became the attraction OF Thanksgiv-
ing and wedding fcasts
II was at that time that William Brad
ford, then Colonial Governor OF Massa-
chusetts. set aside a day annually for the
settlers to pray and rejoice for the good
things melted out to them during the past
year The turkey came in for the honor
OF the day, and IL has continued so ever
since.
The turkey IL the last OF our domestic
poultry TO be changed from wild ma.
ture to that of domes;.cation. II still re-
tains that Wild disposition to a Consdera-
bic extent, being a great fOrager and
thriving best on worms insects, berries
seeds and grass. On "a trip made some
years ago with the late Horace Vose |
drove for miles over hills, through wood
lands and rough locations In Rhode Isl
and and Connecticut, inspecting flock after
flock OF turkeys that We're roaming about
helping themselves to natures food. Along
this range are numerous chestnut trees
and Mr.. Nose told me that as the turkeys
ate considerable OF these chestnuts IA
flavor was impaired to the flesh that made
the Rhode Island and Connecticut tur-
keys different" from any others and he
believed II was this fact that helped so
much TO make their product famous.
There are seven varieties OF turkeys
viz: The Bronze, NarraGansett White
Black, Buff. Slate and Bourbon.
M. gaVsI IL.
varieties are AZ follows:
Bronze--Adult cock, SO pounds year
ling cock. 80 pounds cockerel, rs pounds t.
hen, 20 pounds pu!let. l6 pounds
Narragansett--Adult cock, 30 pounds /.
yearilng cock, 20 pounds; cockerel. 20
pounds; hen, IS pounds pullet, ~
pounds.
White Holland Cock. rs pounds; cock
erel 20 pounds hem Is pounds pullet,
IA pounds.
Black-Cock, 81 pounds: cockerel IS
pounds; hen, IS pounds; pulet. l2
pounds,
Bun--Cock, 81 pounds; coclerel. IS
pounds; hen, IS pounds; pullet, 12
pounds.
Slnto--Cock, 81 pounds; cockcrel, Is
pounds; hen, Is pounds; pullet, ~
pounds.
Bourbon Red-Cock. 40 pounds. cock
erel, 22 pounds hen. IS pounds pullet,
IA pounds.
1t will thus he seen that the bronze
leads in weight with the others follow
ing In the regular order: Narragansett,
Bourbon Red, White. Holland Black and
Slate.
Throughout New England the Nara
gansett Is the most popular II is n
Yankee product and possesses a strong
and vigorous nature, an upright carriage
proud gait and a full breast. In many
other sections of the country the Bronze
IL the leader English poulterers prefer
the Bronze to all others.
In mating any variety II In best 10
select medium sized gobblers and the
hens should he rugged ana well devel.
pped. Much OF the decline In the indus
try can no traced to the use OF stock
birds that have become sicfly and de-
generate from injudicious breeding,
Turkeys do not thrive In confinement
Unless allowed their liberty they will
lose flesh. by being given night feed