South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-03-03


ed tn a growers resources. Pure
bred focks are preferred 20 mon
greIs for markets or breeders.
Besides the obvious difference Of
color. the several breeds OF turkeys
differ chiefly in three essentials: Size.
vigor. good dressing qualities. No
breed unites all superlatively nor
lacks at least one OF the three. Some
offer greater resistance TO weather
har0ships at the loss OF size. Others
have weight, but dress with less sat
isfaction. Varieties Of geese are
much more dissimilar, the difference
extending even 10 the matter OF egg
production.
When the raiser undertakes to
choose a variety. ne finds two other
decisions inextricably related. For
what purpose is the crop destined.
for general marketing, or special
iizing in breed. with show birds on
the side? The great majority be
longs to class of market suppliers.
Second. what gauges the number in
the breeding flock?
Generous acreage and good pas
turage predispose 10 growing turkeys
I'm numbers for market and good
fOragers are desirable A few people
have succeeded in yarding turkeys
but il is not advisable for the gen.
eral raiser. Besides the risk of NOR
tally, the entire feeding devOlves
upon the breeders pocketbOok. In
case of small fields fancy or pure
bred birds for breeding purposes are
"a good risk-a sort Of intensive rails
ing. Specialization under such cir
rumstances may include several
standard varieties. II is folly 10
crowd numbers OF turkeys in a small
pasture. unless one permits them to
he free lances.
All Of the varieties and even mon
grel focks raised under good condi-
lions. qualify FOR the market. for
ordinary requirements are not so
rigid a clean, shapely, fat turkey,
carefully dressed, easily classes as
fancy. But certain varieties do this
more readily than others. The raiser
must determine what qualities he
prefers predominant.
a., the Quest for Qualities.
we have the liberty Of Sc ection
from seven varieties: White holland,
slate. buff. narragansett, bronze.
black and bourbon red. Buff and
bourbon red are so slE,jls: except as
10 size as to be COMPOUNDED with
each other. The bronze and narra-
gansett varieties. both Of New Eng
land. are much alike.
What, then does the turkey raiser
seek2 Is il size or early maturity =?
DOmesticity or hardness? NigOr or
embarrassing qualities? Some COM
bine several OF these qualities and
achieve popularity. others are ham
pered by some undesirable charac-
teristic. But each breed has its en-
thusiastic sponsors. liz sometimes
happens that q raiser. discouraged
or dissatisfied, decides TO change the
variety 10 which ne has hitherto
pinned his faith. Such a one after
years OF bronze, chose the bun. Said
he a year later 10 a friend contem-
plating a similar change: Don't do
st. / grew tired racing after my
bronze turkeys day after day and
got the bun last year. Well, the
hens and young ones simply camped
on the door step waiting for me 20
feed them. OF course. at Christmas.
they were midgets' Buff was 20 him
a distinct qualification, since he de-
sired size more.
II is their size combined with vigor
that makes the bronze, sometimes
called the giant bronze. a favorite in
every locality. and accounted the
best all-round breed for general
raising. The young grow vigorously
and display an admirable inclination
10 assist their boarding mistress 10y
foragins. The adults frame is long
deep-breasted powerful we'll con-
structed for carrying the weight OF
flesh 10 which the gobbler owes his
ability TO tip the beam from so 10 "a
pounds His dark plumage. overlaid
with iridescence. proud carriages nj
noble size. estab lish il as the grand
mogul OF turkeydom. Its size retards
its maturity. hence seven months. a
marketable age with the average
turk. hnds the bronze inclined 10 De
gawky. except where il has beer
constantly under ideal conditions OF
range. weather and health.
Virtues OF the Hardy Black.
The black turkey in contour re.
sem bles the bronze. but is smaller
clean cut. with less depth OF breast
II is distinctly stand-ofiish in DISPOSE
ton. inclined 20 wander and rather
timorous. II Is considered very
hardy and Is raised exclusively in
some rigorous climates and on
ranches. To make "a good showine
when plucked. { must be I'm the pink
OF condition Pin feathers on any OF
the dark piumaged varieties make
slightly dressing difficult, since IN,
black pigment therein smears smut.
UIy. It's polished crow-hlack coat
matched with black shanks. make il
markedly handsome bird-a rea
black beauty Baby blacks are wiry
rather small. vigorous. Prejudice
gainst the color has discarded thi.
variety in many sections noted fol