The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-02-25


determine the kind best suited to a
growers resources. Pure bred flocks
are preferred to mongrels for markets
or breeders.
Besides the obvious difference OF
color the several breeds OF turkeys diff
fer 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 hard
ships at the loss of size. Others have
weight. but dress with less satisfac-
ton. Varieties Of geese are much more
dissimilar, the difference extending
even to the matter of egg production.
When the raiser undertakes to choose
a variety, he finds two other decisions
inextricably related. For what purpose
is the crop destined, for general mar
keting, or. specializing in breed, with
show birds on the side? The great ma
jority belongs to class of market sup
pliers. Second, what gauges the num-
Der in the breeding flock?
Generous acreage and good pastur-
age predispose to growing turkeys in
numbers for market and good foragers
are desirable. \ few people have sue
ceeded in yarding turkeys, but ii is not
advisable for the general raiser Be
sides the risk of mortality, the entire
p>l l, e
pockctbook. In case of small fields
fancy or pure bred birds for breeding
purposes are Il good riSk-a sort of
intensive raising. Specialization I'M
der such circumstances may include
several standard varieties. It is folly
to crowd numbers of turkeys in Il
small pasture unless one permits them
to be free lances.
All of the varieties and even mon
grel flocks raised under good condi-
tons qualify for the market. for ordi
nary requirements are not so rigid 4
clean. shapely, fat turkey, CAREFUL,
dressed easily classes as fancy. Blu
certain varieties do this more readil,
than others. The raiser must deter
mine what qualities he prefers pre-.
dominant
In the Quest for Qualities
We have the liberty Of selection from
seven varieties: White Holland, Slate
Buff, Nara gansett, Bronze, Black an,
Bourbon Red, Buff and Pourbon Re,
are so similar except as to size as to h,
COMPOUNDED with each other. TIL,
Bronze and NarragauSctt varieties
both of New England origin, arc mucl
alike.
What. then, does the turkey raise
seek? Is it size or early maturity
Domestic or hardness" Nigor o
good dressing qualities" Some combin,
several of these qualities and achicV,
popularity. Others are hampcred by
some undesirable characteristic. Blu
each breed has its enthusiastic spon.
sors. 1t sometimes happens that j.;
raiser. discouraged or dissatisfied. de,
Cidcs to change the variety to which h,
has hitherto pinned his fHiln. Such !
one after years of Bronze, chose tn,
contemplating 4 similar change
Don't do it. / grow tired racin
after my Bronze turkeys day aftc
day and got the Buff last year. Wei
the hens and young ones simpl
camped on the door step waiting for m
to feed them. Of course, at Christina,
they were midsets" Buff was to hiI
disqualification, since he desired siz
more
1t is their size combined with viz,
that makes tn Bronze, surrrtimc
called the Giant Bronze. a tivoritc
every locality, and accounted the bcs
all-round breed for general raising Il
young grow vigorously and display a
admirable inclination 10 assist tho
boarding mistress by foraEuu I'll
adults frame is long, dcrp-brcas,o,
powerful well constructed for carry
ing the weight Of flesh to which tn
sohblcr owes his ability to tin IN
beam from 80 to A. pounds His dul
plumaEc, uverlaid with iridcscrnc
proud carriage and noble size. cstHblis
il as the grand mogul of turkcy,iou
its size rctards its maturity. hcnC
seven months. a marketable age wi,
the average turk, finds the Bronze ir
clincd to be gawky, EXCEPT where it h;
been constantly under ideal condition
of range, weather ana health.
The Black Turkey in contour /,
scmblcs the Bronze, but is smallc
clean cut, with less depth Of breast.
is distinctly stand otfish in dispositio
inclined to wander and rather tnorou
II is considered very hardy and
raised exclusively in some rigorous cl
mates and on ranches. To make
good showing when pluckcd. it must
in the pink of condition. Pin fcuthC
on any of the dark -plumagcd varioti
make slightly dressing difficult sin
the black pigment therein smea
smuttily. Its polished crow black co;
matched with black shanks, make it
markedly handsome bird--a real ISla
Beauty. BABY Blacks are wiry, rath