Evening star., 1919-05-04

In the state of Maryland and In ao-
joining states turkeys may be found IN
varying numbers on most farms, Out
unless the farms are large and furnish
almost unlimited range the turkeys
are too often a nuisance to the neigh
bors. They do not. as rule, take
readily to confinement, but 1t 10 possible
to keep them successfully upon quite
limited areas; for instance. on the land
of one Of our experiment stations 200
young fowls were raised upon not more
than five or six acres; but on account
OF dangers from disease, contamination
OF the soil and the lack OF natural foods.
it is far safer to furnish the turkeys
with as wide and varied a range as
possible
If this range includes a wood lot so
much tho better; in fact, the wooded
turkey in its wild state, ard II the
young are allowed to roam through the
woods. and II these woods are reason
ably free from undergrowth, chances
for success are much greater than II
the poults were not thus protected.
and even to the extreme hot suns OF
summer Is harmful. and many growing
turkeys are chilled and dts from tho
effects Of the early morning stroll
through the dripping wet grass and
weeds along the fence rows.
The large farm, where diversified
farming is practiesd, supplies the ideal
conditions for turkey raising, especially
if the land borders upon q body Of water
with marsh and meadow land where IN
in seasonable weather, comparatively
little additional food need be Furnished
ether than that found on the range.
AS the success of turkey raising de-
pends in great part upon the vigor OF
the breeding stock we will consider this
matter first. AS previously stated, l
feel certain that We may place part Of
the blame for the decline Of the turkey
industry in this country, especially in
the older states of the east. to a too
prolonged practice OF careless or hap
hazard inbreeding. or the breeding Of
related males and females without re-
gard to their common or family char
| acteristics, TO their strong points, or to
their weaknesses. 1t is a known fact
duces strength: weakness mated with
weakness accentuates that weakness In
the offspring; therefore, in order to
maintain the greatest vfgor and vitality
in the breeding stock. new blood should
be introduced in the flock from time to
time. In some cases breeders Of tur-
keys have deliberately mated domestic
fowls with the native wild fowl with
excellent results.
The feeding of the breeders is also
too often at fault. During the spring
months, when the turkeys have the
range of the fields, wood lots and
meadows, they find an abundant va
riety OF foods containing all the re-
Qutred nutrients, but during the win
ter when the weed seeds, grains and
fruit are lacking, and in the hot sum-
mer when insect life is scarce, other
foods must be supplied in sufficient
quantities to satisfy the needs OF the
fowl. Corn alone as q. diet for breed
ing stock does not meet the demands
Of the body: 1t does not furnish the
protein. the ash and the carbohydrates
In the right proportions. Corn contains
too little protein-"the muscle, tendon,
blood and feather forming materials"
lin proportion to Its carbohydrates,
the sugar and starches-"heat-givi
and energy-producing substances"
For the same reason, only in a lesser
degree, we cannot depend upon wheat
or oats, or q combination Of these
grains to furnish a we'll balanced ra-
ton for our turkeys. Meat in some
form, or a substitute such as skim
milk. butter milk or fish. should be a
constituent Of the diet. On the range
insects, bugs and worms make up a
large part OF the turkeys diet. In win
ter, when hogs and other meat-pro-
ducing animals are killed. there is
more or less waste: the cracklings are