The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1945-05-21
Carolina Farm Comment.
By F. H. JETER

Thirty-five thousand farm poults
ranging in age from two to nine
weeks are developing in the vari-
our brood shelters of Anson coun-
ty to provide succulent dish for
many North Carolina home come
Thanksgiving and Christmas. The
poults are scattered mostly among
30 growers in the White Store sec
ton, where. turkey growing was
started and encouraged years ago
by Farm Agent Jimmy Cameron
and Home Agent Mrs. Rosalind
Redfearn. Some of the poults
have developed in ramshackle
buildings covered with tar paper
or in cheaply constructed houses
made largely of slabs from near
by sawmills. But these are not
the rule. At the other end of the
scale is the elaborate brick brook
er house owned by J. Leonard
Tice of Marshville, Route 1, or the
cinder block house owned by his
kinsman, H. D. Tice.
It is a treat to visit these tur-
key growers in company with jim
my Cameron and see what great
hopes and fears are encompassed
within the bodies of the delicate
and foolish little birds. Jimmy,
let it be known here, is a success
full turkey grower in his own right
He grows out about 1000 of the
birds each season on his own
dairy farm near Polkton on Brown
Greek. About all he has to do
with them is to know that they
are there when he leaves at early
down or returns after dark. The
real work is done by his energetic
son, who not only plays godfather
to the 1000 turkeys but also to
some 5000 broilers and baby chicks
and a herd of 40 fine Jersey heif-
ers. Labor being what it is, young
Judge" Cameron never manages
to find an idle minute except in
the middle hours of the night and
at odd times Sundays. Lately
when there was some question as
to whether he would be more use
full on this farm or in the army
the army folks told him quite can
didly that he would have 4 much
easier time in the ranks.
But County Agent Cameron does
know this dairy and poultry game
from the practical standpoint and
when he goes out to visit among
the turkey growers, he talks as
one of them. Near Peachland, j.
T. Caudle has 1880 of the little
broadbreasted, bronze poults now
nine weeks of age and just ready
for the range. Mr.. Caudle says
he would have moved them to the
open ground some days ago ex-
cept that it had been rainy and
cold through that section for about
four or five weeks. His five we'll
constructed brooder houses are
equipped with the ever-present,
wire-hoored sun porch and there
are about $50 birds to each house
my turkeys are engaged now,"
he said, but don't think it is all
velvet when the time comes to sell
them. These little one here are
costing me right at $40 a day for
feed alone"
Mr.. Caudle has 166 acres in his
farm and is growing IS acres in
grain to provide feed for the vo-
'ravious appetites of his birds.
Last year, he and his father and
brother sold about $4,000 worth
of turkeys.
Then there is young L. Huntley,
Jr., also of near Peachland, who
has between 1900 and 1000 birds.
Last year he sold 1,006 finished
turkeys and bought the 103 acres
of land on which he and Mrs.
Hundley have set up their lovely
little farmstead. Mr.. Huntley has
a killing and dressing plant ready
for the next marketing season
His sister, Matte Lou Huntley,
lives on the home farm some
miles away and there she and her
older sister, Pauline, are raising
said they sold $4,000 worth last
about 1000 birds. Miss Huntley
year and saved some Of the best
for a breeding flock. Right now
she sells eggs from which she
clears about $50 a week. All of
the poults on the Huntley farm
were Matched from eggs produced
on the farm. 1'.-
The first brooding work done
in this section was by Mrs. w. D.
Gulledge who had a flock Of rs
breeding birds about Is years
ago. She was convinced at the
time that the turkey business"
would soon be overdone because
so many wanted to keep turkey
hen or two.
Since that time, H. P. Tice has
been keeping breeding flock
of 500 birds and last winter he
built nice cinder block laying
l1oEse for the pens. This house,
1OC feet long and 30 feet wide,
| is lighted, has roosting and nsst-
ing places. Mr.. Tice planted a
grazing crop.in front of the house
and kept his lights On all night
long. He says that last January
alone, he sold enough eggs to pay
the total cost Of the house. It
should be kept in mind that the
loaae sall for about 20 cents down