fu~2mproved nothing in appearance, has a we Ie nh es REALL 4d Te He at” Ann = A IR LA] The great American bird, the bird ~hich will scream back an answer to you every time you imitate his “gob- ble”. or otherwise “make a noise like a gobble,” has along with his domesti- cator, man, driven the other American bird far into the back woods, figura- tively and actually. When the Indians owned the land, the eagle and the turkey stood on EE a Ton win Te TS YOUNG BRONZE COCKS. probably an equal footing, the one the tyrant of fhe air and the other the king of game hirds. Both were hunt- ed by the Indian, the eagle to furnish plumes for his war bonnet, and the turkey, of course, for food. But now the eagle seldom is hunted and still more seldom ever killed or captured, while the turkey is found in hundreds of thousands of farm yards. Although the North American wild turkey is a beautiful and resplendent game bird, with feathers of black, shaded with a rich bronze and illumi- nated with a lustrous finish of coppery color, his domesticated cousin, while | been bred up to outweigh any other domestic fowl, thirty or thirty-five pounds being not uncommon among prize turkey flocks. According to the Department of Agriculture the growing of turkeys has improved within tha last few years as a result of a determined effort on the part of producers of what is termed “standard bred or exhibition” stock to demonstrate that it is more profitable to use pnre bred breeding stock than the smaller and less vigor- ous stock of days gone by. Their efforts to introduce throughout the couniry the several standard warie- ties of turkeys have greatly improved our turkey growing industry. This effort has supplied rich, new, vigorous blood throughout the whole country, adding strength and virility to in- numerable flocks, many of which had become considerably deteriorated through inbreeding. Deterioration Through Inbreeding. Wihe fact that one fecundation is sufficient to render fertile all the eggs of one laying has made possible the undermining of the health and vigor of the present-day domestic turkey. Being advised of this, hundreds of people depend upon their neighbors’ flocks for the services of a male and pay no attention to the matter of breeding stock except to keep one or two turkey hens. This has reduced many of the turkeys throughout the country almost’ to a condition of im- becility. The lack of vigor in a large | like polished steel. Sh ge GUY ELLIOTT MITCHELL. ing, people have become so disheart- ened in some localities with the mea- ger results of their efforts to grow turkeys for market that they have de sisted from the attempt. y Mr, T. F. McGrew, of New York, a well-known judge of poultry and a writer on breeds and breeding, has written a turkey bulletin for the De- partment of Agriculture which is known as Farmers’ Bulletin No. 208, and in this he says that there is no other kind of livestock that will return so large a profit to the successful pro- ducer as will poultry, and no kind of poultry is more profitable than turkeys when properly handled. The fact that turkeys will, from the time they are six weeks old until winter sets in, gain the greater part of their entire living from bngs, grasshoppers and waste grain that they pick up in their wanderings over the range, assures their existence through this period at little or no cost to the grower. In other words, they may be termed self sustaining foragers, where they have sufficient range. The Bronze Turkey. This turkey holds the post of honor. It is possibly a cross between the wild turkey and the tame turkey, which lat- ter is generally believed to have de- scended from either the North Ameri- can wild turkey, the Mexican wild turkey or the Honduras or Ocellated turkey. Its beautiful rich plumage and its size have come from its wild progenitor. To maintain these desir- able qualities, crosses are continually necessary. In this way the mammoth size has been gained, the standard weight ranging from sixteen to thirty- six pounds, according to age and sex. The coloring of this variety is a ground of black blazoned or shaded with bronze, This shading is rich and glowing, and when the sun’s rays are reflected from these colors, they shine The female is no as rich in golor.as the.mslagbut both have the same color and shadings. Much of this richness of color is lost THE NATIONAL BIRD, and, to have this influence to the fullest extent, well-proportioned, vigor- ous females In their second or third year should be selected as breeders. Ca Do not select the very large specimens for this purpose; those of a medium size are usually the best. Discard the undersized females at all times, as they are of but little value as pro- ducers. Length of shank and thigh, if out of proportion, should not be mis- through inbreeding, as it is improved by each cross with the wild specimens. Of all our domestic fowls none suffer from inbreeding so much as turkeys. This should be guarded against at all times, if it is hoped to /gain the best results. Naturally the Brov-e turkey should be the largest in size, the most vigor- portion of the breeding stock through- NO & e ok ous in constitution, and the most prof- A FORTY POUND BRONZE GOBBLER. has jeopardized to a we production of a r of market turkeys to ind. In fact, not fully heir failure was large- rmining the vitality of stock through inbreed- itable to grow, This would be the sta- tus of the vaMety at present were it not that too little attention has been given to the selection of the females for breeding stock. It should be fully understood that size and constitutional vigor come largely through the female, Wg GROUP OF WHITE TURKEYS. taken for size; full-rounded body and breast indicate value most clearly; size and strength of bone indicate constitu- tional vigor which should be maintain- ed through the selection of the very best at all times for producing stock. When special care is given to the se- lection of the breeding stock, and the grower bears in mind those profitable characteristics—compactness of form, length of breast and body, and con- stitutional vigor—the most satisfactory results may come from the growing of this variety, But no matter how much care may be given these condi- tions, only partial success will come if inbreeding is permitted. The use of oversized males with small females is of less advantage than the use of smaller males with well-matured, medium-sized females. The Narragansett Turkey. This turkey is a noble looking, full- chested bird but is not so large as the Bronze. His color is a black back- ground with a steel-gray edge to the feather which imparts a metallic black-and-bronze Tuster. The cocks, or toms, weigh from 20 to 30 pounds, and some old ones have gone 40 pounds. The Narragansett is a desirable breed and some growers declare that they will reach market size and condition in less time than the Bronze turkeys. The Buff Turkey. As bred for market these turkeys are a reddish buff or light chestnut color mixed with white and some dark shadings. They are highly valued in some localities for their quick growth and for their attactiveness when dressed, although they do not run as the Naragansett or the Bronze, be The White Turkey- In America the white variety is called the White Holland turkey. In England they are known as “Austrian Whites,” where they are considered sports from other turkeys. They range from 10 pounds for young hens to 26 pounds for old cocks, although they have run as high as 85 pounds at fairs, Mr. McGrew states that white turkeys are quite as easy to grow as any other variety, and he states that one cannot select a better kind for all uses than the White Holland. They grow to the most profitable sizes, dress beautifully for market, their light, pinkish-white shanks add to their appearance; and with them, as with all white poultry, the pin feathers show less than in darker varities, fhe very largest tur- keys are not as profitable either to grow or to sell. The medium sizes— from 9 to 18 pounds dressed—are the most desirable for family use. Other turkeys are the Black turkey, similar to, if not much the same, as the English Norfolk turkey, the Slate turkey, and the red Bourbon turkey, which is similar to the Buff turkey . In addition to the North American wild turkey, the Mexican wild turkey still affords splendid sport, as does also the Honduras turkey, which is found in various parts of Central America, both birds being resplendent and of savory flesh. The turkey bulletin of the Depart- ment of Agriculture above mentioned is a brief booklet which will certainly be read with interest by anyone grow- ing or caring for turkeys. It describes the different varities, and devotes fif- teen or twenty pages tothe selection and care of breeding stock, turkey houses and ranges, incubation, hatch- ing, growing and feeding the birds, marketing and also the ailments to THE NORTH AMERICAN WILD TURKEY. which turkeys are subject. Drop a postal to your member of Congress or Senator, and he will send you one. erent Food Value of Eggs. Popular belief to the contrary, there is no difference in the nutritive quali- ties of eggs with dark shells and those with light. Their flavor is affected by the food of the fowl for good or for evil. Exhaustive experiments by well equipped investigators prove that the egg deserves its reputation as an easily assimilated and highly nutri- tious food, if eaten raw or lightly cooked. Such experiments also show that eggs at twelve cents a dozen are a cheap source of nutrients; at six- teen cents, somewhat expensive, and at twenty-five cents and over, highly extravagant. Thi basis of compaiissn —vas the market prices of standard flesh foods considered in relation to their nutri- tive elements. But there is a physio logical constituent of eggs which is of great value, yet it defies the search of the scientist or the inquisition of the statistician, and that is their palata- bility. Unless a food, however rich in proteins, is relished, it loses much of its value, while, per contra, a less chemically desirable food that is en- joyed becomes valuable by reason of that fact. ni — ey FAIR STUDENTS IN REVOLT. Object to the Measuring Methods of Their Gymnasium Instructor. The girls of the freshman and sopho- more classes of the University of Cin- cinnati have been going about with traces of tears on their cheeks, and asking each other, “Have you been scheduled ?” At first the girls did not know what “scheduling” meant when they re- ceived confidential notes from Miss Edna Earl Hope, teacher of the girls’ gymnasium work at the ‘’varsity. Their presence alone in her private room was requested at such and such a time. The “alone” looked mysteri- ous and the girls held a consultation. Then the bravest faced Miss Hope. When she went in to Miss Hope her face was eager, but when she came out it was scarlet. “And what do you think?” she whis- pered: “You—have to—take off all your clothes." “And after she gets your clothes off, what then?’ chorused the girls. Then the first girl told, with tears and gasps, how the new gym teacher placed an adjustable rig about the hips and measured them—the hips—yes! And she measured the arms and the 'er—’er—legs. The bust expansion and the length of the fingers, and how big the chest is when the girl takes a long breath, and how little it gets when the girl expels her breath, Then she subtracts the difference, divides it by two, and multiplies the result by three, and says: " “There’s where you ought to be, and maybe you'll be that by the end of the year, when the second physical exami- nation comes.” The girls held an indignation meet- ing the latter part of the week, and a committee was secretly appointed to wait on President Dabney. “But,” said the girls on the commit- tee, “we would rather take one of those scheduled things than to tell a man about it.” Because of the excitement of those girls who were “scheduled” Miss Hope has now provided a garment in mak- ing the ‘“‘test”. A mess sion Lacking In Education. Little Freddie, having lost a nickel was crying bitterly, An old gentleman who had stoppe'd to investigate said: “My boy you shouldn’t cry that way.” “But,” sald the little fellow, “I d-don’t know how to c-cry any o-other way.” ——————— “Say not goodbye, but in some brighter clime, bid me good morning.” r It Costs Ten Cents It’s Worth Ten Dollars music page alone if €Very lain are being taught jusic—or 1 is the surest way girls where they wi Environment. The Music teacher of music of markable insight in-© ti ly clear and concis® W laying of a solid fotll Keyboard already been worked out. Scale Building P ( get it if you are interested in Other Dep Study, Home Cheer, in the Home, besides terest to the HomemaX€T, And Everyone Bear in mind that M to you for artme!l Home Magazine, 1409 F 4 — He Was Incorruptable. : In the opening days of the American Revolution, when France had recog- nized the independence ff the United States, and we had sho[Wn ourselves determined upon stubbof™ resistance, the English Parliament w °T¢ Iriven to a final “conciliatory billf’ for the re- covery of their colonial DO Sons. Most everything was cond* ded by this act, but nowhere was allusion made to absolute independence) Lord Car- lisle, William Edsen and v. John- stone, in the capacity of |Special com- missioners, brough the bil}l to America ¢fting the plan Gov. and lost little time submi y of conciliation to Congre™; together with an insolent letter. | That body hardly gave it consideratiof® Put forth- with rejected the plan yroposed by the ministry. 2 : Foiled in every attempt, ibut not dis- mayed, the commissioner, JOF w sorted tn :d in S, measures ABN infamy and baseness. They opened secret correspondence with members of Congress, and, through a female agent, Mr. Reed, a delegate from Pennsylvania, was offered $50,000 and the best office in the colonies that his majesty could bestow if he would use his influence in favor of the concilia- tory bill. Mr Reed's reply, as well as memory, should be enshrined in the hearts of every loyal Pennsylvanian. It was simply this: “I am not worth purchasing, but such as I am, the King of England is not rich enough to do it.” ise nian The Alexandrian Library. Said Omar, “Either those books are in comformity with the Koran, or they are not. If they are, they are useless, and if not, they are evil; in either event, let them be destroyed.” Such was the logic that led to the destruction of seven hundred thousand manuscript volumes in Alexandria. —— I — eet Pliny tells us that Homer's Iliad, with its 15,000 verses was written in a space as small as a walnut shell. else In more remote times an account is given of an ivory chariot constructed by Mermicides, so small that a fly could cover it with one of its wings, and of a ship that could be concealed by the wing of a bee. ecins in the December Number. 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