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.
FOR A YEARS’ SUBSCRIPTION TO
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Drill, Staff Drill, Note Drill and Ear Training have
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Teaching the Children Music.
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