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SMALL TURKEYS.
Why They Are Best For Early Markets
and Cold Climates. .
An experience of over 20 years rais
ing turkeys, says a Vermont farmer, en
ables me to state positively that the
medium sized bird is the one that can
be raised here with the greatest profit.
And what is true of Vermont is true of.
all sections -of the conntry that have
long cold winters and late springs. As
a rule, turkeys commence to lay in Ver
mont during the latter part of March.
Even if they commence earlier it is not
safe to hatch the youngsters before the
20th of May, and there are more hatoh-
ed in June every year than in May.
This gives the young turks 5% to. 6
months in which to get their growth
and become fat enough for the Thanks
giving market. A flook of Narragansetts
at this time, if they have been properly
cared for, will dress from 10 to 12
pounds, according to the proportion of
hens and toms, and will look plump and
olean, not pinfeathery.
The Thanksgiving market is' to the
turkey raiser what the early markets
are to the broiler raisers. I have re
peatedly known turkeys to sell in Bos
ton the week before Thanksgiving at 20
to 23 cents, while the week" after they
would drop 5 to 8 cents per pound and
stay there. It doesn't need a magnify
ing glass to see the point. The Narra
gansetts or even the common turkey
will bring in more dollars at Thanks
giving at th6 prices which- rule then
than their Mammoth brethren will one
or two months later at the price whioh
rules at that time.
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