FOURTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART VII. 517 



tion are furnished by the same window. Good farmers do not hesitate 

 to furnish their farm stock with perfectly comfortable quarters, and 

 there is as much profit in furnishing the hens with a warm house as 

 there is in caring for cattle, hogs or sheep in this way. 



Poultry is assuming an important place in the list of farm indus- 

 tries, and the farmer who does not make his poultry pay him a large 

 percentage of profit is not living up to his opportunities. 



In this respect our British cousins are ahead of us, for the English 

 farmer sees to it that his poultry has as regular and as good care as 

 any other stock on the farm. American farmers will do well to take 

 pattern after farmers over the water in this respect. 



RAISING TURKEYS. 



M7-S. Emma Qua. in Farmers' Trlhune. 



Turkeys are not so very hard to raise after one has found out the 

 "know how," experience being the best teacher. The first three weeks 

 being the most critical time of their lives, one should use great care in 

 handling them, but after that age they are usually hardy enough to get 

 along with but little extra care. The eggs of old turkeys are by far the 

 best to set. because turkeys that are raised from them are stronger and 

 have more vitality. Young turkeys make the best mothers, being more 

 domestic in their habits. Turkey eggs require 28 days for hatching, and 

 should be seen to promptly. Remove the shells from the nest several 

 times during the day; also see that the little turkeys are not smothered 

 in nest. Should there be too many for comfort, remove a few of them, 

 keeping them nicely covered and warm. Always leave them in the nest 

 until one day old, at least, as they are very weak for some time after 

 hatching and should not be handled. The first day give each a grain of 

 black pepper, putting it in their mouths. This will warm and strengthen 

 them. Do not let them out on the ground, but keep them on a board 

 'till about three weeks old. A large dry goods box could be used that 

 w^ould make a good coop to keep them in. Have a shallow dish outside 

 for water to drink. Keep an old pan with ashes in it for them to dust 

 themselves. Accustom them to come to their box each night after they 

 have had their freedom. This is easily done by feeding them there. 

 When three weeks old they will be able to follow their mother, but 

 house them each night and during storms. Do not let them out too 

 early in the morning. It is not necessary during a shower to get drip- 

 ping wet yourself to get them in. Their mother will, under ordinary 

 circumstances, do that better than you can. Turkeys begin to lay eggs 

 about the middle of March, or first of April, laying twenty or more aggb 

 for a setting. Then set the Turkey. Seventeen eggs are about the right 

 number for an ordinary turkey (a hen will cover eleven eggs). Put the 

 remainder under hens, having them all hatch at the same time, so that 

 the young turkey chicks can be taken from hens and given to the turkey 



