132 Turkeys. 



CHAPTER XX. 



TURKEYS. 



Turkeys are not considered profitable except on light, 

 dry soils, which is said to be the cause of their success in 

 Norfolk. They prosper, however, in Ireland ; but although 

 the air there is moist, the soil is dry, except in the boggy 

 districts. Miss Watts believes that ^' any place in whicli 

 turkeys are properly reared and fed may compete with 

 Norfolk. Very fine birds may be seen in Surrey, and other 

 places near London." The general opinion of the best 

 judges is, that they can barely be made to repay the cost 

 of their food, which is doubtless owing to the usual great 

 mortality among the chicks, which loss outbalances all 

 profit ; but others make them yield a fair profit, simply 

 because, from good situation and judicious management, 

 they rear all, or nearly all, the chicks. A single brood may 

 be reared with ease on a small farm or private establish- 

 ment without much extra expense, where sufficient atten- 

 tion can be devoted to them ; but to make them profitable 

 they should be bred on a large scale, and receive exclusive 

 attention. They should have a large shed or house, with 

 a boarded floor, to themselves. 



Turkeys must have space, for they are birds of rambling 

 habits, and only fitted for the farmyard, or extensive runs, 

 delighting to wander in the fields in quest of insects, on 

 which, with green herbage, berries, beecli-mast, and various 

 seeds, they greedily feed. The troo}) will ramble about all 

 day, returning to roost in the evening, when they should 

 have a good supply of grain ; and another should be given 

 in the morning, which will not only induce them to return 

 home regularly every night, but keep them in good store 

 condition, so that they can at any time be speedily fattened. 

 Peas, vetcheS; tares, and most sorts of pulse, are almost 



