114 White Turkeys, 



the feathers to be in perfection : and being 

 plucked, and a sufficient number collected, 

 the sooner they are dried upon the oven, the 

 better, since they are else apt to heat and 

 stick together. 



The practice of plucking the living 

 FOWL, if interest must sanction such a cus- 

 tom, should be performed in the most ten- 

 der and careful manner, and not at or near 

 the time of moulting. The ripe down only 

 should be taken from each wing of the swan, 

 goose, or duck, and four or five feathers. 

 Lean geese furnish the .greatest quan- 

 tity of down and feathers, and of the 

 best quality ; to which also the goodness 

 of their food, and the care bestowed, con- 

 tribute in a considerable degree. Geese are 

 sometimes stripped three times in the sea- 

 son, but in the whole affair I speak with 

 entire ignorance of the practice. Strict 

 PRECAUTION is iiccessary to house the strip- 

 ped fowls, for a time sufficient to enable 

 them to endure the air, and by all means 

 to keep them from the water, The down 



