THE TURKEY. 371 



a disease as when the eldest son of the Turkey's master and 

 mistress shoots his beard. When young Turkeys approach the 

 size of a Partridge, or before, the granular fleshy excrescences 

 on the head and neck begin to appear ; soon after, the whole 

 plumage, particularly the tail-feathers start into rapid growth, 

 and the " disease" is only to be counteracted by liberal nou- 

 rishment. If let loose at this time they will obtain much by 

 foraging, and still be. thankful for all you choose to give them. 

 Caraway-seeds, as a tonic, are a great secret with some pro- 

 fessional people. They will doubtless, be beneficial, if added 

 to plenty of barley, boiled potatoes, chopped vegetables, and 

 refuse meat. And now is the time that. Turkeys begin to be 

 troublesome and voracious. What can you expect else from a 

 creature that is to grow from the size of a lark to twelve or 

 fourteen pounds, in eight or nine months? u Corn-sacks, coffers 

 for oats, barn-swallowers, ill neighbours to peasen," are epi- 

 thets deservedly earned. They will jump into the potato- 

 ground, scratch the ridges on one side, eat every grub, wire- 

 worm, or beetle that they find, and every half-grown potato. 

 From thence they will proceed to the Swedes ; before the bulbs 

 are formed, they will strip the green from the leaves, thereby 

 checking the subsequent growth of the root. At a subsequent 

 period, they will do the same to the white turnips, and here 

 and there take a piece out of the turnip itself. They are seldom 

 large enough before harvest to make so much havoc among the 

 standing corn, as Cocks and Hens and Gruinea Fowl, or they 

 have not yet acquired the taste for it; but when the young 

 wheat comes up, in October and November, they will exhibit 

 their graminivorous propensities to the great disadvantage of 

 the farmer. The farmer's wife sees them not, says nothing, 

 but at Christmas boasts of the large amount of her Turkey- 

 money. One great merit in old birds (besides their orna- 

 mental value, which is our special recommendation) is, that in 

 situations where nuts, acorns, and mast are to be had, they will 



