THE BREEDS OP TtJ&KE"?S. 19 



breeders' yards exceed the above weights. It has been my 

 pleasure, on several occasions during the past few years, to 

 see, at our best exhibitions, adult toms turn the balance 

 at 38 to 45 Ibs, and hens 24 to 32 Ibs. If breeders will only 

 continue to mate for great size, the day is not far distant 

 when we will see birds of even a greater weight. 



In judging, I am a strong advocate of specialty judges. 

 It is ripe knowledge in any business that prepares a per- 

 son for a successful undertaking. I do not believe there 13 

 a professional judge on the face of the earth who can suc- 

 cessfully compare or score the several different classes of 

 fowls he is sure to find at most of our exhibitions. Tur- 

 keys, particularly, often suffer, as many of our profes- 

 sional judges reside in cities and never saw a turkey, except 

 in the show pen or at their Thanksgiving dinner. 



Great size and weight is the most necessary element of a 

 Bronze turkey. No matter how fine a specimen may be 

 in plumage, if it lacks size it drops back to nothing but 

 a mongrel. 



To get the symmetry of a turkey in judging, is often 

 quite a tedious undertaking. It may require considerable 

 patience and coaxing to get the bird to stand in proper po- 

 sition, especially if it is a young bird that has never been 

 exhibited. A model show specimen should be moderately 

 tall and very rangy, evenly proportioned and well balanced 

 in all shape sections and very sturdy in appearance. 



The color of the male turkey's head may change during 

 excitement, but when in a natural condition it should be 

 bright red, the corunculations extending well down on neck, 

 with a large, well-developed wattle. When scoring I find 

 but few judges who pay any attention to color or shape of 

 head. This is a mistake, as many specimens are faulty in 

 color and shape, and should suffer a cut of one-half to one, 

 according to the defect. 



r l'he back must be well curved and of good width. Many 

 specimens are faulty in the back, being too straight and 



