28 TURKEY CULTURE. 



of close breeding and poor selection of breeding stock, 

 than from any natural weakness in the fowls as a breed. 



White Holland turkeys are perhaps the best layers among 

 turkeys. It is sometimes reckoned as a fault that few hens 

 want to hatch early in the season, and a large number of 

 eggs and no broody hens is not an uncommon occurrence. 

 This is no doubt the result of selection, as I have found the 

 progeny of a remarkably good or poor layer was of much 

 the same nature as regards prolificness. And again 1 have 

 seen hens of this breed hatch twice in one season ; others 

 become broody before laying a dozen eggs, and three times 

 ere they had laid the second dozen ; while others were hard 

 to "break up" when once broody. A friend kept four hens 

 a few years since which laid 264 eggs during the season, 

 one hen hatching and rearing a brood in July. 



Are they beautiful? That is a matter of taste only. I 

 may think so, or may class some other breed above them 

 for beauty, while you will be of the opposite opinion. 



Therefore I say nothing on this point. I believe them 

 to be a good turkey and worthy of the best efforts of 

 breeders and farmers in general, and think no one need be 

 seriously disappointed in them if he goes ahead properly 

 and knows what he is doing. Truthful pictures have been 

 practically unknown heretofore, but in the accompanying 

 engraving from nature of prize- winning White Hollands, 

 our artist reproduces on printed page a spirited but lifelike 

 view of these beautiful birds. * ' The White Hollar d turkey? 

 are bred in large numbers and when prepared for the table 

 are considered the finest flavored turkey we have, but are 

 less hardy than other breeds." 



THE BUFF TURKEY. 



H. S. BABCOCK. 



Among the rarer varieties of the turkey is the Buff. 

 Just why this color should be rare is not plain to under- 

 stand, fpr few colors are more pleasing to the eye. If it 



