66 TUEKEY CULTURE. 



should be bored in the underside of the barrel to let out 

 rain water, or it may hold water enough to spoil the eggs. 



Carefully save the eggs of the first litter, if they are 

 laid earlier in the season than you want to set them, and 

 wait until the turkey has laid her second litter. Calculate 

 your time, so that the chicks will come out in May. March 

 or April in the South, and June first in the extreme North, 

 are not far wrong. Presuming that the first litter was 

 layed quite early, set these eggs under broody common 

 hens of good sitting stock, as Brahmas, Cochins, or Ply- 

 mouth Kocks. Under each hen place seven or eight turkey 

 eggs ; the turkey may cover sixteen to twenty. If the torn 

 annoys the sitting turkeys, confine him, although he will 

 not be likely to do that if one or more other turkeys are 

 with him. If the season be late and cold storms with snow 

 prevail, the incubation must take place in barns or sheds. 

 Set all the eggs, if possible, at the same time. While 

 common hens come off to feed and bathe every day, tur- 

 keys rarely leave their nests oftener than once in three 

 days; some have been known to starve on their nest when 

 danger threatened their eggs. Keep whole corn, wheat, 

 oyster shells, clean water and a good dust bath accessible 

 to them all the time. 



In setting the common fowl and turkey, thoroughly 

 powder them with Persian insect powder (Pyrethrum), 

 using the little bellows made and sold for the purpose. 

 Hold the hen by the legs while doing this, that every part 

 of the skin and every feather may receive some of the 

 powder. Scatter flour of sulphur well over the nest. If 

 lice are detected before the four weeks are up, go through 

 the same operation again, for of all enemies, hindrances and 

 disarrangements which assail the poultry grower, no half 

 dozen of them equal lice in power and persistency, or are 

 so prevalent. Yet they can be conquered, subdued and ex 

 terminated. Two days before hatching, thoroughly powder 

 the hen again, but put no sulpbur on the nest. If *-he 



