PRIZE ESSAYS (W TURKEY CULTURE. 131 



soaked ia milk, sour milk and scraps from the table, are 

 all excellent. The old turkeys, when removed from the 

 nest, should be greased beneath the wings, to prevent 

 lice. 



In raising turkeys, avoid as much as possible penning 

 the young turkeys. Make a slatted coop and let them run 

 in and out at will. When older, allow them free range of 

 the lawn. Insects, fresh air and exercise are necessary to 

 the well being of the turkey. Peed throughout the sum- 

 mer, and the turkeys will remain docile. When able to go 

 upon the roost, drive to the roosting pole, and after a few 

 evenings they will come of their own accord. If hogs are 

 fattened, the turkeys will help themselves to corn and be- 

 come marketable by Thanksgiving. 



TURKEY RAISING IK ILLINOIS. 



MBS. G. H. WATSON, JO DAVIESS COUNTY. 



See the gobbler strutting, 



Like a princely dude ; 

 See his harem meekly 



Foraging for food. 



I change gobblers every year. Keep Bronze turkeys, 

 the purer the better, as they will outweigh others, and are 

 as healthy as any, unless it be the wild kind, which are 

 not easily obtained in these days. I keep old hens, from 

 two to five years old, if practicable, as they are tamer, lay 

 larger eggs, and are better mothers and not so easily in- 

 jured. It is not well to keep too heavy males. Never 

 keep over a gobbler that is such a numskull that he will 

 tramp the poults into the ground and then try to eat 

 them. Such an one will kill more young turkeys and 

 chickens than his head is worth. Every farm should have 

 at least three (four to six is better) turkey hens and a 

 gobbler. Although great eaters, they are also great forag- 

 ers, and the annual crop of grasshoppers and other bugs 

 ought to be utilized. After the young are a few weeks 



