PRIZE ESSAYS ON TURKEY CULTURE. 143 



tion of all who saw them. At Christmas time, when they 

 were taken to the block, they were just about as much as 

 I could carry; they dressed from eleven to fifteen and 

 one-half pounds each, and were as fat as butter. I sold five 

 of them for $11.50. "Go thou and do likewise." 



THE FAMOUS KHODE ISLAND SYSTEM. 



Of late years Prudence Island has been one of the 

 leading turkey-producing sections. Over 800 turkeys were 

 raised there in 1892. George Tucker raises the largest 

 number, and probably produces more turkeys than any 

 one in Khode Island. In 1888 he raised 225 turkeys from 

 22 hens ; in 1889, 306 from 28 hens ; in 1890, 340 from 30 

 hens; in 1891, 322 from 36 hens; in 1892, 425 from 35 hens, 

 and this season, at this date, he has over 300 young tur- 

 keys on the way to maturity. Previous to 1888 he had 

 only average success, but since that time, owing to an 

 improvement in his management, he has had but very lit- 

 tle loss. He credits his present success to having gained 

 a clearer understanding of the requirements of turkeys, as 

 well as to having procured from Connecticut a very fine 

 gobbler, by means of which he increased the hardiness of 

 his flock. He has since been more careful in selecting 

 new blood. 



He found that young turkeys tnat were kept near the 

 house or under the trees in the orchard, did not thrive ; 

 many had swelled heads and soon died. On the other 

 hand, those placed on the highest and dryest pastures, 

 where there were no trees and but a light growth of grass, 

 did the best of all. He usually winters from twenty to 

 thirty-five hen turkeys and two gobblers. One gobbler is 

 sufficient, but the second is kept in case one should die or 

 fail in any way. The gobblers weigh from thirty to 

 thirty-five pounds and usually are kept two seasons, and 

 the hens two or three seasons, old hens being the surest 

 breeders. They roost out in the trees the year through, 



