214 FARMING FOR LADIES. [chap. ix. 



the mode of feeding, and the female is much 

 smaller than the male. A cock turkey hatched 

 in March, may be brought to the weight of 

 ten or a dozen pounds when skewered by 

 the poulterer, within eight months, if amply 

 fed during the whole time previously upon 

 corn, with only a small quantity of any other 

 food. If kept for a year longer, he will 

 probably reach four pounds more ; and, at 

 three years of age, he may arrive to the weight 

 of 20 lbs. when divested of his feathers : the 

 difference between live and trussed weight 

 being about one-third in favour of the former. 

 They are, indeed, sometimes brought to near 

 that weight when little more than a year and 

 a half old ; and we, last Christmas, saw one 

 of that age, at a poulterer's in Oxford Street, 

 which, when alive, weighed 351bs. ! 



The late Countess Spencer, with that kindly 

 consideration for the welfare of the yeo- 

 manry for which the family has ever been 

 distinguished, some years ago offered pre- 

 miums for the rearing and fattening of poul- 

 try, without cramming, at the Earl's seat, in 

 Northamptonshire, and the following were the 

 average weights alive : — 



