1096 THE PEOPLE'S FARM AND STOCK CYCLOPEDIA. 



just as well, if not better, with no instruments except a sharp 

 knife, my finger-nail, a needle and some white sewing silk. For 

 greater convenience the needle should be a curved one." A set 

 of caponizing instruments consists of a pointed hook, a steel 

 splint with a broad flat hook at each end, a pair of tweezers, 

 and a pair of crooked concave forceps. Full directions for using 

 accompany each set. Outside our largest cities there is at pres- 

 ent no market for capons, but as the fine quality of this class of 

 poultry becomes more generally known the demand will doubt- 

 less increase. 



Turkeys. Most farmers who undertake to raise a brood or 

 so of turkeys do so with a feeling of uncertainty as to the ul- 

 timate result. Still it is not a difficult matter to raise turkeys, 

 provided one knows how ; and turkey raising is certainly a very 

 profitable branch of the poultry business. I have never seen 

 the time when good, fat turkeys would not bring remunerative 

 prices. 



The first step to be taken towards success in turkey raising 

 is to secure good breeding stock. The parent birds must be 

 strong, healthy, of good size, and mature specimens. No greater 

 mistake could be made than that of buying inferior breeding 

 stock just because it can be obtained for less than the price 

 asked for good, mature birds. When possible to avoid it, do not 

 breed from a yearling gobbler ; but when no other can be ob- 

 tained, select one of the earliest and largest of last season's 

 hatch. Hens that are two years' old and over are better for 

 breeders than those that are younger. 



In regard to the "best breed" for that question is sure to 

 come up as soon as one mentions chickens, ducks, geese, or tur- 

 keys there is really not much choice, except in size. The 

 standard recognizes six different breeds Bronze, White, Black, 

 Buff, Slate, and Narraganset; and then there is the old-fash- 

 ioned mongrel variety, which is n't such a bad variety, after 

 all ; but on account of the inferior size of the mongrels they 

 are not so profitable to raise for market as some of the larger 

 breeds. 



Bronze turkeys are the largest and handsomest of the whole 



