598 DOMESTIC ANIMALS, DAIRYING, ETC. 



Standard Varieties of Domestic Turkeys. The Spaniards have 

 the credit of taking the turkey from Mexico to Europe. From the 

 Mexican variety the turkeys of England were bred, and what is 

 known in England as the Norfolk variety we call the Black turkey. 

 Quite likely this variety came from England to us, and was used 

 as the foundation for the cross with our wild turkeys to establish or 

 create the Bronze turkey. The influence of the light markings of 

 the Mexican turkey is shown in the plumage of some our our domestic 

 varieties. 



Six Standard Varieties. Six standard varieties of turkeys are 

 more or less grown in this country, viz, Bronze, Narragansett, Buff, 

 Slate, White, and Black. The main differences are in size and color 

 of plumage. The Bronze and the Narragansett are the largest, the 

 Buff and Slate are the medium, and the Black and White the small- 

 est. Of late so much improvement in size has been made in the 

 Whites that they have moved up to contend for third position, some 

 of them having passed the 30-pound mark. The same statement may 

 soon be made of the Blacks, as they have greatly improved during 

 the last few years. 



In addition to the foregoing there is a nonstandard variety 

 known as the Bourbon Reds. They might well claim the position 

 now held by the Buff turkeys, being quite like them and more 

 largely grown for market than are the Buffs. There is scarcely 

 enough preference shown in the open market for any one of these 

 varieties for table use to cause it to be favored in production of tur- 

 keys for the market. There is, however, a strong preference at all 

 times for the best grown and best finished specimens of all varieties. 

 In Rhode Island, where the highest quality is produced, there does 

 not seem to be much preference for any particular variety. 



The Bronze Turkey. This variety holds the post of honor. 

 ! As already stated, it probably originated from a cross between the 

 wild and the tame turkey. Its beautiful rich plumage and its size 

 have come from its wild progenitor. To maintain these desirable 

 qualities, crosses are continually made. In this way the mammoth 

 size has been gained. Their standard weight ranges from 16 to 36 

 pounds, according to age and sex. Probably more of this variety 

 are grown each year than of all others. They have been pushed on 

 all sides almost to the exclusion of the others until within a year or 

 two. If possible the Bronze turkey has been developed too much in 

 the direction of size. While size, within reasonable limits, is to be 

 desired and encouraged, when it is confined to length of thigh and 

 shank, it is a gain of weight with but little additional value. 



Coloring. The coloring of this variety is a ground of black 

 blazoned or shaded with bronze. This shading is rich and glowing, 

 and, when the sun's rays are reflected from these colors, they shine 

 like polished steel. The female is not as rich in color as the male, 

 but both have the same color and shadings. Much of this richness 

 of color is lost through inbreeding, as it is improved by each cross 

 with the wild specimens, 



