VARIETIES, MATING AND SHOWING 



counts for this. For this reason breeders are inclined to 

 use their larger birds in their matings in order to be able 

 to supply the demand. As a matter of fact the use of 

 birds of extreme size cannot be generally recommended 

 as it is much more likely to be associated with infertility, 

 poor hatches and soft-shelled eggs than when more mod- 

 erate sized breeders are used. In general it may be said 

 that breeders but little if any larger than standard are the 

 best size to use. 



Popularity of Varieties 



On account of its larger size and also the fact that this 

 variety has, perhaps, been more carefully, more syste- 

 matically and more extensively bred than any of the 

 others, the Bronze turkey is the most commonly kept. 

 Turkeys are sold by weight and for this reason the larger 

 birds bring the greater returns. A good size bird is in 

 demand where a considerable number of people are to be 

 served as in hotels, boarding houses, etc. While there is 

 a more widespread demand for a medium sized turkey for 

 family use, the larger birds find a ready sale and in gen- 

 eral it may be said that the production of heavier birds 

 proves to be more profitable. 



It is quite a commonly held opinion that the Bronze 

 variety is more hardy than the other domesticated varie- 

 ties, due perhaps to the occasional introduction of wild 

 blood in an effort to keep up the Bronze color. It is diffi- 

 cult, however, to trace any real sustained difference be- 



19 



