TURKEY AND OYSTERS. 241 



the economy of this useful bivalve, aud to breed it 

 regularly for market. During the last few years, 

 the practical knowledge of the oyster and its habits 

 has greatly increased, and vast artificial beds are being 

 laid for its accommodation throughout its life. Seve- 

 ral oyster-beds have already existed for many years, 

 some in England, and others on the Continent. At 

 Dieppe, for example — the only series of beds which I 

 have examined — the oysters are managed with great 

 care, being bred in a series of large shallow pools, and 

 fed regularly as if they were chickens. They are all 

 arranged in regular rows, sKghtly overlapping each 

 other, like the tiles of a house-top. The green oysters, 

 which are held in such favour, are nothing more than 

 le ordinary species, fed for a time in ponds where the 

 jreen confervoid growths are plentiful. 



Without describing at length the various oyster 

 rks which are now being established, and which, 

 specially on the Continent, are assuming very impor- 

 mt dimensions, a few particulars of their structure 

 ly be mentioned. Some of these parks are so exten- 

 ive that they are measured by miles, and are capable 

 of breeding many millions of oysters annually. It is 

 )und that the best substance for the reception of the 

 it is brushwood made into bundles, sunk vmder water 

 id kept down by stones. If these fascines be removed, 

 le young oysters are found clinging to them like grapes 

 ipon the vine, and when they are full-grown their 

 jgregate weight is by no means trifling. 



