338 



MONTHLY JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURE. 



a plumage daring the breeding season, decidedly 

 different in color, from that which they bear in 

 winter; in these cases the young birds differ in 

 color from both parents, and have a plumage 

 which is intermediate in its general tone, to that 

 of the two periodical states of the pai-ent birds, 

 and bearing indications of the colors, to be 

 afterwards attained at either period. 



The changes in tlie color of the plumage of 

 birds are effected either by a total moult of the 

 old and acquisition of new feathers, or by a par- 

 tial moult and the admixture of new feathers 

 with a certain portion of the previous plumage ; 

 or on the -birds obtaining a certain number of 

 new feathers, without shedding any of the old 

 ones ; or, lastly, by the fully formed feather it- 

 self becoming altered in color: the last two 

 changes take place in the adult birds at the ap- 

 proach of the breeding season. The change of 

 color of a fully developed feather is produced, 

 either mechanically, by the wearing away of the 

 lighter colored tips, which exposes the brighter 

 colors of the plumage beneath, or by some inter- 

 nal chemical or vital influence upon the coloring 

 matter of the feather itself. The latter change 

 begins at tliat part of the web nearest the body 

 of the bird, and gradually extends outward till 

 it pervades the whole feather. 



So much for feathers. We return to the let- 

 ter from our good old sister. What she says is 

 always in a plain, common-sense way, aud for 

 every-day use. The raising of Poultry, she 

 adds, is no trouble, compared to keeping them 

 from rats, particularly where there is an Ice- 

 House. There was never but one rat seen here, 

 until we got an ice-hou.se : now they devour 

 chickens on one side of the house, while on the 

 other we are ruined by minks — and hawks all 

 over the plantation 1 There are so many ways 

 to treat Poultry that it is impossible to know, 

 exactly, the best 



J. H. W. keeps the old hens up (in coops) 

 from the time the chickens are hatched until 

 they are fit to eat ; and a most excellent way it 

 is, but I think it too great a punishment. If I 

 had my choice, I would raise ducks, both sorts, 

 and chickens, with old turkey hens. True, they 

 take them away from the house, but then they 

 travel so slow, so gentle, that it suits much 

 better. 



Food. — For young chickens nothing is bet- 

 ter than Indian corn dough, until they can eat 

 com or the refuse of wheat. They will eat the 

 latter in a few days, and small-grain com in less 

 than three weeks. The sooner they get to eat 

 grain the better. 



MuscovT AND Puddle Ducks. — These dif- 

 fer very much in their habits, but will do to 

 feed together. Both should always have access 

 lo water, particularly in very hot weather. 

 They require a place where they can cool their 

 (702) 



feet. I prefer a pond, if ninniug water is not 

 convenient. I have seen their feet parched 

 with the heat of tlie ground. 



Food for Ducks. — Wet meal or wheat bran 

 for a week or t'wo, kept in a coop or place that 

 they can go to at pleasure. After some time, a 

 rich wffs^,made of any kind of vegetables — 

 nothing better than parsley, thickened with the 

 husks of Indian meal. It will not do to keep 

 both sorts of ducks for breeding on the same 

 dimg-hiU. 



Turkeys. — These shotdd not be disturbed by 

 any means, ukile they are hatching; and if 

 they could be set to hatch so far apart as not to 

 hear each other's young, it would be better. 

 Some people have the nests so fixed that the 

 old ones can't leave them while they are hatch- 

 ing. 



Food for Turkeys. — The first thing is a 

 grain of pepper to each — see that they swallow 

 it ; then corn-meal wet. After a few days, a 

 spoonfull of tobacco seed put in victuals for 

 thirty turkeys for the day. This may be done 

 every day, if convenient, and now and then 

 about a tca-spooifullof copperas, say threeiimcB 

 a week, in the evening. One great point is to 

 keep them clear of lice (you may call them what 

 you wiU !) The only thing to do that is soft 

 grease, in dry weather ; but there should be j 

 great care used so as not to make them too ( 

 greasj-. Lately a more certain remedy has been ( 

 found: it is fshbcrry, steeped in whisky, sold 

 by the apothecaries. But after being raised, 

 there is a most tatal disease lor turkeys, which 

 attends them ."^oon after going into the tobacco 

 fields. They are taken with a choking ; seem 

 to draw their necks down, as it were, into their 

 craws, and then discharge from their mouths 

 the greatest quantity ot matter of the most shock- 

 ing odor. Out of forty, large enough to eat, we 

 saved but seven. We thiuk that was done by 

 giving them lard — a piece as large as a nutmeg. 

 When first taken twice will be enough to give it. 



Now I think you must want something to put 

 in your paper if you put in it this nonsense, with 

 the exception of the cure for bed feathers. 



Now, verily, good sister, we think very dif- 

 ferently, and so we opine, will our readers. 

 But that which relates to the disease which be- 

 fals the turkey after being turned into the tobac- 

 co field, requires a note of explanation for 

 housewives who do not abide in the region of 

 that precious weed! Bo it known, then, thai 

 where tobacco is grown, turkeys are raised, or 

 if not raised, bought, for the express purpose of 

 being driven through the day, except in the very 

 hottest part of it, through the tobacco fields, to 

 destroy the worms that infest, and sometimes 

 make dreadful ravages on the crop. You will 

 see the old turkeys, attended by the young gang, 

 take each its row. and go marching quietly 



