16 



considerable number of cases of blackliead appeared among 

 the turkeys reared in the yard used for blackhead experiments 

 during the two previous seasons, but none among those raised 

 in a newly constructed yard. It is evident that the disease is 

 less likely to appear in turkeys raised on new ground than in 

 those kept on ground where hens or turkeys have previously 

 been kept. 



Field Experiment at the Saltonstall Farm. 



This experiment was undertaken with the object of deter- 

 mining what measure of success would follow the maintenance 

 of somewhat different conditions for different lots of turkeys. 

 Mr. Saltonstall, in undertaking this co-operative work, fur- 

 nished the stock, land, fencing, labor, and all other details, 

 staking the success of the experiment on the efficacy of the pro- 

 cedures followed. The arrangements for the experiment were 

 made by the superintendent of the farm, and it was through 

 his interest and supervision that the conditions desired for the 

 experiment were maintained throughout the season. Certain 

 breaks in the original plan were unavoidable on account of the 

 failure of employees strictly to follow directions. 



We were informed that turkey raising had been attempted 

 for several years, but never with much success. In the previous 

 season one hundred young turkeys were hatched under Rhode 

 Island Red hens, and kept in the yard with the old turkeys. 

 Forty of these turkeys were reared. Of the sixty lost it was 

 thought that about fifty died from blackhead and the rest from 

 other causes. The turkeys lost began to die at six weeks of 

 age, August being the worst month. After the period of 

 "throwing the red," losses ceased. The various sick birds 

 were doctored with various remedies, but not one recovered. 



At the time that this w^ork was undertaken, in 1920, two 

 broods of about thirty young turkeys had already been hatched 

 and placed in care of common hens. For the purpose of 

 raising the greatest possible number of turkeys hatched, our 

 advice was to have all subsequent hatchings take place in the 

 incubator, and to have the turkeys brooder-reared, that they 

 might be raised without contact with hens or old turkeys. 

 Failure of the man in charge of the poultry to follow this plan 



