CHAP. IL GEESE AND TURKEYS. 609 



Toulouse, or grey, and the Embden, or white. Of these the former 

 usually attains to the greater size, but is the slower grower of the two 

 varieties. These Toulouse geese (fig. 164) are, therefore, chiefly used 

 for Christmas time, as they do not mature sufficiently to be ready for 

 the earlier season, when their flesh is very loose and blue. As already 

 stated, the Embdens do not attain to the same weight, but are preferred 

 where early maturity is a sine qua, non. A paper on "Geese and 

 Geese-breeding," by Mr. Edward Brown, appeared in the Journal of the 

 Royal Agricultural Society, 3rd series, vol. x., 1899, p. 313. 



Turkeys. Whilst the delicate nature of the turkey has been 

 exaggerated, there can be no question that it needs favourable con- 

 ditions to secure success. Like the Dorking and the French breeds of 

 fowls it can withstand cold, but not damp, and hence it should not be 

 kept where the soil is heavy, moist, and cold. The period of extreme 



Fig. 165. Bronze Turkey Cock. 



Winner of First Prize, Dairy Show, 1890. 



delicacy is when the young birds are " shooting the red," but that 

 process once over they are hardy under favourable conditions. The 

 varieties which have been chiefly bred in England are the Cambridge 

 and the Norfolk. The former is bronze in its plumage, and evidently 

 owes much of its quality to the American Bronze turkey ; the latter 

 is black. Size is so important an element in the turkey that of 

 late there has been a considerable importation of American Bronzes 

 (fig. 165), which grow to a great weight, often reaching over 301b., and 

 as a higher price per pound can be obtained for birds over 201b. than 

 for those under, this is an important matter. We do not care for the 

 larger-sized birds so much as the smaller, &s they have not the same 

 flavour, but there can be no question that it is more profitable to breed 

 the big birds. It must be remembered that turkeys do not attain their 

 maturity before they are three years old, and no bird under two years 



it B 



