RAISING TURKEYS. 209 
who have never tested the loss of weight in dressing 
sometimes submit to a deduction of thrcva or four cents 
a pound from the middlemen, who are interested in 
making this large difference. We have no means of 
knowing the exact cost of dressing turkeys, but half a 
cent a pound would probably be a large estimate. The 
prevailing higher price of dressed turkeys in the Eastern 
market is not owing simply to the difference in the style 
of dressing, though this has something to do with it. 
A large portion of the turkeys that go to the Boston and 
Providence markets are of extra large size, principally of 
the Bronze and Narragansett breeds and their crosses, 
raised in Rhode Island and Eastern Connecticut, where 
the farmers make it a specialty. Whole flocks of young 
birds will dress about 12 lbs., on the average, at Thanks- 
giving, and 14 lbs. or more at Christmas. Young cocks 
frequently reach 18 to 20 lbs. dressed during the winter, 
and adult cocks 28 to 30 lbs. These birds are prepared 
for the market in the nicest style, and are shipped by 
the ton for the holidays. They always bring extra 
prices. 
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