312 PROFITS IN POULTRY. 
where there were no trees and but a light growth of 
grass, did the best of all. He usually winters from 
twenty to thirty-five hen turkeys and two gobblers. One 
gobbler is sufficient, but the second is kept in case one 
should die or fail in any way. The gobblers weigh from 
thirty to thirty-five pounds and usually are kept two 
seasons, and the hens two or three seasons, old hens be- 
ing the surest breeders. They roost out in the trees 
the year through, and but few are lost. In the spring a 
sufficient number of nests are made for the hens by plac- 
ing barrels by the walls and fences near the house and 
barns, or by laying wide boards against the walls. In 
them is placed leaves or cut straw. The turkeys readily 
take possession of these nests, although some persist in 
seeking out one of their own. This is usually allowed, 
unless a swampy location, or one too far away, is chosen, 
when the nest is broken up and the hen induced to 
choose another. 
#Sometimes several lay in the same nest. To prevent 
this, a nest in which a turkey has commenced to lay is, 
after she has deposited her egg, shut up for the remainder 
of the day, to keep ont intruders. When the crows eat 
eggs laid in the nests that are far from the house, they 
are frightened away by strings stretched across near the 
nest. Glass nest eggs are used. Eggs are gathered 
daily, to prevent their being chilled, and that rats may 
not get them. They are kept in pans, having a few oats 
in the bottom to prevent their rolling about. Each pan- 
ful holds two sittings, and is dated, that their age may 
be known. When a hen stays on the nest for two nights, 
seventeen of the oldest eggs are given her; the eggs laid 
by her during the two days are not left in the nest. The 
nests are first shaped, so that they will not be so flat as 
to allow the eggs to roll out, or so deep as to cause them 
to be piled one upon another. The turkeys seem to do 
better if not fed while sitting. Those occupying nests 
