VIGOROUS PARENT STOCK REQUIRED 543 



devoted considerable attention to the Buffs, which are truly 

 beautiful specimens. 



Profitable. — ^When we consider that from the time turkeys 

 are six weeks old until winter sets in, they will obtain the greater 

 part of their sustenance from the fields and woods over which 

 they roam, and this assures their keep at virtually no expense 

 to the grower, the question naturally arises: Why is the farmer 

 not more enthusiastic about growing them? And what is re- 

 sponsible for the losses that we hear so much about? 



These losses really do exist, of this there can be no doubt, 

 and with the industry in its present stage it is likely to be accom- 

 panied by grave uncertainties. Turkey raising demands the 

 best efforts of which we are capable — and then some. It is no 

 secret, however, that many of the failures are attributable to 

 gross carelessness or ignorance, or both. The whole question of 

 deriving a profit from turkeys resolves itself into the ability of 

 the grower to rear the poults, the young turkeys. If the same 

 intelligent care in selecting the breeders is applied to turkeys 

 as we unquestionably devote to the scientific breeding of cattle, 

 sheep, hogs and horses, then we are in a fair way to achieve 

 success. 



Deterioration through inbreeding is the greatest foe of the 

 turkey industry, and it has been brought about by the heed- 

 lessness of hundreds of farmers who have declined to consider 

 the necessity of infusing new blood into their flocks. For gen- 

 erations turkey growers in many of our eastern states have de- 

 pended upon their neighbors for the service of male birds, giving 

 no thought to the inevitable consequences, until in some localities 

 it is difficult to find any unrelated stock. This total disregard of 

 the fundamental laws of nature has in some sections reduced the 

 condition of turkeys almost to a state of imbecility, and so 

 undermined the vitality of the birds as to make it difficult to 

 rear a tenth of the number of poults hatched. 



Avoid Inbreeding as You Would a Plague. — New blood is of 

 vital importance. It is better to send a thousand miles for a 

 new male than to run the chances of inbreeding. Whenever 



