Show T TURKEYS PROVE BENEFIT TO td THE CROPS V W Z Q 5 I 1 M 21 1 4 A quartette of fine gobblers Gobb lere ny by MAHY E it has haa been said against t turkeys that they aro are de destructive tive to crops but in the writers writer a they have instead proved a 9 benefit to growing crops of hay or grain they are in search of insects not green food As AB soon boon as or before befaro the I 1 hens show an inclination to seek for ne ats a auf sufficient number of barrels or largo boxes should be blared where they can find then them preferably on tho the ground so that the hen may walk luto into the she has to jump down into the barrel or box the chances are that some borne of the eggs will be broken seclude those these boxes or barrels by partly covering them with brush or straw after the hen begins to lay remove the eggs each day placing one or two liens hena eggs in their place it if the lien hen lays more than 16 15 eggs give all over that number to tl a chicken hen ben but when the eggs are hatched give all to the turkey lien hen after the hen has haa been set shut tier her in safely from anything that might harm her but let tier her oft off the nest each morning very early shutting her in III again when she returns some claim that the chicken lien hen makes the best beat mother but it if those who claim this will notice when feeding young turkeys with a chicken lien hen they will see that often the turkeys will after eating a few go 90 ott off in search of an insect until called back by their unnatural mother and encouraged to stuff themselves with unnatural food they do not wish to eat cat much at one time and when being fed should at the same time be supplied with water but when a allowed to roam they do vry vory well it if watered night and morning but if they como come in from the field during the day it Is because they want water nature hast ha taught thorn them to eat cat insects almost exclusively when young while the same name teacher instructs the turkey hen to take her brood where on such eh food la Is abundant allowing them to s secure acure it for or themselves the hen scarcely ceases her watch long enough to secure tho the necessary nece neco food to sustain herself for she seems always to have tier her head in the air to see that the coast Is clear they with their mother should be kept in a coop some distance frim the other poultry until they are a week old by which time they will be strong enough to travel and will have learned their mothers language the coop should be large enough so that the hen may stand erect and should be at least six feet esquard the floor should be of boards covered with litter so that it may be kept dry by this time they will be so well trained that when tho the hen gives alvea warning of danger almost instantly every little turkey will disappear from sight slide glide under anything thal will po covering vering or it if they are in the open grass they will squat down to ground with their heads down and will remain hidden and perfectly quiet until the mother informs them that the danger Is past nor will they come out sooner even eve n if they may be trodden on by not doing so bo the hen meanwhile walks around calmly and with poulet dignity although us as though she did not own a young turkey in the world they should not be turned out in he rooming morning until the sun has dried tho dew from tho the grass and should bb brought in not later than four in the afternoon for soon boon after that time the hen wilt will hover thero them when it will not he be an easy matter to find them they should also be brought in at any time a storm cornea come up and kept shut up until the grass 1 la again dry even if it should be for a day or two in the experience a collie dog has proved a valuable assistant in bringing the turkeys off tho the runge range he had bad always been taken along and taught to walk slowly behind them they seemed to have no fear of him but considered him as aa their keeper long before tho tha mummer summer was over he could be sent alone to bring them thein home which he would do very successfully cess fully often going halt a mile after them and of hla his own accord it they had been neglected longer than usual neither was there much danger front from hawks as he never allowed one near their first feed when th they eyare are thirty hours bours old should be stale bread moistened with new milk just enough so that it will crumb easily when tho the milk is squeezed out then feed hard boiled eggs crushed up shells and all and mixed with dry bread crumbs following this with sour milk curd made by heating the sour milk until the curd Is crumbly when the milk to Is squeezed out or drained out by pouring through a colander it must not be their sole diet but may be fed once a day with safety As robn soon as possible get them to eating cracked wheat then whole wheat eliut b ut oah even ichen wh en quite large they relish an an occasional masv mash feed or dr curds this when given should be light feed and give in the abo morning when they are shut up while young they should be fed five or six times a day but when roaming they need only a light feed night and morning they should always be supplied with or have tree free access to gravel or grit of some kind this la Is as necessary as aa their food As soon as they show an inclination to fly upon a a perch they should be put into a building supplied with perches and plenty ot 0 fresh air but secure from enemies A sharp lookout must be kept for lice the hen and nest should be thoroughly dusted austed with insect powder just before the turkeys are expected and every week or two afterwards until they are six or eight week sold stretch out the wings and look between the ridges where the wing feathers start it if any lice are about they will be found here and it if found give the wings a heavy dose of insect powder which will be all that Is necessary watch on the bead neck and gills for the large head lice it if found rub these parts lightly with pure lard |