278 Farm Poultry 



pets which had been given wholly to his charge. 

 Farm boys become dissatisfied with the farm 

 and decide to leave it chiefly for two reasons 

 because they are not interested in farm life and 

 work, and because they have not been taught 

 how to make quick returns and good profits for 

 the money invested. The rearing of pigeons will 

 often afford satisfactory first lessons and may re- 

 veal possibilities that will be sufficiently enticing 

 when considered from a standpoint of income 

 alone. Interest in animal life, particularly those 

 forms that are easily handled and controlled, serves 

 a most useful purpose in leading the young mind 

 along profitable channels of development. Inter- 

 est in pigeon -rearing cannot fail to develop to 

 some extent the powers of observation. Other 

 things being equal, the boy who sees most will 

 have the best understanding of the subject in 

 question. So long as knowledge is power, then 

 those who are the closest observers will not only 

 understand best the matter under consideration 

 but will be best prepared to meet the greater 

 problems that each individual is required, sooner 

 or later, to solve for himself. 



The care of pigeons may be given almost 

 wholly to quite young boys and girls, if a few 

 simple directions for feeding and care be under- 

 stood and a suitable home be provided for the 

 birds. On mos't farms only a small money out- 



