7o8 Live Slock.- i -Pigcons Inconveniences of Proper Management of. 



inftances, probably, that this kind of flock, when the various difadvantages of it 

 are confidered, can be converted to much profit by the farmer. It is well remark 

 ed by an intelligent cultivator, that &quot; the increafe of pigeons beyond a certain 

 degree muft doubtltfs be injurious to the cultivation of grain : within due bounds, 

 they do little harm, but increafed beyond it, they prove pernicious vermin both to 

 the new-fown crops and the early part of harveft. They are particularly voracious 

 in early peas : therefore the advantage arifing from their increafe for confump- 

 tion as food, is more than counterbalanced by the mifchief occafioned by their 

 depredations.*&quot; And in Norfolk, pigeons are much fewer than formerly, as many 

 of the pigeon-houfes have been dropped, on account of the injury which the pi 

 geons do to thatched buildings, f The fame is the cafe in Kent and other counties. 

 They are particularly injurious to the grain crops juft at the time of harveft, by 

 fettling in large flights upon the {landing corn, and in this way doing more mif 

 chief by beating it down than by the quantity they confume. 



Where this fort of (lock is kept, warm flickered fituations, open to the fouth, 

 are the mod advantageous, as the pigeon delights in warmth, .and being expofed 

 to the influence of the fun. 



It is alfo of importance in the economy of thefe birds, that the floor of the dove 

 cote be nearly upon a level with the holes where they enter, and that thefe holes 

 be not too large or too numerous ; the holes where they form their nefts mould 

 not be much inclofed, as pigeons delighton being at liberty. Salt and ftrongfcents, 

 fuch as that of affafoetida, are faid to be agreeable to thefe birds, fo as frequently 

 to attach them to their habitations. 



The pigeon feldom lays more than two eggs at one laying, fitting about twenty 

 days, the male and female alternately. They are capable of breeding frequently, 

 but in general produce only two or three broods or flights in the year. There arc 

 feveral forts, but the common blue pigeon is probably the moft productive. The 

 tumblers are fmall, but very domeflic. 



After recommending the harveft flight of pigeons as the moft proper for the 

 purpofeof ftock, as being the ftrongeft to withftand the winter feafon, the author 

 of the &quot; Experienced Farmer&quot; gives the following directions on the management 

 of thefe birds : In regard to feeding them, it is advifed as only neceflary during 

 the feafon between feed-time and harveft, when &quot; it fhould be done by three or 

 four o clock in the morning ; as they rife early. If you ferve them much later, 



* Pitt s Corre&ed Report ui&quot; S taffy rdfiiir*. t Ibid of Norfolk. 



