406 AGRICULTURE ON THE PACIFIC SLOPE 



Middle States, and flocked together in " pigeon roosts " 

 sometimes extending over miles of country. It has 

 now become very rare from hunting, like the great 

 herds of buffalo or bison that formerly ranged the 

 great plains of the West. 



A flock of pigeons will largely take care of itself, if left free 

 to roam, invading neighboring gardens, fields, and barnyards. 

 But they will always "come home to roost 77 unless driven 

 out. As they make only very rude nests of a few sticks in 

 which two eggs are laid, they are easily pleased. Pigeon 

 houses, or " lofts' 7 as they are called, soon become rather 

 foul from the droppings of the birds. If it is desired to 

 produce squabs (young pigeons) for the meat market, the 

 nest boxes should be kept clean. It is best for this purpose 

 to keep the flocks in large wire net houses with the nests all 

 around, so that they can fly about and get plenty of air. 

 Usually no special breeds are selected for this purpose. 



Pigeons are able to make very rapid and long flights, and 

 hence are sometimes used as " carrier pigeons 77 to take mes- 

 sages quickly to long distances. A " homing pigeon 77 will 

 find its way back for hundreds of miles. A special breed of 

 stocky, strong-built form is bred for this purpose; but others 

 are similarly trained to long flights. 



The honeybee. The honeybee is the smallest of the 

 domestic animals cared for by man. Yet it is not 

 the least important, and in California especially, bee 

 keeping is a large industry. California makes more 

 honey than any other state. 



A large number of insects belonging to the bee tribe 

 are found native in California, but our honeybee has 



