CHAPTER XIV 

 PREPARING SQUABS FOR MARKET 



GENERAL APPEARANCE OF PRODUCT 



The appearance of any marketable article has considerable 

 to do with the price received for it, and especially so with an 

 article like squabs that can be made to look nice, clean and 

 inviting by a little care, or will appear dirty and undesirable 

 if handled carelessly. 



Squabs should be picked reasonably clean, and care should 

 be taken not to tear the flesh. The head should be left on with 

 the feathers extending about half way down the neck. The 

 ieet should be left on, but well washed and cleaned, with the 

 feathers picked off from around the knees. Dry picked squabs 

 will not only keep better, but have a much better appearance 

 than squabs that are scalded before picked. The placing of 

 squabs in cold water, for a few minutes, immediately after 

 picking not only gives the squabs a plump like appearance, 

 but will make the flesh appear much whiter and nicer, provided 

 the picking is done before the animal heat has left the body. 



For special private trade, it is not a bad idea to wrap each 

 squab in wax paper, leaving the head and feet unwrapped. A 

 specially selected carton is also an advantage when delivering 

 to private trade. 



The evenness in size is another point worth watching. Extra 

 large squabs, or extremely small ones should be separated from 

 the rest, as the latter will make the entire lot look smaller, and 

 the former will not be appreciated. All of these things have a 

 tendency in the right direction. 



Good manners, neat appearance, with clean hands and feet, 

 has its effect when delivering squabs to fastidious trade, and, 

 in fact, with all classes of trade. Points of this nature are well 

 worth considering, and often mean more for the success of a 

 buifiness than one can estimate. 



17'J 



