THE NOVICE 11 



if he expects to build his own plant; if Ke can 

 afford to hire an expert to start it, it is simple 

 enough to run it afterwards. 



No one can be in the business for any length 

 of time without improving and broadening his 

 nature. To be successful the pigeon raiser must 

 study his flock by spending hours, at first, quietly 

 observing them in all their phases until he gets 

 to know them, and they become familiar with 

 him ; and through this, unconsciously, Ivs nature 

 becomes gentler and kinder. This is not only 

 my experience, but it is that of the most noted 

 experts for centuries past. 



Bearing these things in mind, the novice 

 should be cautious how he plunges into the 

 business without due consideration. He should 

 bury his suspicions and listen to counsel, and 

 never depend on his own wisdom until he has 

 experience at the back of it. I have never found 

 that men in the business gave wrong advice, but, 

 on the contrary, they were willing to talk intel- 

 ligently and profitably as long as I was willing 

 to listen. 



If a man makes a business of selling pigeons 

 it is to his interest to start his customer right in 

 order to sell him more; and if the novice buys 

 young stock it is impossible to be cheated on 

 the score of worn-out birds, 



