PIGEONS. 69 



Breed young ones for stock in the spring ; those bred 

 in the winter, being generally cramped, never prove good 

 breeders. 



The reason I recommend baskets to breed in is, tame 

 pigeons seldom build their nests, the want of which a 

 basket supplies. Be sure to take care that no vermin 

 come among them. 



Of those bred in pigeon-houses, the grey pigeon, in- 

 clining to ash-colour and black, is the best ; the female 

 generally shows her fruitfulness by the redness of her 

 eyes and feet, and by a ring of gold colour round her 

 neck. 



There are two seasons in the year in which you may 

 stock your pigeon-house. The first is in May; as these 

 first pigeons, having strengthened themselves during the 

 winter, are in a condition soon to yield profit to the 

 buyer. The second is in August ; for at that time there 

 are a great number of young pigeons that have been 

 well fed with the corn which their dams have plentifully 

 supplied them with, from the harvest. 



You must take care to furnish your pigeon-house 

 according to the size of it : if you put but few in, a long 

 time will elapse before you will have young pigeons for 

 use, for you must take none out of it before it is well 

 stocked. 



Be sure to feed in hard weather ; and in benting time, 

 which is when the corn is in the ear. Keep out the 

 vermin, and you will never want stock. 



Give loam, mixed well with salt and cummin- 



