PIGEONS FOR MARKET. 129 



of the head of the open end left in, to keep the eggs 

 and squabs from tumbling out. 



The irregularity in shape and arrangement of 

 nests may shock the fastidious, but will avoid conten- 

 tion and confusion among the birds, which frequently 

 results in the loss of eggs and squabs. 



For raising squabs for market it has 

 been proved in late years that the com- 

 mon pigeon does not give the uniform, 

 plump, attractive carcass that the market 

 demands, and which is credited to the 

 POUTER. Homer variety. Some advise crosses 

 with Runt and Dragoon, but it is generally conceded 

 among squab growers that the Homer in its purity 

 gives all the requirements of a squab to meet the 

 demands of the most fastidious. 



It is desirable to have breeders that raise squabs 

 with light skin for they always bring the top price. 

 The color of the skin is not controlled, as is popularly 

 supposed, by the color of the feathers. Parents with 

 white plumage may have dark squabs, and those as 

 black as crows may produce squabs with fair skin. 



A good plan to stock a loft is to buy enough mated 

 birds to fill it one-fourth full, and raise enough from 

 these to make up the complement, selecting the young 

 from the parents that prove to be prolific, 

 and raise the largest and whitest squabs. 

 As mated birds are not always obtain- 

 able the next best plan is to buy squabs 

 just able to fly. A good time to buy is 

 in June, July and August, when squabs JACOBIX. 

 are low in price. These birds will pass their moult 



