ing that was of real use. On the contrary, it was a hind- 

 rance. The booklets, for instance, gave a warning against 

 rats and dampness, but no clear, practical remedy. They 

 advised a form of nest-box which experience proved imprac- 

 tical on account of the time necessary to keep it clean. They 

 advised a nest which turned cut to be wrong. They recom- 

 mended feeding at stated intervals, which resulted in squabs 

 squeaking continually for nourishment. They said nothing 

 about cooling the killed squabs. Unless the cooling is done 

 properly, the squabs cannot be marketed. And so in almost 

 every particular the advice proved to be either misleading, 

 or deficient. It was discouraging, but an incentive to 

 thought and experiment. Unless the beginner with squabs 

 wishes to pass througli the evolution of devices and methods 

 which we passed through, he will avoid every suggestion 

 which has not been demonstrated to be practical. 



The primary object is to breed squabs for market as 

 cheaply, as easily and as fast as possible, without the expen- 

 diture of a dollar for fanciful or impractical appurtenances. 

 The amount of one's capital will settle the question of the 

 number of pairs with which to start, whether ten, fifty, one 

 hundred or five hundred pairs. When you have fixed upon 

 the amount of money you wish to expend for breeders, lay 

 out your plans for the plant. 



The pigeons need shelter for themselves and their young — 

 for this purpose a weatherproof wooden structure is de- 

 manded. This shelter, which we will call the squab house, 

 needs to be supplemented by a flying-pen in which the birds 



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