30 PIGEON RAISING 



of five-to-one cement. Let this stand forty- 

 eight hours, then fill up with two-to-one cement 

 and you will have a most satisfactory an up-to- 

 date pavement. 



In my market stock pen, which carried as 

 many as i,ooo pigeons at one time, I had two 

 tanks 2x4 feet, and four inches deep, but the 

 water was constantly running. 



My drain pipes were built of rough lumber 

 sunk in the ground on a gradual incline. As 

 they were not water-tight they leaked gallons 

 of water that might have been used advanta- 

 geously for irrigation. For a first-class pigeon 

 plant I should build them of concrete, or use 

 terra cotta piping, whichever happens to be the 

 cheapest. 



Make the alfalfa patch gently sloping and 

 have the drain pipes come in at different places 

 at the top. This gives irrigation and fertiliza- 

 tion at the same time, for there is always ma- 

 nure in the bath tanks. These tanks must be 

 thoroughly cleansed and allowed to refill each 

 day. Although I did this faithfully every day 

 there always appeared a green scum that an- 

 noyed me exceedingly, until a kind old farmer 

 told me to put two or three large pebbles in 

 each tank. This kept the water clear as crys- 

 tal. 



