National Standard Squab Book. 67 
theless we know it to be a fact that our customers who started with 
large flocks are making splendid successes, and we are not so cautious 
as we were in former books in advising a small purchase, at the start. 
The rules for breeding we have given have stood the test of time; we 
have not oad it said to us that they are misleading or erroneous, on the 
contrary, our customers write and teli us that their experience corre- 
sponds with ours, that the books are all right, and our business has in- 
creased right along. When a customer orders $200 worth of breeding stock 
of us and two months later $200 worth more (we sell to some customers 
month after month steadily, as their means or their inclination permit 
them to buy) we are given a large measure of confidence, first, that people 
many of whom we never see and who are not experts) can start with 
our writings and our breeding stock and make a success, and second, 
that all we have advised about the industry is of general and convincing 
application, aud third, that it does not take extraordinary skill to make a 
success with squabs. 
We fill all orders, large or small, with equal care and thoroughness, for 
it is just as much to our interest to please’ the customer and get more 
orders in the one case as in the other. 
There is not much choice as to what time of year a start in squab 
breeding should be made. Our customers who start in the winter have 
been exceptionally successful because then prices for squabs are at the 
top notch, and it takes only a few sales to make a new breeder thor- 
oughly convinced to go ahead to success. We ship breeders all the year 
round. A pigeon will not break down under either stifling heat or bitter 
cold, ‘being a remarkable contrast to all other animals in this respect. 
We fill orders in rotation and treat customers alike, and ship promptly. 
Frequently we get orders to ship by first returning express, and it is very 
difficult to do this. One customer in Chicago planned to start for Alaska 
with 12 pairs of our birds, but he held back his letter so that we got it 
only with two hours to fill crates and get birds to him before his de- 
parture. We filled his order as a matter of “accommodation. : 
In ordering supplies to be sent by freight; remember that it takes a 
freight shipment some time to get to destination, especially when traffic 
is congested in the spring or in the harvest season. Give us your order 
for nappies, ete., before your house is ready. 
The live breeders are shipped by us either in specially made pine crates 
or wicker coops. Large shipments for remote points go best in the wicker 
coops, which remain our property and are returned to us at our expense 
‘by the express companies after the customer has released the pigeons. 
These baskets are expensive and are fitted with large block tin feed and 
water dishes. It is impossible to break them open with the roughest 
handling. The birds have plenty of roum in them and arrive at their 
destination in fine condition. : 
The usual fault of inexperienced shippers is that the box or crate is too 
