SUPPLEMENT 



127 



made by adding a teasi^oonful of creoline to 

 one quart of water. This will kill any disease 

 germs that may be present, and is a good 

 disinfectant. 



"Give good care, not neglecting the small 

 things, ELS it is the multitude of these wherein 

 the profit Ues. 



'The demand for squabs is constantly 

 increasing and any one entering into this 

 business and willing to give it the attention 

 it requires will always find a profit on the 

 right side of the ledger. But remember this 

 profit will be according to the care and 

 intelligence put into the business." 



NEW YORK MARKET. The following is 

 taken from the New York World, an article 

 on squabs, :published in August, 1904: 



Squab-Raising as a Fine Art. — Game Laws 

 Make Propagation of this Small Bird a 

 Remunerative Business. — Palates Demand Sub- 

 stitute for Quail and Other Morsels that 

 Statutes Forbid. — Few persons, even among 

 the devotees of late suppers in New York's 

 high-priced restavirants, in looking over their 

 elaborate menus and selecting, say, a squab 

 on toast, realize what a tremendous industry 

 the Broadway taste for a large cold bottle 

 and a small hot bird has developed in the 

 United States in recent years. 



The industry may, indeed, be considered 

 in itself in a squab state, but such has become 

 the after-theatre demand for the tasty little 

 birds that many business men have turned 

 from less lucrative jjtu^uits to devote their 

 energies to their raising. 



It would be impossible to state precisely 

 how many squabs are annually bred in the 

 United States, but it is estimated that 

 hundreds of thousands reach the tables and 

 tickle the palates of luxury-loving and 

 extravagant people. 



The best of judgment in regard to quality 

 and quantity of feed is essential, cracked com 

 and red wheat being the staple food. Kaffir 

 com, Canada peas, buckwheat and millet 

 comprise about 20 per cent of the food in 

 winter, and in the summer less com but more 

 wheat. Grit and salt are before the birds 

 always. 



At the age of four weeks the squabs are 

 ready for market and are deliciously tender, 

 as they have never learned to fly, and their 

 muscles have not had the hardening influence 

 of exercise. The killers now get busy. With 

 a slip-noose around the feet, and wings locked 

 on the back, the squabs are suspended from 

 a rack. A killing knife is inserted well into 

 the mouth and a quick, deep slash made at 

 the back of the throat, allowing the bird to 

 bleed freely. 



An expert can kill and rough pick about 

 four birds before they get cold. The squabs 

 are next dropped into a galvanized iron tub, 

 through which a constant stream of water 

 flows, which cools the birds. Then a small 

 hose nozzle is inserted in the mouth and water 

 allowed to fill the crop, after which it is with- 



drawn and a quick pressure forces everything 

 out. A second use of the hose thoroughly 

 cleanses the crop. Two more immersions 

 in iced water make the birds ready for local 

 shipment. 



In the Lenten season commission houses 

 buy and ice thousands of dozens of squabs 

 for winter trade. That is also the time squab 

 raisers select and save the best stock for 

 breeders. 



Many of the live birds, especially the 

 Homers and red Cameaux, cost from $2.50 

 to $6 per pair. 



Prices for squab in New York City run from 

 $4 per dozen in the early season to $5.50 and 

 $6 in the winter. 



TWO YEARS' EXPERIENCE WITH OUR 

 BIRDS. Will you kindly send us price-list 

 and such other printed matter as you have 

 issued within the past year? You will 

 remember we bought six pairs of you one year 

 ago last July. We have about 124 now and 

 are disposing of all the squabs we can raise 

 at three dollars per dozen. All of our birds 

 are not laying yet but will soon mature. We 

 have lost several when they were young birds, 

 then we had some stolen (one of which came 

 back). One bird had a peculiar substance 

 form around the outside under the bill. Will 

 you tell us if this was canker? We disposed 

 of the bird at once. We did not try to treat 

 it at all. The people here know very little 

 about fine squab, but I beUeve the market 

 is growing better right along. Feed is much 

 higher here than in the East. We have to 

 pay $1.75 per 100 for cracked com, $2.15 for 

 red wheat, $1.75 for Kaffir com and about 

 $5 for hempseed, so that $3 per dozen does 

 not bring in a very large profit. Would you 

 advise our raising the price? We hope to 

 send you another order shortly. We have 

 not tried to use the maniure at all. We have 

 had no trouble with our birds as to vermin. 

 They seem to keep entirely free from it. — 

 Mrs. H. D., State of Washington. 



TO MONTANA IN GOOD ORDER. I 



received " the crate of pigeons yesterday. 

 They were all alive and in good health. — 

 J. F., Montana. 



FINDS OUR BIRDS FAST BREEDERS. 



On September 16, 1902, I ordered six pairs 

 Extra from you and now (August 30, 1904) 

 have about two hundred old pigeons and 

 squabs together, and will want to begir 

 shipping a few before long. Wish you 

 would please give me the names of a lot of 

 desirable squab buyers in New York and 

 other nearby cities. Do you think prices 

 will be better later on in the fall, and which 

 is the best way to ship them, dead or alive? 

 Can I get shipping crates already made ? 

 If so, where, and at what price? Thanking 

 you in advance for this information. — 

 W. E. H., North Carolina. 



