APPENDIX G 



309 



HOW TO KEEP MICE OUT OF 

 GRAIN TROUGHS, by W. L. Plumer. 



For those who, like the writer, have 

 been annoyed by the depredations of 

 mice in the self-feeders within the 

 squabhouse a sketch is given show- 

 ing arrangement which, while simple, 

 has proven entirely effective against 

 these little rodents. Squab breeders 

 are in many cases losmga much greater 

 amount of grain from this cause than 

 they realize, as while it is compara- 

 tively easy so to build the squabhouse 

 that it is secure againsr the entrance 

 of rats, the little mouse will in some 

 way get in, and in numbers unsus- 

 pected by the breeder unless he has 

 paid a night visit to the lofts. At the 

 time I followed the general custom of 

 placing the feeders upon the floor, it 

 was no uncommon occurrence on the 

 morning rounds to disturb one or more 

 mice which had lingered within the 

 feeders from the night before. 



After some sUght alterations the self- 

 feeders were arranged in the following 

 manner: In the centre of the unit or loft are 

 placed two uprights two by four, thirty-two 

 to thirty-four inches high and thirty inches 

 apart, with strips four by ten inches on bot- 

 tom of each, which are nailed to the floor. 

 This together with two short braces gives 

 the necessary support. On the top of each up- 

 right is placed an inverted three-gallon crock, a 

 board five by eight inches first being nailed 

 to top of uprights, and on these the crocks 

 rest rigidly. 



A NEW WAY TO COOK SQUABS, by Mrs. 

 M. E, Slight. I clean them and split them 

 in halves, then fry them in olive oil and 

 butter, two-thirds oil and one-third butter. 

 I first brown in the oil and butter, then cover 

 them with water and simmer until they are 

 cooked dry, then I slightly brown them again 

 and make a cream gravy to eat with them. 

 I ship my squabs alive to San Francisco and 

 average $3 a dozen for them. I have sold 

 some to the sanitarium also. 



BURLAP WINDOWS VENTILATE, by 

 C. A. Herrold. I have two hundred Homers 

 all working, and I am selling squabs from 

 them that run from eight to nine pounds to 

 the dozen. They bring me from $2.50 to $3 

 in Chicago sold by commission men. I have 

 no trouble in keeping my birds in healthy 

 condition. I think the first thing a beginner 

 should learn ii to ventilate the pigeon house. 

 They must have pure air to breathe. Do not 

 ventilate so that the wind will strike the 

 birds. I think the roof should slope both 

 ways, with a ventilator in each gable sixteen 

 IHcn^ by twenty-four inches. The window 

 on the south side should be taken out and 

 left out in winter as well as in summer. Put 

 a roller at top of window with gunny sacking 

 to pull down in bad weather or in very cold 

 weather. 



RAT-PROOF SELF-FEEDER FOR GRAIN. 



MISSOURI BREEDER SHIPS TO PITTS- 

 BURG, by J. B. Beckman. It was a year ago 

 the twelfth of this month (June) that I re- 

 ceived the first twenty-five pairs of Homer 

 breeders and I have at present two hundred 

 and fifty pairs of working Homers, and fine 

 ones, too. I have quit selling squabs in my 

 town for they will not pay over $3 per dozen, 

 so I ship to Pittsburg, Penn. I get -SB. 75 for 

 nine-pound, and $4 for ten-pound squabs. 

 My check comes every week, and it amoionts 

 to S12 to $15 a week. 



I can raise a good deal of my feed. I have 

 fifteen acres of land, high up on a hill. I have 

 about five acres of Canada peas, and the vines 

 are loaded. I have kaffir com and millet, and 

 big com, all for my birds, and about two acres 

 of sunflowers — and all doing well. 



I have a five-horsepower gasoline engine for 

 pumping my water for my birds. 



We are going to enlarge our plant before 

 fall for three hundred more pairs. With what 

 buildings I already have I will then be breed- 

 ing seven hundred pairs. I think things look 

 good for me. 



FRANTIC OVER GREEN VINES, by Louis 

 A. Hart. I am having fine success with my 

 Carneaux. All four pairs that I bought have 

 families, besides some of the squabs that have 

 mated. I am enlarging my flying pen, en- 

 closmg a lettuce and a tomato bed. They do 

 so much better with more room, and they go 

 frantic over green Canada pea vines. 



I am raising some very fine Homer squabs 

 but not enough to supply the demand for this 

 kmd of stock. In my position as meat cutter 

 in one of the highest class markets here. I 

 have a good opportunity to market all the 

 squabs I can raise. — Henry A. Lindenschmitt, 

 Colorado. 



