388 



APPENDIX G 



THE PERCY PERKINS ENERGIZER. 



The inventor finds use for this excellent machine almost daily 

 in his wcrk amon^; the squabs. 



SPLENDID MACHINE FOR THOSE WHO 

 SELL SQUABS AT LESS THAN COST, by 

 Percy Perkins. Every squab breeder should 

 make use of cheap and simple appliances to 

 help him in his work. A little ingenuity in 

 such matters will save him considerable ex- 

 pense. I send herewith a sketch of a little 

 device which I find exceedingly useful in 

 producing animation in the breeder. It stimu- 

 lates the thought cells and, incidentally, 

 humiliates the spirit. I have found it helpful 

 in cases like the following, for example. Our 

 butcher called me on the telephone and said 

 he would buy a few dozen squabs if the price 

 was right. I asked him what he considered 

 the right price. He replied in turn by asking 

 me what it cost me to raise a dozen squabs. 

 As I have not raised any yet, I was in some 

 doubt, not to say perplexity, but I promptly 

 rejoined that each batch cost me, as near as I 

 could figure, about two dollars a dozen. There- 

 upon he said he would give me $2.10 a 

 dozen, which would allow me a profit of five 

 per cent, which is more than government 

 bonds pay. I told him his argument was 

 good and that I would accept and give him a 

 few dozen at his price. He asked how soon 

 I could send them and I was obliged to reply 

 that I would not have any ready for market 

 until probably about February, 1912, as I 

 was experimenting with a lot of young birds 

 and wondering how many cocks and hens 

 there were, and when it would be likely that 

 they might reach adult age. He hung up 

 the receiver with a fearful oath and I then 

 repaired to the corner of the squabhouse 

 where I have my machine set up, and exercised 

 violently with it for half an hour, to remove 

 the vexation caused by my failure to make 

 that five per cent profit. I think the price 

 the butcher offered me was a very fair one. 

 as it would have enabled me to see several 

 dollars which I could view in no other way. 



A word of appreciation from a 

 conscientiously handled and well 

 satisfied patient never made me mad 

 yet. Possibly a Httle of the same 

 thing from a customer of yours 

 won't hurt your business feelings 

 any. Six months ago I bought 

 your Manual. Before that I knew 

 as much about breeding squabs as 

 you do about medicine, and prob- 

 ably less. After reading it over 

 three times I ordered three pairs 

 of Extra Plymouth Rock Homers, 

 which arrived April 14, 1911. 1- 

 From these three pairs in just six 

 months I got the following results, 

 viz: Seven and a half pairs killed 

 for personal use and sale, one and 

 a half pairs banded, two pairs eggs 

 in nest now, besides one egg broken 

 in two different nests, and. parent 

 birds deserted nests. 2. From six 

 pairs Extra Homers bought of you 

 May 4, 1911: Twelve and a half 

 pairs killed, two and a half pairs 

 banded, two pairs eggs deserted, 

 one pair in nest. 3. From six pairs bought 

 of you June 8, 1911 : Nine pairs killed, one and 

 a half pairs banded, one pair eggs deserted, 

 one pair in nest. For the squabs killed I 

 have received on an average one dollar per 

 pair. The squabs I banded were all very 

 large. Kept and moved to a separate pen to 

 mate and save for breeders. I have fed whole 

 corn, kaffir com, red wheat, cracked corn, 

 Canada peas, barley, and twice a week rice and 

 hempseed, feeding twice daily, except when I 

 didn't get home before dark, which happens 

 about twice a week. My birds have had no 

 lice or disease, and are strong and vigorous. 

 The house is cleaned weekly, and they have a 

 bath in the middle of every pleasant day, also 

 a constant supply of rock salt, fresh water, hard 

 grit and fine oyster shell. Average time I 

 spend every day is about ten minutes morning 

 and afternoon, feeding and watering, and two 

 hours once a week cleaning squabhouse. This 

 is a greenhorn record of a small squab plant 

 that is a source of recreation and pleasure, and 

 a fair return to a man who is decidedly not mak- 

 ing a business of squab raising. If my birds 

 go through the winter safely, I shall give you 

 a good order in the spring, for I can handle three 

 times as many as I have now with little or no 

 more demand upon my time. — Dr. Howell S. 

 Bontecou, New York. 



Your Manual has been of the greatest assist- 

 ance to me, and since adopting your methods 

 and style of housing, a great improvement 

 has taken place in my pigeons, although I 

 am anxious as soon as possible to get some of 

 your birds, as the demand for squabs is grow- 

 ing here, and will be just as profitable here in 

 the course of a year or two as in America. I 

 have the best birds it is possible to get here. 

 I have 170 pairs with accommodations for 400 

 pairs. I want to send for some of your stock. 

 — D. R. MacDonald, Australia. 



