20 NATIONAL STANDARD SQUAB BOOK 
rations, which was a great help to the birds all that time. We 
use the self-feeder as described by Mr. Rice in his Manual and 
we find with it the grain is always clean. We have made the 
feeding question one of the most important of all and find 
that the best results are obtained by keeping plenty of grain 
and good clean drinking water before the birds at all times. 
The drinking fountains used are automatic and are scalded 
once each week. About once a week we give a teaspoonful 
of gentian to a gallon of water. We keep fresh water in the 
flying pens for bathing purpose at all times during the summer, 
and in the winter we allow our birds to bathe twice a week at 
noontime. One thing that is very essential with pigeons is 
to be kept clean. Our houses and nests are cleaned every 
week and we also spray the floors, nests and walk with a 
liquid disinfectant. We have never been troubled with lice, 
vermin or any disease of any kind. For nesting material we 
use tobacco stems, cutting them into pieces of about six 
inches, which we consider the best material for the purpose, 
and also a safeguard against lice. We feel satisfied with 
what our birds are doing and have done in the past, so well 
satisfied, in fact, that we have now under construction build- 
ings that will accommodate nearly one thousand pairs of birds. 
And the cost of keeping or feeding will not exceed one dollar 
a year per pair, so that squabs selling from two dollars to 
three dollars per dozen are sure to leave a good profit.”’ 
Looking at the financial showing of the Lunn boys, made 
in twenty-two months, we find that starting with twelve 
pairs, for which they paid us thirty dollars, they raised three 
hundred pairs, worth at the same rate seven hundred and 
fifty dollars. From this must be deducted the grain which 
they bought in that period. They start the new year with a 
fine plant capable of earning a big percentage of profit on its 
valuation. 
