General ISIanagement. 43 



be, and dire results may follow the using of it. 

 Further, there is no need to run risks bN' using mat- 

 ter about which nothing is known, when by the ex- 

 penditure of a few shillings enough grit, properly 

 medicated and salted, may be obtained to last a large 

 stud the year round. Some prepared grits contain 

 more salt than others, and if it is thought that more 

 salt is required by the birds, then they may be given 

 a lump of rock salt to lick. This, like the grit, should 

 be placed in a wooden box. This grit box should 

 be placed in a corner of the flight under a cover, so 

 as to keep it clean and afford protection from the 

 weather. A word of warning as to the use of salt. 

 Too much is as bad as too little. It impoverishes the 

 blood and causes the feather to be thin, harsh and 

 brittle. 



The loft shotdd be cleaned regtilarly and 

 systematically. If possible, all dropjiings under the 

 perches should be removed daily ; and once if not 



A Useful scraper. 



twice a week the perches should be scraped, and the 

 sawdust on the floor riddled so as to remove the loose 

 droppings which iit may contain. When the cleaning 

 is done regularly it does not occupy much time, and 

 It i--. astonishing how quickly a handy man can clean 

 up a loft ; half-an-hour a day spent in this manner 

 will accomplish great things. A clean loft means a 

 healthy loft, and a healthy loft means a successful 

 loft. A dirty loft breeds vermin aud disease, and 

 where these are there cannot be successful results. 



OBJECTIONABLE VISITORS. 



Cats, rats, and mice are all enemies of Pigeons, 

 and have to be guarded against. In lofts which are 

 raised from the ground there is little to be feared from 



