Successful Exhibiting. 125 



them. He must win at Slocum-on-the-^Mud, then they 

 will believe he has some ^-ood Pigeons. With them, 

 seeing is believing, otherwise they are doubting 

 Thomases one and all. Then, although one may be 

 able to win at the big classical events, there is a desire 

 to do well at home at the little insignificant, unim- 

 liortant fixture, which if it were fifty or a hundred miles 

 away one would not give a second thought to. It is 

 the desire to win local approbation, to stand well in the 

 eyes of our every-day friends and companions, which 

 causes us to wish to win at the local event — and how 

 much some of us have sacrificed to win this local esteem 

 for our birds ! How often has a winner of a first and 

 cup at the Palace, or some other big fixture, been 

 trotted out for the little home event, and had to bow 

 its proud head to some bird not worth as many shillings 

 as our champion was worth pounds ; but that, bitter 

 though it has been, was nothing to be compared to 

 the gall and wormwood of being beaten on our own 

 ground, and before the eyes of our bosom pals, who 

 have not forgotten afterwards to rub it in. 



GETTING CONDITION. 



Now, as condition, or the lack of it, has much to 

 do with the awards at JSummer shows, I wish to 

 lead some of my voung friends into the desired way of 

 obtaining it. When birds which have been attend- 

 ing to the requirements of the later nests of young 

 birds are relieved of their parental responsibilities they 

 should be allowed plenty of flight room, fed rather 

 sparingly, and upon as non-heatin^- a diet as possible. 

 For the first few days after leaving the young they 

 should be given a pinch of Epsom Salts morning and 

 night. This will cool their blood, cleanse their 

 systems, and assist in keeping their jackets intact. 

 They should be given a bath every other day to cleanse 

 andbrighten their plumage. Birds of the wattled 

 varieties will need a more searchin-r preparation than 

 those belonging to the non-wattled breeds. During 

 the breeding season the birds with heavy wattles and 

 ceres become very much messed ut) about the head, 

 and unless this is put right the chances of such are 

 seriously jeopardised. 



