72 
FOREST AND STREAM 
July 19, 1913 
The first of a series of instructive articles on squab 
raising by Prof. Thomas Wright, in charge of this 
branch of service, on the estate of Mr. Frank Seaman at 
Yama Farms, Napanoch, N. Y., where is carried on 
scientific propagation of fancy animals, birds and fish, 
useful to man. Mr. Seaman’s brook trout ponds are 
known the world over. 
T HE above subject, with its interesting feat¬ 
ures by different authors, never fails to 
present some new ideas to the beginner, 
and those contemplating this industry as a means 
of support. 
No branch of outdoor life has received less 
assistance from our National Department of 
Agriculture, which does financially aid many 
FLORENTINE COCK IMPORTED FROM ITALY. 
other branches of farm enterprise, often less re¬ 
sponsive to improved methods. 
It has been a life work of mine for the 
past forty years to breed and improve the pigeon, 
and while I have much yet to learn, as every 
day develops something entirely new, the vari¬ 
ous successes and failures I have met with 
should afford much that is useful to the begin¬ 
ner, and I take pleasure in trying to aid others 
by my experience, and illustrate this article with 
picture specimens from Yama Farms. 
There seems to be a divided opinion upon 
one vital subject pertaining to improving the 
Squab Breeding 
I.—Means of Increase 
By THOS. WRIGHT 
Photographs by Helen D. Van Eaton. 
squab. Some breeders are opposed to the pro¬ 
cess of crossing established varieties, and are 
content, and even advocate the ordinary eight- 
pound to the dozen Homer squab. The only 
way to increase size is to unite a larger breed 
with the present popular breed, the Homer. 
In making this cross to produce our object, 
a larger squab, several varieties may be used, 
and when we use judgment in selection and 
method in execution, the progeny of such can¬ 
not be classed, and it is not a mongrel, as many 
breeders and dealers who have Homers to sell 
proclaim it. We might as well call some of our 
best laying poultry, which now are established 
varieties, mongrels, for they are the results of 
judicious crossing; not chance matings, but ob¬ 
ject matings. The pigeons which we see inhabit¬ 
ing our public buildings and streets, breeding 
upon “spacious” window sills and different 
available places in our cities, are mongrels, be¬ 
cause they have no means of discrimination in 
their partners, selected as mates. They breed 
promiscuously as fancy may dictate, and the 
offspring may properly be called mongrels. 
When I undertook my present engagement 
to improve the squab breeding material at Yama 
Farms, I had as a basis the Homer to work 
upon. As no ancestor or composite part of the 
Homer weighed more than eight ounces, my 
hope of getting a larger squab than the parent 
was out of the question. We, therefore, im¬ 
ported Florentines from Italy, Runts from Kenil¬ 
worth, England, Maltese from Hungary, Aus¬ 
tria, and Mondaine from Geneva, Switzerland. 
These we crossed upon the best of Homer hens, 
selecting for our purpose those hens with best 
breast conformation. We also are breeding 
many of these imported birds pure and have a 
beautiful collection to repay us. 
Among our importation was one particularly 
fine specimen, a gayly pied Maltese cock, whose 
photograph we present, which showed remark¬ 
able signs of amorousness and vitality. We have 
bred him polygamously, and now have an abund¬ 
ance of his progeny distributed through our 
houses, which are a pronounced improvement. 
True it is, from Old Moore even down to 
Audubon, no author gives us any idea that 
pigeons breed other than in’ pairs, but this 
bachelor prefers his compulsory marriages, and 
the results are extremely gratifying. He is a 
most valuable item in our pigeon enterprise and 
well worth $100. A grave departure from 
nature’s laws, though of a happy, sunny dispo¬ 
sition, his presence among his companions seems 
to be most acceptable, and his consideration for 
squabs just leaving the nest seems to be to pro¬ 
tect them rather than abuse them as most male 
birds are apt to do. 
To many, yes to the majority, polygamy 
among pigeons would be discredited, and if I 
should read of anyone doing the work I have 
done with this bird, I too should be apt to 
doubt it, but as all of his progeny will be saved 
for stock purposes, I shall be pleased to show 
him and his offspring to anyone sincerely in¬ 
terested who cares to visit us. To perfect a 
flock of squab pigeons that breed not less than 
ten pounds to the dozen squabs, and include in 
their physical composition a modicum of the 
Homer, requires time, but when once accom¬ 
plished it is for all time. The reason a por¬ 
tion of the Homer is required is the fact that 
it is naturally one of the most prolific varieties 
known, but only its prolificacy is needed, and 
THE AUTHOR AND HIS BEST STUD PIGEON. 
in order to establish the size and weight, we 
should have age on the side of the cock, and 
size and youth on the side of the hen. The 
mother undoubtedly imparts the life and exist¬ 
ence to the offspring, but when age and extra 
vigor are established in her partner, nearly al¬ 
ways all of the characteristics and disposition 
revert to the cock's influence. 
All such lines of thought play an important 
part, when put into practice in successful squab 
breeding. Feeding, care and management are 
of course prominent features in the work, but 
if we would save money in the cost of stock 
production and can have that degree of patience 
necessary, we can in one year save the cream 
