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The National
Standard Squab Book

By Eimer C. RIcE

(Mail address, Post Office Box 175, Boston, Mass., U.S. A.)

A PRACTICAL MANUAL GIVING
COMPLETE AND PRECISE DIREC-
TIONS FOR THE INSTALLATION
AND MANAGEMENT OF A _ SUC-
CESSFUL SQUAB PLANT. FACTS
FROM EXPERIENCES OF MANY

HOW TO MAKE A PIGEON AND SQUAB
BUSINESS PAY, DETAILS OF BUILDING,
BUYING, HABITS OF BIRDS, MATING,
WATERING, FEEDING, KILLING, COOL-
ING, MARKETING, SHIPPING, CURING
AILMENTS, AND OTHER INFORMATION

Illustrated with New Sketches and Half Tone Plates
from Photographs Specially Made
for this Work

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS
1909

LIBRARY of CONGRESS
Two Cepies Received

JAN 16 4909

Copyriant Entry

bom. GVA 4

GLASS Qu XXc. No,

Copyright’ 1901, by Elmer C. Rice
Copyright, 1902, by Elmer C. Rice
Copyright, 1903, by E-mer C. Rice
Copyright, 1904, by Elmer CG. Rice
Copyright, 1905, by Elmer CG. Rice
Copyright, 1906, by Elmer GC. Rice
Copyright, 1907, by Elmer C. Rice
Copyright, 1908, by Elmer C. Rice
Copyright, 1909, by Elmer C. Rice

A WELL-BUILT NEST.

Press of _
Murray and Emery Company
Boston, Mass.

CONTENTS

Preface ; ¢

Chapter I. Squabs Pay

Chapter II. An Easy Start
Chapter III. The Unit House
Chapter IV. Nest Bowls and Nests
Chapter V. Water and Feed.
Chapter VI. Laying and Hatching

Chapter VII.
Chapter VIII.
Chapter IX.
Chapter X.
Chapter XI.
Chapter XII.

Supplement
Appendix A
Appendix B
Appendix C
Appendix D
Appendix E
Appendix F

Increase of Flock
Killing and Cooling
The Markets

Pigeons’ Ailments
Getting Ahead
Questions and Answers

Plymouth Rock arlene:

Carneaux and Homers Not in Same Pen
A Monthly Squab Magazine

More About How to Tell Sex

How to Keep Down an Excess of Caeks
Squab Houses of Two and Three Stories
Squabs Fed Artificially

Nests on the Floor : :

A Plan to Get Rid of Rats and Nice
How to Make Perches

Pittsburg Market

Low Quotations

How to Kill Cats

Breeding True to Color

Sulphur and Iron Water

Pigeons that Fly Away

No Coal Ashes

Temporary Pen and Breeding Ban
Twigs for Nesting Materials

Clamoring for Squabs in Washington State

Oklahoma and Indian Territory

Page
1s

21
37
45

ol
63
75
79
83
89
93
101

5 bile:
- “139

153
169

5 USE

Dig yay

. 2a

239

5 il
. 238
- 209
5 BSS:
. 241
. 242

244

. 244
. 245

246

. 246
. 246
2247

247

. 248
. 248.
. 249

249
251

. 203

. 254

Le TGS:

Page
Portrait of the Author [Frontispiece] ............
A Well-BuiltsNest.- cc tenra came siecle oer 8
Thorourhbredsxevaqs tesa clamor ree 14
How a Back Yard may be Fixed for Pigeons... .. . 18
Cheap but Practical Nest Boxes................ 22
How City Dwellers without Land may Breed
SOUaDS! ES satin sees ols ca cre ee oops 24
Unit Squab House (with Passageway) and Flying
BER REE Se EORTC aE Etic nn ore ace 26
Nest Boxes Built of Lumber... ........0+0c2000- 28
Best Nest Box Construction..................... 30
Interior of Squab House Showing Perches... . . wed 32
A Pretty Squab House and Flying Pen.......... 36
MultipleiUntt EH ousesyqmmetcecineacieeae seek 38
Interior of Multiple Unit House ............... 40
Multiple Unit House, Ten Units, Built according
COROT E LANs? tees See eee eee 42
Nest Bowl, Bath Pan, Drinking Fountain, etc. 46
Berry Crate to Hold Nesting Miaitertalio eect 50
Scenes on the $200,000 Farm of One of Our
Customerssi ici cakek Soe ne tee wae ee 58
Eggs in the Nest, Squabs Just Hatched......... 64

Squabs One Week Old, Squabs Two Weeks Old... 66
Squabs Three Weeks Old, Squabs Four Weeks Old. 68

he Mating Coopenccicccts crrsteea nice ee ieee 70
Pigeons in St. Mark’s Square, Venice............ 74
Killing Squabs with the Hands.................. 80
Kalled' Squabs Mung to Cool! 2s 22. sateen aes 82
ThreesDressed: Squalbsecsat cn nertenin amet eee 86
Squab House Built of Logs............-....+--- 88
Pair oletlomersibilintassmesceeir crc cnete 90
Ho waWiershipybiceonsivaetrieetiatetecer seater ters 98
Self Reeder for Grains a... creissicsere carci ecihe
Machine for Killing Squabs. .
SDEA Ver) soe asie ae rrecemoee
Nest "Boxesis-t.ccvetstiersaateioniotieer ne etecinctaens
Pigeons in Corner of Flying Pen................. 138
Mating Coops in Mating Heuse.................. 140
Interior of M: Aine ELOUSe soot one reer rere 142
Part of South Side of One of Our Houses......... 146
Dowel System of Feeding and Watering from
Alley Waris ccc tx ntie ee vere ele ae ne 150
hetteritrom(An Sug) tepeise ce eae aeons 188
Letter from W. R. McLaughlin................. 190
Letter from Heineman & Co..............22--0 192
Extra Plymouth Rock Homers................. 194
A Good-Looking Illinois Plant.................. 196
Showing Construction in Florida................ 198
Homer Hen Sitting on Eggs..................-- 199
Lighted by Electricity and Heated by Steam... .. 200
On a Pole at Top of Flying Pen................. 202
Cheapest Possible Construction................- 204
The Starts Gamscec wate colic domenctane eaten 206
Thisi Customers acdctece ein adeeee keene 206
Beautiful Pair of Splashes.............0.00-000- 207
Plymouth Rock Blue Bars and ous Chestes Soo Zale

Ona Running Board in the Sun,,,...... 49/8209

DOA TORN:

Page

Interior of Massachusetts Customer's House... ... 210
Women Enjoy Squab Raising.................- 211
Atithe Back of aBbarn).. ac 2) oetiecen acre een 212
ShipshapelHlyingybpens a.) - oaoeee 213
Nest of Straw and Feathers....................- 214
Different: Sizes... ciccrrcinec ioe oo ee 215
AntInexpensive starts. cisn:,c0 stents ee 21€
ARowobBeauties: = o.c.c2ins-5c cee dee eee 217
Mating tomes EL an daw sys esis eee 218
Readyto Rallies es. ceen eee en nee 219
Squabs:25) Days Oldia; snes tee eee 220
Tn: the Snow: 3.cch%-s ean oh oe ee eee 221
Squabs-Lhree’ Weeks Old 7-22. =0 seer 222
Hquabs Twelve Days Oldies .....ssseeee nee 223
Squabs a Few Days Old..............0.e+00es8 224
NestofobseccoStems.).-2 0 os eee 225 .
Raised from Plymouth Rock Extras............ 226
Carn eatixy Sec cise soc nse eee ee 227
Carneau Squab Compared with Homer Squab.... 236
Two and One-half Story Squab House........... 243
Plymouth Rock Extra Homer Male............. 250
Plymouth Rock Extra Homer Female........... 252
Hlying PeniohalBarnecre mess eoh oe eee 256
Three Squabs Hatched in One Ne:t.............. 257
Any Old)Place: Hixedi@veri <2 2. eee 259
Squab Plant in Pennsylvania Protected by Hillside 262
‘AuNewi Jerseys plant sctacciscircxis «an toeee eee 264
Another View of New Jersey Plant.............. 265
An Attractive Minnesota Squab Plant........... 266
Hundreds of Squabs Eaten at One Banquet. .... . 268
Mississippi squab Elouse.y.).\..vici-ne)- serene 269
AU Massachusetts blantee ees seen Gee eeeeeeee 270
Another View of Massachusetts Plant............ 271
California Squab House... smc. cee eeeeiee 272
Small Openings under the Windows............ 273
A Pair of Squabs from Plymouth Rock Extras.... 274
Squab Building in British Columbia............. 276
SAN City SQUaDELOUSG Se qaee eae ioc areca eee 278
JA Pair of BiziSquabse.s sank aca 280
An\Oddi Saab) Houses....c0s/0<0.o-le eee 282
Tobaeco Stems sc ste neat oc «cies See ee eer 283
Lump ‘of Rock Salts 25 <\.:2c.2'sssrcotreteiem et eeteeteiee 284
Head of Sorghum: Seeds... .saceriene severe 285
ML Gal GN Git 5 ave se, otras tte ake a eae aero eee 286
Red Wheat, Canada Peas, Hempseed............ 287
Screws, Kaffir Corn, Sorghum Cane Seed......... 288
Whole Corn, Coarse Cracked, Fine Cracked....... 289
White W heat, Poor Red W heat, Wheat Screenings 290
Barley, Oats, Sunflower Seeds.................- 291
American Millet, Siberian Millet, Golden Millet... . 292
Rice Unhulled, Rice, Buclewheat -..1:ch.c5 aaooee 293
Granite Grit, Quartz Grit, Same Crushed ........ 294
Health Grit, Coarse Oyster Shell, Pigeon Oyster

Shell. os css hed vie Seceon eine ees eros 295
Mixed Grain (three samples)............-...+-++ 296
‘A South Carolina Plants aoccman os) 2s 298
Ordinary Quarters. een) vasce yahoos 301
Home; Madey. satrnnsentem sraciviine »arlastemeieectenrteds 302

PREFACE.

This Manual or Handbook, on Squabs is written to teach
people, beginners mostly, not merely how to raise squabs,
but how to conduct a squab and pigeon business successfully.
We have found breeders of squabs who knew how to raise them
fairly well and took pleasure in doing so, but were weak on
the business end of the industry. The fancier, who raises
animals because he likes their looks or their actions, or
because he hopes to beat some other fancier at an exhibition,
is not the man for whom we have written this book. We
have developed Homer pigeons and the Homer pigeon industry
solely because they are staples, and the squabs they produce
are staples, salable in any market at a remunerative price.
The success of squabs as we exploit them depends on their
earning capacity. They are a matter of business. Our
development of squabs is based on the fact that they are
good eating, that people now are in the habit of asking for
and eating them, that there is a large traffic in them which
may be pushed to an enormous extent without weakening
either the market or the price. If, as happens in this case,
pigeons are a beautiful pet stock as well as money makers,
so much the better, but we never would breed anything not
-useful, salable merely as pets. It is just as easy to pet a
practical animal as an impractical animal, and much more
satisfying.

This Manual is the latest and most comprehensive work we
have done, giving the results of our experience as fully and
accurately as we can present the subject. It is intended as an
answer to the hundreds of letters we receive, and we have
tried to cover every point which a beginner or an expert needs
to know. It is a fault of writers of most guide books like
this to leave out points which they think are too trivial, or
“which everybody ought to know.’’ It has been our experi-
ence in handling this subject and bringing it home to people
that the little points are the ones on which they most quickly
go astray, and on which they wish the fullest information.
After they have a fair start, they are able to think out their
operations for themselves. Accordingly we have covered

12, NATIONAL STANDARD SO CUA5 E00 fe

every point in this book in simple language and if the details
in some places appear too commonplace, remember that we
have erred on the side of plainness.

The customers to whom we have sold breeding stock have
been of great help to us in arranging and presenting these
facts. We asked them to tell us just the points they wished
covered, or covered more fully, or just where our writings
were weak. They replied in a most kindly way, nearly every
letter thanking us heartily, and brimming over with enthus-
iasm for the squab industry.

It has surprised a great many people to learn that Homer
pigeons are such a staple and workable article. They have
been handled by the old methods for years without their
great utility being made plain. When we first learned atout
squabs, we were struck by the impressive fact that here was
something which grew to market size in the incredible time
of four weeks and then was marketed readily at a good profit.
The spread of that knowledge will make money for you.
Show your neighbors the birds you buy of us, tell them the
facts, and perhaps give them a squab to eat, then you will
find a quick call for all the live breeders you can supply.

The procedure which we advise in this National Standard
Squab Book is safe and sound, demonstrated to be successful
by hundreds of our customers, many of whom started with no
knowledge except what we were able to give them by letter
or word of mouth. We have abandoned all instruction
which does not stand the test of time and locality, and give
only facts of proven value, of real, practical experience.

ELMER C. RICE.

Boston, August, 1902.

POSTSCRIPT.

This work has met with so much favor during the past year,
and has sold so largely in excess of expectations, that we
wish to thank our friends everywhere for their cordial support.
The Appendix A which appears at the back of this edition
was added last February, and it is our intention to keep the
work up to date by revisions and additions at least twice
yearly, The proof of the pudding is in the eating, and the

PREFACE 13

proof of these squab teachings is shown in the successes made
by our thousands of customers with no other knowledge of
squabs than this as a guide. Our correspondence, now
having extended over a long period, shows conclusively that
beginners find all questions answered in this book, and go
forward confidently and surely to success.

EC ky

Boston, August, 1903.

1907 EDITION.

The old plates of this book have been fairly worn out by
much printing, so great has been the demand for it, especially
during the past five years. The sales have been larger than
for any other work on birds or animals ever written, For this
1907 edition, the whole book has been reset in new type, and
new plates made.

The outlook for the squab industry during 1907 andthe
years to come is of high promise. More people are eating
squabs than ever before and more people are raising them.
At no time within our memory has the market been over-
stocked with squabs, and prices have kept up all along the
line. Only yesterday we were visited by a gentleman and his
niece from New York City who stated that they had priced
squabs there December 31 and found them seven dollars and
fifty cents a dozen. The dealers who offered them at this
price had paid the breeders for them from four dollars to six
dollars a dozen, according to: their postal card quotations sent
out in December.

We shall be pleased to hear from our friends after they have
read this‘ book, and welcome any suggestions for its improve-
ment, or for the betterment of the squab industry. The
author will gladly answer all such letters and advise fully as to
location and construction of buildings, and management of
breeding stock.

EB: CoB:

Boston, January, 1907,

THOROUGHBREDS.

CHAPTER I.
SQUABS PAY

Experience of a Customer who Started in January, 1902,
Erected a Plant Worth Three Thousand Dollars and Made
Money Almost from the Start—Settlements of Squab Breeders
in Iowa, California, New Jersey and Pennsylvania—
Large Incomes Made from Pigeons—Squab Plants Known
to be Making Money—The Hard-Working Farmer and the
Easy-Working Squab Raiser—No Occupation for a Drone—
No Exaggeration.

‘Will it pay me to raise squabs?”’ is the first question
which the beginner asks. We take the case of a man who
bought a Manual in January, 1902. His boys had kept a few
pigeons but had never handled them in a commercial way,
nor tried to make any money with them. The reading of
the book gave him the first real light on the squab industry.
Possibly he was more readv to believe because he knew from
his own personal experience that a squab grows to market size
in four weeks and is then readily marketable. He started at
once to build a squab house according to the directions given.
The ground was too hard for him to get a pickaxe into, so
he laid the foundation timbers on bricks, rushed the work
ahead with the help of good carpenters and sent on his order
for breeding stock. In the course of a few weeks he ordered
a second lot of breeders, followed by a third and a fourth,
and he kept adding new buildings. When spring came and
the ground softened, he jacked up his first squab house, took
out the bricks at the four corners and put in cedar posts.
By the middle of July he had five handsome squab houses
and flying pens, all built by skilled labor in the best possible
style at a cost of at least three hundred dollars apiece. With
his buildings and their fittings and his birds, his plant repre-
sented an expenditure of between two thousand and three
thousand dollars.

This gentleman lives in a locality where he had to put up nice-
looking buildings, or the neighbors would have complained.
He spent probably three times more money on his buildings

146 NATIONAL STANDARD SOUABEOOKs

than the average beginner would spend. He is a superin-
tendent of a large manufacturing plant, a man of push and
energy, and he has four young: boys in his family who have
helped with the wife and grandfather to make the venture
successful. It was a paying venture almost from the very
start. Everything that we wrote about squabs as money.
makers came true in his case. One of the sons, a lad of nine-
teen, came on to see us the first summer and told us the story
of their success. He was after more breeding stock. He
said he had many calls from neor!e who wished to buy stock
of him, and he was unable te supply all of them, but he did
not intend to have money offered him very long without
being able to pass out the birds. In other words, they were
going into squabs for all they were worth. They had not done
any advertising, and had not sold live breeders to any extent,
but figured their profits solely on the sale of squabs to com-
mission houses, and they were getting for them just what
we said the commission men would pay.

We have a great many visitors, some coming from remote
points of the United States. One of our visitors in the
summer of 1902 was Mr. A. L. Furlong, from a little town in
Iowa. Mr. Furlong said to us: ‘‘ lowa is quite a squab
breeding State. There are plants in Ruthven, Osage, Wallake
and Estherville. The owner of a plant in Ruthven I know
very well. He showed me his account books; he was shipping
from seven hundred to eight hundred dollars worth of squabs
last month. He is making a profit of three thousand to five
thousand dollars a year. He ships to the Chicago market,
as do nearly all the Iowa breeders. He never gets less than
two dollars and fifty* cents a dozen for his squabs. I am
going to start raising squabs myself.”’

Mr. Furlong left an order for one of our Manuals, having
given his first one to his friend. He said that his friend was
breeding common pigeons and would like to know our methods.
We discarded common pigeons some time ago. If our lowa
friends will use Homer pigeons instead of common ones, they
will produce a much better squab and make more money.

We had a curious confirmation é6f the above in August, 1902,
when Mr. E. H. Grice, who lives in the northern part of
Vermont, visited us. Mr. Grice had just returned from a visit
to the West, and stopped for a while at Ruthven, Iowa, where

SQUABS PAY 17

he saw the plant above noted. The proprietor referred Mr.
Grice to us and advised him to start with Homer pigeons,
saying that, if he were to stock up again, it would be with
Homer instead of the common pigeons. Before leaving, Mr.
Grice gave us an order for one hundred pairs of our Homers.

The number of orders for breeding stock which we have
received from Iowa is out of proportion to any State near it,
showing that these squab plants are known throughout Iowa
to be making money. The same is true of California. We
visited many squab breeders in eastern States in June, 1902,
noting the buildings and methods and finding out from them
if they were satisfied with the financial returns. All were
enthusiastic and said it was easy work, that squabs beat
hens easily and were much less care. The methods of some
of these breeders were extremely crude, the birds nesting in
old boxes of all sizes nailed to the walls of the squab
houses, and apparently never being cleaned. The Homers
were small, not being able to raise squabs weighing over seven
pounds to the dozen.

Somebody has said that a squab plant of one thousand pairs
of birds will pay better than a farm. The contrast between
the hard, grinding toil of the man who works a large farm and
the “ standing around ” of the owner of a squab plant is indeed
a striking one. However, we do not speak of this to give you
the idea that money is going to flow into your lap just because
you buy some squab breeders of us. It is no work for a drone
or a “ get-rich-quick ”’ person whose enthusiasm runs riot for
two weeks and then cools off. Our class of trade is men and
women of experience and reliable common sense who have
a knowledge of the world and understand that things come
by work and not for the asking. The people who are able
and willing to pay us from fifty to five hundred dollars for a
breeding outfit, as hundreds do, are not caught by glittering
_ promises, but have money laid by through exercise of the
qualities of ability and shrewdness. The naturally careless,
improvident person, who is generally in debt, should not start
squab raising. It is a sensible industry for sensible people.

The profits to be made with squabs vary with the individual
and with the management of the birds, exactly as with poul-
try. It is important to have only mated or even pairs in the
pens and all birds not producing should be kept in a separate

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SQUABS PAY 19

pen and removed to breeding quarters only after they have
gone to work. The chief difficulty with a beginner is the
matter of sex. The male and the female pigeor * te no
marks to distinguish them, and the beginner must dc rmine
their sex by observation. He must study his birds and come
to know them. Some beginners will not equip themseives by
study and observation to make a success and may breed in a
hap-hazard fashion for a year or more without knowing the
sex of the birds they raise. Birds which you raise will go to
work more quickly, look better and breed better than any birds
you can buy, because that is the temperament of the Homer,
to be attached to his home, to love it, and to try to reach it if
he can. Anybody who has doubts as to his ability to raise
squabs should start with a small flock and breed up until he
has acquired skill and experience.

As part of this Manual,i the supplement and appendices,
we print many letters from ‘stomers who started with small
flocks and won striking succe 2s. It is not necessary to get
a fancy price for the squabs to make the business a success.
In confirmation of this we have in mind the work of two of
our customers, young men named Lunn, who have received
only two dollars to three dollars a dozen for their squabs,
selling to dealers who retail them for four dollars to six
dollars a dozen. These brothers have told their story in one
of the poultry papers as follows:

“In February, 1905, we got the idea of going into the squab
business. We spent some time looking around and in March,
1905, we bought what we thought was the best stock, namely,
the Extra Plymouth Rock Homers. We bought twelve
pairs. The birds arrived on March 22, 1905, and were as
fine a looking lot of birds as we had seen anywhere. We now
(December, 1906) have three hundred pairs. One hundred and
fifty pairs are well mated and working. The other one
hundred and fifty pairs are all young birds. We raised all
our young birds up until September, 1906, and since then have
been selling squabs weighing from nine and one-quarter to
ten and one-half pounds and receive twenty-three and
twenty-five cents each. We feed the best of grain, using
cracked corn, kaffir corn, red wheat, buckwheat and peas and
alittle hemp. We also give a little rice once or twice a week.
During the moulting season we added barley to regular

20 NATIONAL STANDARD SOUAS BOOS

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.

CHAP Tike £.
AN EASY START.

No Special Form of Butlding Necessary— Points to Remember
—Shelter Adapted to the Climate—How to Use a Building
which you Now Have—Squab House and Flying Pen—
Lining the Squab House with Nests— Use of Egg Crates—
How to Put up the Perches—Dijference between the Nest
Box, Nest Pan and Nest—How to Tell How Many Pigeons
can Occupy a Certain Building—A Large Flock of Pigeons
is Easily Cared for when Split up into Small Flocks—
How to Use Your Time to Best Advantage.

Do not get the idea that any special form of building is
necessary to raise squabs. We will tell you how to put up a
structure that will make your work easier for you, and enable
you to handle a big flock fast and accurately, but pigeons
will work in almost any place, if it is free from rats, darkness
and the musty dampness which goes with darkness. Any
building, whether a woodshed, a corn crib, a barn, an outhouse
of any description, or even a hog pen, can be made a successful
home for pigeons with a little work.

The points to remember are these, first, that the building
be on fairly level, sunny ground; second, that it be raised
from the ground so that rats cannot breed under it out of sight
and reach; third, that it ought to be fairly tight, so as to keep
out rain and excessive cold. Pigeons ought to have sunlight
and fresh air, like any other animal, and need protection from
the elements.’

In practice, therefore, most squab houses are found raised
on posts a foot or two feet off the ground; they face the
south (here in New England) because most of our bitter
weather comes from the north and east. If you live in a
State, territory or foreign country where conditions are
different, adapt your squab houses to those conditions. In
some localities, the fierce weather comes from the south and
west, in which case your squab house should face the north
or east.

Here in New England we build a tight house to withstand

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CHEAP BUT PRACTICAL NEST BOXES.

These are empty egg crates piled one atop another from floor to roof of squab
house. Each egg crate is two feet long, one foot wide and one foot deep. The
partition in the middle makes two nest boxes, each one foot square. Into each of
these nest boxes a wood nest bowl is placed. The birds build their nests in these
wood nest bowls.

ANGE AS VS ak 1 23

the cold winters, but in the South the buildings are more open.
Be guided by what you see around you in the place where you
live. If the houses used by your friends and neighbors for
hens and chickens are tight and warm, make your squab
house tight and warm. It would be foolish for you, for
example, if you live in Texas, to build a strong, tight, close
squab house, for in that latitude, in a henhouse built tight
and close, vermin would swarm and harass the chicks, and
they would harass the squabs just as fast.

Some of our customers write from places like Oregon and
Idaho, where there is a wet and a dry season, and are puzzled
to know what to do. In such cases we say, arrange your
buildings as you see poultry houses arranged. The pigeons
will do as well under the same conditions as hens and chickens.

Suppose you have a vacant building or shack of any kind
in which you wish to raise squabs. We will take for granted
that it has either a flat roof or a ridgepole with sloping roof,
and that it is built in rectangular form. Never mind what
the dimensions are; our advice will apply to either the large
or the small structure.

First raise it off the ground, or build a new floor off the
ground, so that rats cannot breed out of your sight in the
darkness and get up into the squab house. If there is an old
floor, patch up all the holes in it. Now you need one door,
to get yourself in and out of the squab house, and you need
at least one window through which the pigeons can fly from
the squab house into the flying pen and back from the flying
pen into the house. You will shut this window on cold nights,
or on cold winter days. You must cover the whole window
with wire netting so that the birds cannot break the panes
of glass by flying against them. If you have no wire netting
over the window, some of the birds, when it is closed, will
not figure out for themselves that the glass stops their progress,
but will bang against the panes at full speed, sometimes hurting
their heads and dazing them and at other times breaking the
glass.

The flying pen which you will build on the window side of
the squab house may be as small or as large as you have room.
The idea of it is not to give the birds an opportunity for long
flight, but simply to get them out into the open air and sun-
light. They enjoy the sun very much, it does them good

HOW CITY DWELLERS WITHOUT LAND MAY BREED SQUABS.

Ad TEAS YUSPART 25

and they court its direct rays all the time. Build the flying
pen, if you choose, up over the roof, so the birds may sun
themselves there. If that side of the roof which faces the
flying pen is too steep for the pigeons to get a foothold, nail
footholds along the roof, same as carpenters use when they
are shingling a roof, and the pigeons will rest on these to sun
themselves. For the flying pen you want the ordinary
poultry netting, either of one-inch or two-inch mesh. The
two-inch mesh is almost invariably used by squab raisers,
because it is very much cheaper than the one-inch mesh.
The one-inch mesh is used only by squab raisers who are afraid
that small birds (the English sparrows here in New England)
will steal through the large meshes of the two-inch netting
and eat the grain which you have bought for the pigeons.
You can buy this wire netting in rolls of any width from one
foot up to six feet. If your flying pen is twelve feet high,
you should use rolls of the six-foot wire. If it is ten feet high,
rolls which are five feet wide are what you want. If your
flying pen is to be eight feet high, buy rolls which are four
feet wide. In joining one width of wire netting to its neighbor,
in constructing your flying pen, do not cut small pieces of tie
wire and tie them together, for that takes too much time and
is a bungling job, but buy a coil of No. 18 or 20 iron wire and
weave this from one selvage to another of your wire netting
in and out of the meshes, and you have the best joint.

You can line the three walls of the interior of your squab
house with nest boxes if you choose. The fourth wall is the
one in which the window or windows are. On this fourth
wall you should not have nest boxes, but perches. These
perches, or roosts, should be tacked up about fifteen inches
apart, so as to give the birds room without interfering with
one another. The advantage of the V-shaped roost which we
advise is that a bird perched on it cannot soil the bird under-
neath. Do not buy the patent pigeon roosts which you see
advertised, for a pigeon roosting on one will soil the pigeon
roosting on the one immediately below.

Please note particularly at this point the following terms
which we use, and do not become confused. The nest box
is something in which rests the nest bowl in which the nest
is built. Do not speak or think of nests when you mean nest
boxes.

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The nest boxes, when done, should look like the pigeon-holes
of a desk, and should be about one foot high, one foot wide
and one foot deep. A variation either way of an inch or
two will not matter.

One way to get these pigeon-holes is to build them of nice
pine lumber, in the form of boxing one-half or five-eighths
of an inch thick. Another way is to use hemlock or spruce
boards one inch thick. The third way (which we think is
the best for the beginner who wishes to start most cheaply and
quickly) is to use egg crates, or orange boxes. These egg
crates are two feet long, one foot wide and one foot deep,
but they are divided in the middle by a partition, giving two
spaces, each of a cubic foot, and this is just what the squab
raiser wants. They are procurable almost anywhere in the
United States and Canada new for ten or fifteen cents each,
and if you buy them after the egg shippers are through with
them, you can get them for three to five cents apiece. Some
grocers will be glad to have you carry them away and will
charge you nothing for them. The crates are built of thin,
tough wood and usually are neat and solid. Take off the
covers and throw the covers away,—you do not need them.
Then put one egg crate on its side, open top out, place
another egg crate on top of that, and so on until you have
covered the three walls of your squab house from the floor
to the roof. Do not use any nails, they are not necessary:
the crates will keep in position by their weight. It is an
advantage, also, to have them loose, for when you clean the
nests, you can step up on a chair or box, take down the crates,
commencing with the top, and clean each one with your feet
on the floor. If you build a substantial set of nest boxes of
boxing or hemlock lumber, you will have to stand on a chair
and strain your arms in order to clean the top nest boxes,
so you see there are points in the low-priced arrangement
not possessed by the fancy kind. It is on the same principle
by which a humble small boy with bent pin and worms and an
old pole catches more fish than the city angler with a twenty-
five dollar assortment of hooks, lines and artificial flies. It
is the pigeons and the intelligence behind them which do the
trick, every time. A fancy pigeon house with fancy trimmings
cannot produce any better squabs than the home-made affair,
provided the birds are the same in both cases,

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ANE AS Vas DAT 29

You should have a pair of nest boxes for a pair of pigeons.
By a pair of pigeons we mean two pigeons, a male and a
female. By a pair of nest boxes we mean two nest boxes.
We find that the word pair has a different meaning to people
in different parts of the country, perhaps on the same principle
that a pair of scissors or a pair of suspenders is one object,
while a pair of something else, as in this case, means two
objects. A pair of pigeons attend to a pair of squabs in one
nest box, nevertheless for each pair of pigeons you need two
nest boxes, for when the squabs are about two weeks old in
one nest, the old birds will go to the adjoining nest box, or to
a nest box in a distant part of the squab house, and begin
housekeeping again, laying eggs and dividing their attention
between the two families.

Count your nest boxes and you will know how many
pigeons your house will accommodate. If your count shows
ninety-six nest boxes (in other words, forty-eight pairs of nest
boxes), you can accommodate (in theory) forty-eight pairs
of pigeons. It is important to remember this: Never fill
a house with pigeons to the uttermost limit of its capacity,
as shown by count of nest boxes. If you have, for example,
forty-eight pairs of nest boxes, do not put into that house
more than thirty to forty pairs of pigeons. That will leave
plenty of nest boxes for the birds to choose from. We have
found by experience that thirty or thirty-five pairs in a
ninety-six nest-box house will accomplish more than more
pairs in the same space.

Do not write us and tell us that you have a house of a
certain size and ask us to tell you how many pairs of pigeons
it will accommodate. Put in your nest boxes as we have
described and then count them, and you will know. Or you
may figure it out for yourself on paper, allowing two nest
boxes, each one cubic foot in size, for each pair of birds. To
put it in another way, you should allow one cubic foot of nest
box space for each breeding pigeon. Surely we have made
this so plain now that you cannot go astray.

Perhaps your start will be made with so small a number of
birds that you will not have to cover more than one wall of
your squab house with nest boxes. Cover one wall, or two
walls, or three walls, whichever the occasion demands. Have
a lot of spare boxes, and let the breeding pairs choose where

Sy}
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44,

ANY

BEST NEST BOX CONSTRUCTION.

When the nest boxes are built of lumber (one-half an inch or five-eighths of an
inch thick) the above construction should he employed. The bottoms are not

nailed, but slide in on cleats. as shown. The result is a sliding shelf. This shelf

may be pulled out at cleaning time and a better and quicker job of cleaning done.
The nest bowls may be screwed directly to the bottoms of the above nest boxes.

If that is done, it will not be necessary to screw the nest bowls to blocks of wood,

to give them stability. y ;
The nest boxes should be from ten inches to twelve inches square.

AN EAS, VS ae 31

they will. An extra number of nest boxes may be useful
to you to accommodate the young birds raised to breeding
age from the old birds which you buy of us, if you intend to
raise your squabs to breeding age.

An expenditure of not over five dollars, and a couple of
days’ time, will transform the average old building into a
habitation for squabs. Put on the finishing touches and add
to the expense to suit your fancy. You may cover the out-
side of the building with building paper, and shingle or clap-
board it. You may putaskylight in the roof for ventilation,
Improve it all you wish. Use your own judgment.

To get at your pigeons in such a house, you walk in through
the door and find yourself directly among them, the nest
boxes all pointing at you. Go to the nest which you wish to
investigate or from which you wish to take out the squabs
and put your hand in the opening. The old birds will fly
by your head, perhaps, and may strike you with their wings,
but they will not fly into your face and eyes,—they are good
dodgers. Don’t be afraid that if you enter the house when
the housekeeping is going on you will frighten the birds so
they never will come back to the eggs or the squabs. They
will seem timid at first, but they will get accustomed to you.

In the course of a few weeks, only a few will make a great
hustle to get away from you. Many of them will continue
to sit contentedly on the eggs and if you put up your hand
to them they will not fly off in fear but will slap you with
their wings, telling you in their language not to bother them.
Carry some hempseed in with you and you will teach the
birds to come and eat it out of your hand. You can tame
them and teach them to love you as any animal is taught.
The pigeon, particularly the Homer, the king of them all, is
a knowing bird.

Tack up a few perches where you have room on that wall
or those walls of the squab house which have no nest boxes.
You do not need a perch for every pigeon, because while some
are on perches, others are in the nests, or out in the flying pen,
or on the roof, or on the floor of the squab house. If you
have forty-eight pigeons, twenty perches will be enough, and
you can get along with a dozen. Make each perch of two
pieces of board, one six inches square, the other six inches
by five, and toe-nail the perch to the wall of the squab house

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ANGEAS Y Sal AR Ts 33

as shown in the illustration. You cannot have one long
pole inside the squab house for a pigeon perch. If you had
such a pole, and your pigeons were perched on it, or some
of them were, a bully cock would saunter down the line and
push off all the others.

In the centre of the squab house you place an empty crate
or overturned box. The object of this is to break the force
of the wind made by the pigeons’ wings as they fly in and out
of the squab house. Otherwise the floor of the squab house
would be swept clean by the force of the wind. It also forms
a roosting-place for the birds, and, finally, it 1s a convenient
resting-place for the straw, hay, grass or pine needles out of
which the pigeons build their nests.

The floor of the squab house should be kept clean. We
formerly advised that a layer of sand or sawdust half an
inch thick be kept on the floor of the squab house, to absorb
the droppings, but we have founa a steady and profitable
demand for pigeon manure, and this manure is worth scraping
up and carefully saving, for its sale will pay from one-quarter
to one-third of the grain bill. Use an ice chisel to scrape the
droppings from the floor, and pack the manure away in barrels
or bags. Clean the floor about once in three weeks, or oftener,
depending on the size of your flock. Pigeon manure is in
active demand all the time by tanneries. We send the
manure from our pigeons by freight to tanneries in Lowell,
Lynn, Peabody and Dartivers, and are paid for it at the rate
of sixty cents a bushel.

We have a building eighty feet long built especially for the
drying and storing of the manure. During the years we have
been in the squab business, we have sold enough pigeon
manure to pay for nearly all the pigeon buildings on our farm.
Some pigeon raisers with crude methods know nothing of the
~ralue of the manure and lose this by-product. They either
ruin it by putting sand or sawdust on the floor of the squab
house, or else waste it on their gardens. The pure manure
is too valuable for home use. To fertilize our flower and
vegetable gardens, and hay field, we scrape up from the
flying pens, outdoors, the gravel which has become saturated
with manure. It is surprising what an increase in vegetation
this manure-soaked gravel will cause. Fresh gravel is put
down in the flying pens.

34. NATIONAL STANDARD SiOOAB Ow rs

A peculiarity about pigeon manure is that it is not foul-
smelling like hen manure, and when it is mixed with water
you get a kind of crude soap. In washing the old-style
earthenware nest bowls, no soap was necessary. We used
warm water in washing them and the manure caked to them
formed a cleansing soap in conjunction with the water. If
you have a basket in which you have transported pigeons,
and whose bottom is caked with the hard droppings, lay the
basket face down and sprinkle water liberally on the under-
side. The manure will drop off in large pieces from the
inside and the basket will become perfectly clean.

In raising live-stock of any kind, arrange matters so the
animals will look after themselves as much as possible. Aim
to cut down the factor of personal drudgery, so as to leave
your time clear to observe, plan, and execute intelligently.
Beginners who load themselves down with a daily round of
exacting duties soon lose heart, their patience gives out and
they become disgusted. We have known breeders of rabbits
to fail simply because they raised them in hutches. Each
hutch had a door and two dishes, one for feed, the other for
water. Every day, the door of the hutch had to be opened,
the hutch cleaned, the dishes refilled (and often cleaned), and
the door closed. It took fifteen or twenty motions to do this
for each hutch. Multiply this by twenty to thirty (the
number of the hutches), and the burden grew unbearable.
It was not surprising that in three or four months the breeder’s
patience was worn out. The factor of personal drudgery had
become greater than the rabbits. The thoughtful breeder
would have turned his rabbits into two or three enclosures on
the ground and let them shift for themselves. Then one set
of motions in feeding would have answered for all, and there
would have been no dirt to clean up. Infinite patience as
well as skill is required to make a success of animals given
individual attention. The aim of every breeder should be to
make one minute of his time serve the greatest possible num-
ber of animals. When you think and reason for yourself,
you understand how much more practical it is to give sixty
animals one minute of your time than one animal one minute.
Time is money and if you are too particular, and too fussy,
and thoughtless about these details, it is a clear case of the
chances being sixty to one against you,

ALING EASY (SL AUR Ty 30

At the start, the problem of breeding squabs for market
is in your favor, because one hundred pairs of breeding
pigeons may be handled as easily and as rapidly as one pair.
Try to keep this numerical advantage in your favor all the
time. Discard every plan that cuts down the efficiency of
your own labor, and adopt every device that will give you
control in the same time over a greater number of pigeons.

It takes brains and skilled labor to run a poultry plant
successfully. Every poultryman knows that he cannot
entrust the regulation of temperatures of incubators and
brooders to an ignorant hired man, but even a boy or girl, or
under-the-average farm hand, knows enough to fill up the
bath pans and feeding troughs for squab-breeders, leaving
the time of the owner free for correspondence and the more
skilful work.

The primary object is to breed squabs for market as cheaply,
as easily and as fast as possible, without the expenditure of a
dollar for fanciful or impractical appurtenances.

Do not think it is necessary to heat your squab house. A
squab house which has the chill of dampness taken off it by
hot water or steam pipes will raise more squabs than a house
not heated, but a flock of pigeons in a small house throw off
considerable heat from their bodies and will breed in cold
weather all right. After you have developed your plant and
have a large business which you wish to keep at the highest
state of efficiency, you may heat your squab house. The idea
of heat in winter time is to keep the birds more contented and
get more squabs out of them, and not at all to keep them
alive. Do not be afraid that your pigeons will freeze to
death. We have many customers in Canada. In coldest
weather, the old birds hover the squabs more carefully.

City people can keep pigeons in the garret of a house, or the
loft of a barn, without a foot of ground being needed. In
such a case the flying pen, or place to which the pigeons go
for sun and air, can be built out on a platform. The illus-
tration (page 24) shows how to utilize a window of a garret.
It you think that rats will trouble you in either a garret or
barn loft, cover the floor inside, especially the corners, with
fine wire netting through which it will be impossible for the
rats to gnaw from below.

One of our customers in Illinois, a rich horse breeder having

36. = NATIONAL STANDARD SCUAS BOOT

a barn some two hundred feet long, turned the whole
upper story into a loft for pigeons. The flying pen takes in
the whole back of the barn. There are windows and no doors
on this side of the barn, the horses using doors on the other
side, so this leaves the upper story of the barn, and its whole
back-yard, free for the pigeons.

A PRETTY SQUAB HOUSE AND FLYING PEN.

ee ee

CTA Tei Ltd:

THE UNIT HOUSE:

Best Possible Construction for a Squab Plant— The Wind-
Break Formation of Roof — Dimensions of the Unit —
Multiplying the Unit to Increase the Capacity of Your
Plant — A Passageway behind the Nest Boxes — Number-
ing the Nest Boxes, and the Management of a Card Index to
Corres pond — Cost of the Unit Construction is from Three
Dollars to Five Doilars a Running Foot — Working Drawings
— The Nest Bowls.

If you have no building already standing which you can fix
over for pigeons, you may erect a simple rectangular structure
and line it with nest boxes as we have described in the last
chapter. We will tell you in this chapter how to put up the
finest kind of a pigeon structure. It is at the same time the
most expensive. It is the best, the most workmanlike. In
saying that it is expensive, we do not mean that money is
thrown away on its construction, for that is not so. Itisa
fit habitation for a money-making investment.

This best method of construction results in what we call the
unit house. You can multiply this unit as many times as you
please and get as large:a house as you wish, or you may add
a unit from time to time, just as you add unit bookcases to
accommodate the growth of the modern library shelves.
You can erect these units separately, or attach one unit to the
other so that you have one long building.

The nest boxes are built of boxing and set in a vertical row
at the back of the house, forming a wall between which and
the north side of the house is a three-foot passageway. You
can buy this boxing at a saw-mill all cut, ten by eleven inches,
the dimensions of the nest, and if you get it in this shape you
can put the boxes together with as much ease as a child builds
a doll’s house. You will have no doubts as to the squareness
and plumbness of the structure when you have it up. Take
long lengths of boxing eleven inches wide for the shelving
which should form the top and bottom of the nest boxes, then
set the ten-inch by eleven-inch pieces the proper distance .

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apart. The finished nest will be eleven inches from front to
back, ten inches from top to bottom, and about ten inches
from one partition to the other (or whatever distance the
proper distribution of your nests in pairs permits).

We have found five-eighths-inch boxing to be the best
suited. Build the nest boxes up from floor to roof perfectly
plain, just as the pigeon-holes of a desk run.

The nest boxes should be perfectly plain, made of simple
boxing in the manner described. Do not build up a piece of
boxing at the front part of the nest to prevent the nest bowl
from being pushed out. Early in our experience we built
nests in this way, but soon changed them over to the simpler
form, on account of the difficulty of keeping them clean. The
droppings bank up at the front of such a nest box.

Pigeons, especially a new flock in a new home, breed best
in a house which is somewhat dark, and not too glaring with
light. If your window is situated so as to let in a flood of
light, you will get better and quicker results by shading it so
that the interior will be dim. Some breeders advocate that
the nest boxes have fronts of wood (removable) so that the
nest box will be darkened. The same result will be accom-
plished if the window of the house is shaded so as to temper
the light and prevent it from streaming into the nest boxes.

The dimensions of this unit*squab house are as follows:
Length, sixteen feet; width, twelve feet; length of flying pen
from end of house to end of yard, twenty feet; distance from
floor of squab house to ridgepole, twelve feet; two windows
in south wall of squab house, each two feet two inches wide
and three feet ten inches high. One window in north wall of
squab house, two feet two inches wide and three feet ten
inches high. There is a passageway on the north side of the
squab house three feet wide, separating the north wall from
the vertical row of nest boxes. The door of the squab house
opens into this passageway so that you can enter the house
without being seen by the birds, and without disturbing them.

If you wish, you can set up rows of nest boxes on the
east and west walls of the squab house and accommodate more
pairs. You cannot have a passageway behind these nest
boxes on the east and west walls, but will approach them
from the front by entering the interior of the squab house
through a wire door which leads from the passageway.

INTERIOR OF MULTIPLE UNIT HOUSE.

This is one of our houses. The drinking fountains stand in the passageway and
their fronts project through the wire netting under the first row of nest boxes. ‘The
nest boxes are empty egg crates. The feed troughs are inside of each pen. In
other houses, we set the feed troughs alongside the drinkers in the alleyway and
cut away the netting so the birds can feed from them. We like the last arrange-
ment best because the troughs can be filled more quickly from the passageway, and
the time of opening and closing doors and going into pens is saved.

HE CONT To OUSE 4]

Build the first unit so that you can extend it either to the
east or west (as your land lies) to increase your accommoda-
tions. Your squab house will always remain sixteen feet
from north to south, but it may be either twelve feet from
east to west, for one unit, or twenty-four feet for two units,
or thirty-six feet for three units, and so on. Of course you
can build one long house sixteen feet wide and in length any
multiple of twelve, and keep all the birds you wish in it, but
we do not advise such an arrangement. You can keep track
of your pairs better if you split a big flock up into unit flocks.

Fanciers breeding flying Homers from our birds, or squab-
raisers who wish to keep track of every pair of birds, can
provide a card index (the cards being perfectly blank and
three by five inches in size), number the cards to corre-
spond with the nest boxes, and on these cards keep a record
of what the birds in the nest boxes do. These cards, which
are blank except for the numbers they bear, can be kept in a
tray such as the manufacturers of card indexes advertise in the
back pages of the magazines and you can pick out any card
VOUswisd, Of tim. to it; mabconce, It issmuch better than
keeping a record in a book, for you cannot tear out the leaves
of a book, as you can throw away a card, nor can you shift one
page from one location to another, as you can a card in a tray.

The floor of the squab house rests on cedar posts and is
two feet from the ground. The floor is built of two thick-
nesses of board, with building paper between. The walls of
the squab house are built of boards which are covered with
building paper and shingled. The roof is shingled. You
can use clapboards on the sides, or common boards.

The cost of such a squab house, complete with flying pen
and all inside fittings, built in the best possible manner, will
be from three dollars to five dollars a running foot. That is
to say, a unit plant twelve feet long will cost from thirty-six
to sixty dollars. A plant consisting of three units, thirty-six
feet long, will cost from one hundred and eight to one hun-
dred and fifty dollars. We publish and sell for ten cent¢
working drawings showing just how to build a unit in
every detail, On the same sheet are working drawings
for building a simple squab house (without passageway) to
cost from fifteen to twenty-five dollars. Also on the same
sheet we give data showing how one of our friends built a

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squab house and pen capable of accommodating two hundred
and twenty pairs of breeders at a cost of one hundred and
thirty dollars. In ordering, simply say you wish plans and
specifications for squab houses.

Some beginners with plenty of means and anxious for the
best construction write us to ask if a cement floor is not
better than a wood: floor. A cement floor is_ positively
wrong, for this reason: when it is freshly laid, it is good,
but the first winter causes the dirt foundation to shrink and
swell, then come cracks in the cement. Rats and mice burrow
in the dirt up to the cement and find their way through the
cracks to the squabs. In a short time, they are a nuisance.
We have seen a squab house built with cement floor which
cracked as described and every time the owner and his dog
took a walk down the alleyway, they found rats to kill.
Finally the whole lot of cement had to be pounded to pieces,
shoveled up and carted off. The way to stop rats and mice
is to erect the building on posts as we have described. Rats
and mice live in the dirt and they cannot get up into the
squab house. Let your dog or cat every day under such a
house, between the flooring and the ground, and they will
keep down the vermin as fast as they show themselves, and
your squabs never will be troubled.

In our early plans for the unit squab house, we provided
for a building with a “‘ jog” in the roof, making a long, low
slope for the south side of the roof, and on this slope the
birds would sun themselves and make love. This “ jag ”’
construction is more expensive than is needed, and now we
have a better way. We have an ordinary pitch roof, sloping
equally from the ridgepole to both north and south. We run
the flying pen out on the south side, not from the ridgepole,
but from the eaves, and then out in the tiving pen we erect
perches as shown in the picture. The fact that the birds
rest easily on these perches (as the photograph in Appen-
dix A shows) is proof that they are contented and pleased
by such an arrangement We have found, too, that they
can hear the squeaks of their young for food better than if
they are up on the roof, and better attention to the squabs
is the result. It was formerly thought unsafe to erect perch-
ing poles in the flying pen directly in front of the windows,
the fear being that birds darting suddenly out of the windows

44 NATIONAL STANDARD SQOUAE BOOS

would strike the perching poles and become injured. Such a
fear goes on the assumption that a pigeon cannot take care
of itself in flight. They are quick of eye and quick of wing,
and are intelligent to a high degree, and we never knew a
bird to be injured by flying against horizontal perches in the
flying pen. They never strike them but always fly between
them or alight on them.

Please note particularly that if you erect one 'ong building
which will be a multiple of units, you separate these units,
both inside and outside of the squab house, not by board
partitions, but by wire partitions. For instance, if you have
a building one hundred feet long, ten units, you will separate
the units by nine wire partitions, these partitions being erected
both inside and outside the house.

CHAPTER-TV.

NEST BOWLS AND NESTS.

Do Not Use the Old-Fashioned Nest Pans—Obvious Faults
of the Earthenware Nappy— The Wood-Fibre Nest Bowl
—How the Pigeons Choose Nest Boxes—What to Use for
Nesting Material— How the Birds Manage their Nests.

For nest pans, do not use the heavy, deep, red clay, unglazed
dishes which you may see offered for sale as pigeon nests.
They are a relic of the past.

In our early experience we used for a pigeon nest bowl
the common kitchen yellow earthenware nappy. We em-
ployed two sizes, the six-inch and the seven-inch, changing
from the large one to the small one when the squabs were
two weeks old. These earthenware nappies filled the bill in
being cheap and shallow, and the pigeons deposited their
manure in a circle outside and not inside the nest, but they
have faults which are obvious. They are flat and not round-
ing on the bottom. When the female pigeon turns the eggs
(as she does daily, same as a hen, in order to give the heat of
her body to the whole shell and to give fresh albumen to the
germ) the eggs are liable to roll apart, making it necessary
for the bird to gather them together again, and after two or
three mishaps like this she is liable to desert them. The
earthenware is cold, breakable and can be kept clean only
with water. The washing of the nappies becomes a tedious
task and is often neglected. In winter weather, the earthen-
ware dishes become so cold that one’s fingers are numbed
by handling them—and the squabs which sit in them are
numbed, even frozen.

Later we perfected a nest bowl made of wood which met
every objection raised against earthenware. We sold thou-
sands of them during the two years we had them on the market
and they gave good satisfaction except when some were
made of improperly seasoned lumber, in which case they .
would crack and split after a few months’ use. After study
and experiment to remove this objection, we had expensive
patterns and moulds made and began the manufacture of

OLD-STYLE NEST PAN. WATER DISH. LARGE NAPPY. SMALL NAPPY.
Do not use either the old-style pigeon nest pan or open water dish.

THE WOOD-FIBRE NEST BOWL.

This is made in one size (nine inches diameter of bowl). To give stability, the
bowl may be fastened to a base by one screw. The first picture shows the perspective
view; the second picture shows one-half cut away. This is the most practical nest
pan for squab raising and is having an enormous sale. The bowl may be screwed
directly to the bottom of the nest box. (See page 48.)

BATH PAN AND DRINKER. HAND BASKET.

One bath pan to every twelve pairs of birds is necessary. The hand basket
(price $3.50) is used in large plants to carry the squabs from the nests to the killing
place. The squabs should not be killed in sight of the parent birds.

NESI- BOWLS AND NESTS 47

these bowls out of wood fibre. Their success was quickly
demonstrated and now we sell nothing else. These wood-
fibre nest bowls have all the advantages of the wood bowls
and at the same time are practically indestructible, cannot
warp or split. The wood fibre of which they are made is
thick and exceedingly tough, being solidified under many
tons’ pressure. After making they are treated with an
odorless, anti-moisture compound and then baked to flint-
like hardness. We sell these wood fibre nest bowls in one
size only, nine inches in diameter. Price, eight cents each,
ninety-six cents per dozen, eleven dollars and fifty-two cents
per gross. We make prompt shipment from Boston same
day order is received, in any quantity. No order is filled for
less than one dozen. We have the exclusive manufacture and |
sale of these goods and they cannot be obtained elsewhere.

The advantages of this nest pan are these: (1) The eggs roll
to the centre and are always close together under the birds.
(2) It is warmer than earthenware and eggs are not chilled.
(3) It is cleaned without water by means of a trowel, and
may then be whitewashed, if desired. (4) The claws of the
old birds and squabs do not sprawl, and no cases of deformed
legs in the squabs are found. (5) It is unbreakable. (6)
When shipped either short or long distances, no packrig is
necessary, they are lighter and the freight bill is smaller.
(7) And finally the birds ‘‘ take’ to them more readily than
to earthenware, getting to work more quickly and producing
more squabs.

We make this wood fibre nest bowl in only one size as
specified and illustrated (two sizes are not necessary because
the feet of the squabs do not sprawl as in the case of the
earthenware nappies). You will need one pair of nest bowls
for every pair of pigeons (in other words, one nest bowl to
every pigeon). If you order twenty-four pairs of breeders
you will need forty-eight nest bowls. If you order ninety-six
pairs of breeders you will need one hundred and ninety-two
nest bowls.

We know our birds will breed more successfully in these
nest bowls than in earthenware, and to make it an object
for you to buy them, you may deduct the freight charges
on nest bowls from your order for birds. First order your
nest bowls sent by freight, then when you order your breeders,

48- NATIONAL STANDARD SOUAB{EO00K

send us your freight receipt and count the amount as cash.
Or you may order your birds at the same time you do the
nest bowls (and other supplies) and when you get your freight
receipt send it to us. Orders for one dozen to four dozen
bowls should go by express with the birds (tied to the basket),
unless it is desired to have the bowls go with grain, grit, shells,
etc, by ireight:

Place one nest bowl in each one of your nest boxes. Let
the pairs choose to suit themselves. At the end of the month,
when you take out the squabs, take out the nest bowl, clean
it and put it back.

Many customers who do not use egg crates or orange
boxes, but build their nest boxes of half-inch or five-eighths
lumber, have written us that they used the construction
which we illustrate on page 30, and which is good, because
cleaning can be better done. The bottoms of the nest boxes
are removable and rest on cleats, as the picture shows. The
cleats are seven-eighths or one inch square and are nailed
to the uprights. When this construction is employed, it is
not necessary that you have a block or base screwed to our
wood-fibre nest bowl. The nest bowl may be screwed
directly onto this removable bottom. If you use egg crates
or solid-built nest boxes, you will have to give the wood-fibre
nest bowl stability by screwing it to a base of wood seven
inches square and about three-quarters of an inch thick.

When the squab house is ready for the birds, each of the
nest boxes has one of these nest bowls. The pigeons build
their own nests in them, taking the nesting material and flying
to the nest bowl with it. The average nest has from one to
two inches of straw compactly and prettily laid by the birds.
Some birds use more nesting material than others. After the
squabs are hatched, they quickly show that Nature never
intended them to have a dirty nest. When they wish to
make manure, they back up to the edge of the nest and “‘shoot”’
outward and over the edge of the nest bowl into the nest box,
which is just where the breeder wants to find it. In a week
or two there will be a circle of solid manure in the nest box,
but it is out of the nest, and off and away from the feet of
the squabs. As the squabs grow older, their claws tread and
throw out the straw on which they were hatched, and the nest
bowl gets bare again as it was in the first place. The small

NEST BOWLS AND: NESTS -. +9

amount of manure which then sticks to it is removed with a
trowel.

The use of this wood-fibre nest bowl has lightened the
work a great deal for they never have to be washed. They
should not be washed, for water weakens them, particularly
at the bottom, where the screw hole is. A washer should
be put under the screw head to hold the bowl tight and to
prevent its turning while being cleaned. We ship these
washers and screws with the bowls.

The pigeons will not take with mathematical regularity
pair by pair the nest boxes which you have provided. Some
- of them will take them in pairs, one adjoining the other.
This makes it convenient for you in keeping track of them.
Others will take one nest box in one part of the squab house
but go to another part of the squab house for their second
nest. Some will not take a nest box at all, but will build a
rough nest on the floor of the squab house and rear their
family there. Let them choose for themselves.

The nests are built by the birds of straw, grass, hay or pine
needles. The birds fly to the pile, select what wisps they
want, then fly to the nest boxes and arrange the wisps in
a nest bowl to suit themselves.. Tobacco stems are recom-
mended for nesting material, because the odor from them
will have a tendency to drive away lice, but they’ are not
necessary if the nest bowls are used and ordinary cleanliness
observed. The tanners do not want manure mixed with
tobacco stems which have dropped down from the nests.
The stems, when wet in the vat, stain the hides. When
tobacco stems are used for nesting material, it 1s impossible
to prevent many of them from dropping to the floor, where
they are tramped by the birds into the manure. The tanners
do not care if some straw and hay arein the manure. Before
cleaning out the squab house, the loose straw and feathers
should be swept out with a broom.

The best thing to keep the nesting material in is a berry
crate. Fill it with straw and hay (use the fine oat, not rye
straw, cut into six-inch lengths) and shut down the cover.
Then when the birds want nesting material they will fly to
the vertical openings in the sides of the berry crates, stick
their bills in and make their selection. The cover of the berry
crate prevents the birds from soiling the nesting material.

50) 2 NATIONAL STANDARD SOUP a0 Ors

They will not build nests with dirty nesting material. It must
be first-class, clean, dry and sweet or they will not use it.

Some of our customers use pine needles successfully for
nesting material. We have never tried them because they
are not plentiful around our farm. Where they are in abun-
dance, we recommend that they be tried.

When a new lot of pigeons are placed in a squab house,
they will cause annoyance, while they are learning their new
home and getting ready to go to work, by making manure in
the nest bowls, where they roost. This cannot be prevented.
The remedy is, to clean once a week.

Fill this berry crate with nesting material (straw cut into six-inch lengths, and
hay, mixed about equally) and place it in centre of squab house. The cover prevents
the birds from fouling the nesting material, They stick their bills through the slats,
select the wisps they want, and fly to nests,

CHAPT BR V:

WATER AND FEED.

Necessity of Pure Water and Plenty of 1t—The Kind of
Drinking Dish to Use and the Kind Not to Use—Manage-
ment of the Drinking Fountain and Bath Pan—The Feed
Trough and Selj-Feeder—Feeding Habits—What Grains
to Use—How to Mix Red Wheat and Cracked Corn— Use
of Grit, Oyster Shell and Salt—How to Feed the Dainties
—Keep Feed before Your Flock All the Time.

Pure water and plenty of it is good for pigeons. When the
weather is not too cold, it is the custom of pigeons to get
into water, wherever it is. When they cannot bathe in it,
they will stick their dirty feet into it. When they cannot
get in their feet, they will douse their heads. They are after
water all the time. When feeding the squabs, the old bird will
fill up its crop with grain, then fly to the water and take a drink,
then return and dole out to the squabs the watery and milky
mixture on which they fatten.

The source of drinking water should be separate from the
bath pan. They will drink from the bath pan, to be sure,
while the water remains comparatively clean, but after a few
have bathed in it, it is unfit for any bird to drink, and inside
of twenty minutes the pan is not only covered with a whitish,
greasy scum, but is dyed greenish from the manure which
has washed off their feet.

There should be drinking water inside the squab house,
provided you have not a running stream or some such clean
water device in the flying pen.

The kind of water dish you do not want in the squab house
is the kind with the open top, into which the birds can wade,
and which they can foul with their droppings. The best device
we have found is the self-feeding fountain, such as we illus-
trate on page 46. This fountain is made either of crockery
or galvanized steel, or iron. Gaivanized ton or steel is better
than crockery, because if water freezes in such a dish the
dish will not be cracked. It will be seen by examination
of the self-drinker that it is impossible for the pigeons to foul

52. NATIONAL STANDARD SOUAB BOO

the water. The reservoir holds quite a supply of water,
which feeds down as fast as it is drunk by the pigeons. We
have seen beginners puzzled by these self-drinking dishes;
they cannot imagine why the water does not all run out at
once by the bottom hole. Itisa simple principle in hydraulics
which you may demonstrate to your own satisfaction by fill ng
an ordinary tumbler with water and then inverting it in a
saucer of water. There is no way for the air to get to the
inside of the tumbler except by passing under the rim at the
points where it touches the saucer, consequently it does not
flow down unless the water is removed from the saucer, and
then it ceases as soon as the water in the saucer rises over
the rim of the tumbler again. In fact, some self-drinkers
for poultry are made of two pieces of pottery exactly on the
principle of the tumbler and saucer. These fountains are not
so practical as the fountain which we illustrate, because a
pigeon can roost on the top of it and foul the saucer with its
droppings. In the fountain which we picture it 1s impossible
for droppings to reach the mouth containing the water, even
if the pigeon is perched directly on top of the fountain. The
barrel shape of the fountain makes it hard for more than one
pigeon to perch at the same time on its top, but one pigeon
usually is found there. He gets there, for the special purpose,
it seems, of fouling the water, but the fountain beats him
and he can’t do it. Neither can he put his feet into the water
unless he is an extraordinary gymnast capable of holding his
body out at an angle to the perpendicular. The result is,
that in actual practice the water keeps clean, and there is a
supply of it ready about all the time. A fountain of a gallon
capacity will keep two or three dozen pairs of breeders supplied
all day. The fountain is filled by turning it on end and
pouring water down into the opening. If you fill the fountain
at the same time you fill the bath pan in the morning, you
will have done your duty by the pigeons for the day.

Cleanse these fountains at least once every two weeks
with sca'ding hot water containing squab-fe-nol (pigeon
disinfectant; see our price-list for description).

The best place for the bath pan is out in the yard of the
flying pen. A pan fifteen inches in diameter is right for a
flock up to twelve pairs of birds. The pan should be from
four to six inches deep, not over six inches, for a pigeon will

WATER AND FEED 53

not bathe in water where it would be likely to drown if pushed
or sat on by its mates. Having the bath pan in position on
the ground of the flying pen, you take to it once each day,
in the morning, a bucket of water, and pour the water into the
pan Then you can go away to business, if you wish. The
pigeons will fly to the pan from the interior of the house, or
from the roof, wherever they happen to be. Some will
splash right in. Others will perch on the rim and drink
before they bathe. When the water gets dirty, they know
enough not to drink, unless they are very sorely pressed
indeed for water. The water gets quite dirty from the bath-
ing. A thick, greasy, white scum forms. The pigeons do
not rustle in the dirt, as a hen does, but rely on the water
to keep them clean and dainty. They flap their wings in the
water and enjoy it thoroughly. A pigeon will never run
away from water, as you will discover if when you are water-
ing your lawn you turn the hose on them.

Let the dirty water stand in the bath pan all day if you
choose, or you may go to it an hour or two after you have filled
the pan, and empty the water. One bath a day is enough.

If there is a stream of water running through your property
handy to your squab house, build your flying pen out over
it and you need never trouble with bath pans or drinking
water. If it is a deep stream, you will have to contrive a
shallow bath tub at the shore, or divert part of the stream
into a shallow run. The squab raiser with a stream of water
handy should by all means make use of it and save himself the
work of carrying water in pails.

The bath pan may rest in a basin, if you choose, and the
overflow caused by the splashing of the wings may be con-
ducted to a sewer and drained away. You may conduct
water in pipes and have a faucet opening out over the bath
pan, which faucet you may control either directly or from
a central station. An easy home-made arrangement to be
used in conjunction with the bath pan consists of a wet sink
in which the bath pan sits, and out of which the splashed
water runs. In the winter it may be advisable to give your
pigeons their bath in the squab house instead of in the yard
of the flying pen, in which case you should have some device
on the wet-sink principle to prevent the floor of the squab
house from getting damp.

54 NATIONAL STANDARD SOUS Ore

In northern latitudes it is not necessary nor desirable for
the pigeons to bathe on cold winter days. Wait until a warm
and sunny day comes. It will do the birds no harm to go
for weeks in the winter without bathing. Many of our
customers write us that they allow their birds to bathe in the
winter seldom or not at all.

Feed may be given to pigeons in a less guarded way, for
they do not soil the feed dish so freely as they do the drinking
dishes. You may put the feed in open troughs (or on a flat
board with a rim around it) in the squab house. If you
observe them when eating, you will notice that they stand up
to the feed in a somewhat orderly manner and peck at its
contents. They do not sit in the dish and roll around in the
feed as they do in the water. But they have one fault when
eating and that is, to scatter the grains. They will push in
their bills and toss them around in a search after tidbits, and
scatter out on the floor kernel after kernel, and it will make
your bump of economy ache to see this grain scattered around.
There do not seem to be any neat, saving pigeons which go to
the floor in the wake of their prodigal brethren and eat the
crumbs. They all have a fancy for the first table and they
get right at it and scatter the grain like the rest of their fellows,
and apparently the pigeon who scatters the most grain is the
one which struts around with the biggest front. The way
to fool them is to provide in the squab house a covered trough,
that is, covered except at the slit or points where they stick
in their bills for food. With a little ingenuity you can cover
an ordinary v-shaped trough so that it will be hard for the
pigeons to waste the grain. You may have a self-feeder made
as big or as small as you choose and in which the grain will
drop down as it is eaten.

We will try to present the matter of feed as clearly and
fully as it seems to us to be possible. A woman in Santa
Cruz, California, said she would like to raise squabs, and
would begin by ordering her feed of us, exactly as we recom-
mended, to be sent to her by freight from Boston via the
Southern Pacific. A man in Cleveland ordered a quantity of
red wheat and cracked corn to be sent by freight from us,
when there were thousands of bushels of both staples in
elevators in his city, in fact most of the Boston supply had
passed through his city. We did not like to run the chance of

WATER AND 'FEED 55

losing the order for breeding stock either of the woman in
Santa Cruz or of the gentleman in Cleveland, but we wrote to
both that they ought not to go into the squab-raising business
if they were to be dependent on us for grain, that it was too
far to send and that if they would look around home they
. could get what they wanted.

Here in New England we feed to pigeons cracked corn, red

wheat, hemp-seed, Canada peas, kaffir corn, — the foregoing
as a rule, and sometimes, when cheap, buckwheat, millet and
barley.

It was formerly thought that whole corn was not a goo
food for pigeons, on the theory that the old pigeons would eat
the large kernels and then, perhaps, feed them to squabs,
choking them. In practice, not one case in one hundred like
that will be found. Whole corn is much relished by pigeons.
They will eat it before they will eat anything else, except
hempseed, and there is no danger in using it. In many
sections of the country, we find, good cracked corn is not so
easy to procure as good whole corn. The grain dealers take
their poor whole corn, sometimes, and work it over into
cracked corn. Gvod whole corn speaks for itself and when
you buy it there is no doubt about it.

All the time people write to us and say they never heard of
red wheat. More write and say they don’t know what kaffir
corn is. Others are puzzled by hemp-seed, they have never
seen any. That is surprising to us here in New England, but
no doubt we would be just as surprised if we were in our
customers’ places.

Let us see if we cannot level up the whole country on this
question of feed for pigeons. As a rule, we say, feed the
grains which are nearest you. This country hasits corn belt,
its wheat belt, its section where millet is raised. Buckwheat
is plentiful in another section. For your leading grain,
your staple, feed corn. The point to remember is to feed a
variety of grains. Keep this word variety in your mind all
the time in dealing with your pigeons. Their appetites do
not grow keen on a monotonous diet, they will not lay the
eggs they should, and their health will not be good on it.
Vary the diet.

In order to find out what grains are convenient to you, go to
your nearest grain dealer or country general store. The

56. NATIONAL STANDARDS OCA TOOT

dealer in nine cases out of ten knows nothing about pigeons
and their feed and if you give him the name of a strange grain,
he wili be liable to shy and say he never heard of it. The
troubie with him is that he sells horse feed and 1s accustomed
to handling only the grains which horses need. He can get
the grains you wish by writing to his nearest port or railroad.
junction. There is nothing odd or out of the way about the
grains. They are going from one point to another all the
time. Sometimes they are scarce at certain periods of the
year. For instance, nearly every fall there is no kaffir corn
at a reasonable price obtainable in Boston, so we do not feed
it to our pigeons then, but cut it out altogether in favor of
the grains selling at a lower price. Most of the kaffir corn
which we get in Boston comes from Kansas. It is a splendid
feed for pigeons. It is small and comparatively soft, and their
crops make easy work of it. It is nourishing and they like
it. Maybe your grain man sells a mixture for pigeons. If
you will look in this mixture you will find probably kaffir
corn, as well as buckwheat (in black kernels), also red wheat
and Canada peas.

A liberal supply of Canada peas and hemp-seed is necessary
for a good egg production.

Do not feed a great excess of corn, in the summer
time. (By corn, we mean common Indian corn, not kaffir
corn. Kaffir corn is harmless, even when forced on the
birds.) The effect of corn is to heat the blood. This is what
you want in the winter time, but not in the summer.

Red wheat is better than white wheat to feed to pigeons
because it is not so likely to cause diarrhoea. (See supple-
ment of this book.)

Beware of feeding too much wheat. Pigeons fed on an
excess of wheat are constantly out of condition with continual
diarrhoea and will lay no eggs while in that state. We recall
vividly cases of pigeons doing poorly caused by the owner’s
stupidity in feeding too much wheat. One customer in
Kansas fed nothing but wheat and got his birds so weak that
they could not fly off the ground. Another in California with
a flock of over one hundred pairs had not been able in six
months’ time to get more than one quarter of his birds at work.
He complained bitterly that his birds were “ not mated,”
were all cocks, and so on, but after further correspondence

WATER AND FEED 57

disclosed that he was feeding nothing but wheat, with the
exception of a handful of peas in the middle of the week and
a handful of hemp-seed on Sunday !

A properly balanced ration is necessary to egg production
in the case of pigeons, same as poultry.

Wheat is a good regulator for pigeons but corn is the great
fattener and the main staple.

When anybody fails with pigeons, if you pick up and handle
the birds you will find in nine cases out of ten that they have
sharp breastbones, which means that they are improperly
nourished, out of condition, and of course cannot produce
eggs because they have not the blood and fat to do it.

All the grains which you feed should be old, hard, dry and
sweet. If they smell sour or taste bad to your own tongue,
don’t feed them to your pigeons. Above all, keep your grain
dry. If you have the grain stored in bins which are damp
from ground water, or which catch the drippings from the
eaves, or through holes in the roof, first you will get sour grain
and then some of the grain will sprout, and this sprouted grain
will derange the bowels of your birds and bring on dysentery.
Do not let rank little growths spring up in a dirty squab house
or in the yard of your flying pen. Pigeons will peck at green
leaves and grass and will not be harmed, but do not give them
a chance to peck up sprouted grain and eat the sprout, grain
and all, for if they do they will have diarrhoea. A pigeon in
good condition and busy with a nest ordinarily will not touch
a nasty little green sprout, but in the moulting season, when
pigeons are in the dumps generally, and feeling like having a
stimulant, they will experiment with these sprouts. Keep
the floor of your squab house clean and the yard of the flying
pen raked up and you need not worry about this matter.

Ground oyster shell should be placed in a box handy for the
pigeons to get at. The purpose of this oyster shell is to
provide the constituents of the eggshell. The female pigeon
needs it in order to form the egg.

Grit is needed by the pigeons to enable them to reduce to
powder the feed which they take into their crops The
muscles of the crop work the grit on the grains and reduce
the grains so that they mix with the digestive fluids. Cart
two or three bushels of gravel or sharp sand into your flying
pen and cover the ground with it. It is not necessary to

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WATER AND FEED 59

cover the whole space of the ground of the flying pen. For
fuller discussion of shells and grit, see supplement.

It is poor policy to mix anything but wheat and
corn together. If you make a mixture of peas and hemp-
seed with cracked corn and wheat, you will find that the
pigeons will dig down after the peas and hemp-seed and toss
the other grain around and waste it. The only mixture,
therefore, which we feed is a mixture of wheat and corn.
Fill the self-feeder with whole corn and wheat, in the propor-
tion of three parts of the corn to one of wheat.

We call the wheat and corn staples, because with
us in New England they form the major part of the diet, and
are the cheapest. The hemp-seed, buckwheat, Canada peas,
kaffir corn, millet and barley we call dainties. We do not
feed much millet, because we have the other grains, which
are cheapest, but some of our customers in the millet sections
of the country feed a good deal of millet. In such cases they
look on millet as one of their staples, and the hard-to-get
grains are classed by them as dainties. The staple grains of
which you will feed the most to your pigeons are the ones
which are the cheapest for you. -The more expensive grains
will be classed by you as dainties.

A good way to feed the dainties is to throw them out on
the floor of the squab house by hand. You will see the
pigeons make a rush for them and eat them with as much
relish as a child eats candy. You should feed the dainties
about three times a week, throwing handfuls on the floor
until you see that the pigeons are satisfied and do not care for
any more.

Do not throw any feed on the ground of the flying pen, for
the earth is lable to be damp, and this dampness will sour
the grain, especially cracked corn, and if the pigeons eat it,
they will get sour crops, and the fluids from the sour crops of
the parent pigeons will make the squabs sick and perhaps kill
them. Do all your feeding in the squab house and your
pigeons will not have sour crops.

Do not lay in a big stock of cracked corn at a time, for
cracked corn exposed to sudden changes of the weather is
liable to take up dampness, and sour. Smell and taste it once
a week or so and determine to your own satisfaction that it
is not sour.

60 NATIONAL STANDARD SQUAB BOOK

Some squab breeders feed twice a day, as much as the birds
will eat up clean, but we do not believe in that system of
feeding. Our own success, and the success of our customers
in squab raising, is based largely on the fact that we insist on
a continuous supply of food for the pigeons, when they are
breeding. Use the self-feeder only with birds that are pro-
ducing squabs. A new flock should be fed by hand twice
daily what they will eat up clean in ten minutes. Keep them
eager, active and racy. Do not let them get too fat, for if
you do they will not start laying. Some beginners will use
up weeks trying to get their birds started, others get all their
pairs going in a few days. It is a matter of skillful feeding,
exactly as in the case of hens. The best of mated pairs will
not produce eggs unless nourished, because the act of copula-
tion, as in the case of hens and roosters, has nothing to do
with the volume of egg production, but only with the fertility
of eggs.

Food should be at hand in the self-feeder for birds which
are breeding. They do not gorge, as a horse will if an un-
limited supply of food is set before him. They are not
gluttons, like pigs. They- do not lose their racy shape. A
squab when hungry will squeak loudly to inform its parents
of that fact and if you observe a squab house where the two
meals a day are in vogue, you will note quite a chorus of
squeaks. In a house where there is feed always at hand,
you will not hear many hungry squeaks. It is greatly to
your interest that the crops of your young birds be filled with
food. The more their crops are stuffed with food, the quicker
they will fatten and the fatter they will get. The parent
birds should at all times be able to fill up their crops with feed
and water and then fly to the nest to disgorge for the benefit
of the squabs.

Squab breeders differ concerning self-feeders, same as
mothers differ about ways of bringing up babies. Each squab
breeder thinks his method of feeding is the best. We speak
not wholly from our own experience, but the experiences of
thousands of customers extending over many years. There
was formerly the same prejudice against self-feeders for
poultry, until a man in Ohio, raising poultry with striking
success by the aid of self-feeders, made his brethren sit up and
take notice. In our stories of success printed at the back of

WATER AND FEED 61

this book and elsewhere, are many cases of small flocks
increased enormously, and the writers take pains to state
that they are using the self-feeder. That is talk that means
something. The loudest advocate of no self-feeder is the
man who is trying hard to sell his Homers by some kind of a
story different from what we tell. It does not matter to him
what he says, so long ashe combats us. It is the game of such
chaps to contradict all others and pose as the only real,
simon-pure know-it-alls on pigeons.

Some small parent Homers are such good feeders, such good
fathers and mothers, that they stuff their squabs with grain
and bring them up to a surprising fatness. We have had
pairs of squabs which actually at four weeks of age were
bigger than their parents. This is not surprising when you
think that the squabs sit in their nest hour after hour doing
nothing but accumulate fat, and taking no exercise to train
off this fat. The old birds are flying around and do not have
much fat on them; they are trim and muscular, and hard
fleshed. You can tell an old pigeon after it is cooked when
you put your teeth into it, just as you can tell an old fowl.

Provide salt for your pigeons to keep them strong and
healthy. The safest kind of salu for you to use is rock salt,
such as is sold for horses. Put a couple of big lumps of it in
the squab house and let the pigeons peck at it when they wish.
Put two more lumps out in the flying pen. When rain comes
the water will wash some salt off the lumps into the gravel.
(Empty the bath pans upon the lumps of salt.) The pigeons
will eat this salt-impregnated gravel all around the lumps for
an inch or so down into the ground.

Do not feed powdered salt, for if you do the birds may eat
too much of it and it will kill them. Coarse ground salt may
be used, but the rock salt is best.

Some green stuff is much relished by pigeons. It is good
for them and will increase the egg, and, consequently, squab
production. They are very fond of cabbage now and then,
which should be chopped fine before being fed. (We mean
raw, not cooked, cabbage.) When vines.grow over the flying
pen, they will be seen pecking at the green leaves. Green
clover may be cut up and fed to them in conjunction with
grain. It should be remembered that green stuff, as enu-
merated in this paragraph, is fed only as a relish.

62, NATIONAL STANDARD SOUAB BOOK

Table scraps, or what is commonly known as swill, should
not be fed to pigeons.

Rice may be fed, if plentiful and cheap. It has a tendency
to correct diarrhcea caused by too much wheat.

Some of our customers have been influenced by adverse
criticism of our self-feeder to abandon it and feed in open
troughs, but they have gone back to the self-feeder. One of
these customers was Mr. Tyson, who started with several
hundred pairs of our birds three years ago and now (1907) has
the largest and best plant in the State of New Hampshire.
His wife and son, with himself, have attained a high degree of
skill and proficiency in the handling of their pigeons. The
squabs they are breeding weigh at least nine pounds to the
dozen. They ship to New York City, where they get very
high prices. Mr. Tyson started by using the self-feeder for
grain, as we advise, but being influenced by something seen in
print, abandoned it and gave the open-trough method of feed-
ing, twice or three times a day, a thorough trial. Immediately
the birds began to fall off in production, and the squabs fell
off in weight, some lots getting so skinny as to lose nearly two
pounds to the dozen. ~ That experience was enough. The
Tysons went back to the self-feeder and now their squabs are
plump, as they were in the first place, the old birds are in
better condition, and breeding better.

Do not put into the self-feeder a great lot of grain, but only
enough to last about two days. A great quantity is liable to
take up moisture in a spell of rainy weather and go stale, and
is not relished by the birds as if it were supplied fresh every
two or three days.

CHAPTER VI.

LAYING AND HATCHING.

Laying an Egg ts under the Control of the Pigeon’s Mind—
Fertile and Injfertile Eggs— How the Cock Drives the Hev —
One Day between Eggs— Hatch ajter Seventeen Days
—How Squabs are Fed by the Paren' Birds—Mating
Males and Females— Use of the Mating Coop—Determina-
tion of Sex—Color of Feathers Has No Effect on Color of
Flesh— Pigeons Left to Themselves Will Not Inbreed— No
Inbreeding Necessary even if you Start wi'h a Small Flock.

The hen pigeon builds the nest. When the nest is built,
the cock begins to “‘ drive’”’ the hen around the house and
pen. Ina flock of breeding pigeons you always will see one
or two cocks “ driving’”’ their mates, pecking at them and
nagging them with the purpose of forcing them onto the nest
to lay the eggs. The cock seems to take more interest in the
coming family than the hen.

The hen lays one egg in the nest, then skips a day and lays
the second egg on the third day. Seventeen days after being
laid the eggs hatch. The egg first laid hatches a day before
the second, sometimes, but usually the parents do not sit
close on the first egg, but stand over it, and do not incubate
it. Sometimes one squab may get more than its share of
food, and the younger one will weaken and die. This seldom
happens but if you see one squab considerably larger than the
other, the thing to do is to exchange with a squab from
another nest that is nearer the size of the remaining squab.
The old birds will not notice the change but will continue
feeding the foster squab.

The process of laying an egg is a mental operation. We
mean by this that it is not a process which goes on regularly
in spite of all conditions. The hen forms the egg in her body
and lays it when she is in condition to, and when she wants
to, not when she is forced to. In other words, the hen lays
when conditions are satisfactory to her. That she forms the
egg at will is proven by many things, principally by the fact
that she allows one day to come in between the first and

THE QUICK GROWTH OF SQUABS FROM EGGS TO KILLING AGE
IN FOUR WEEKS IS ILLUSTRATED ON THIS PAGE,
PAGE 66 AND PAGE 68.

EGGS IN THE NEST.

SQUABS JUST HATCHED.

LAYING AND BATCH NG 65

the second eggs. No doubt, after she has laid the first egg,
she hurries the other along and lays it as soon after the first
as she can, and it takes forty-eight hours for the egg, complete
in its wonderful construction, toform. Hen pigeons in a ship-
ping crate or close coop do not lay eggs, because they know
that there are no facilities there for raising young. Once in
a while you will find an egg in a shipping crate when the
birds are taken out, but it is a comparatively rare occurrence.

Of course, in order to lay a fertile egg, the hen pigeon
must have recetved the attention of the cock bird. -It is
common for a hen pigeon at five months, and sometimes
four, to lay an egg, but as a rule those first eggs from a young
hen are not fertile because she has not yet mated with the
cock bird. After a hen pigeon has reached six months of age,
and is paired with a male, it is safe to assume as an almost
invariable rule that the eggs she lays will be fertile. When
the male bird gets to be six to ten years old, he may lose his
vitality, and the eggs laid by his mate will not be fertile.
Then it is necessary to provide the female with a new mate.
The breeders we sell are of prime breeding age, from eight
months to eighteen months old, and the eggs laid by hens
of that age will be fertile and of full size, and the squabs
bred from them will not be scrawny and lacking in vitality.

From the day of its hatching to market time the squab
is fed by its parents. The first food is a liquid secreted in
the crop of both cock and hen, and called pigeons’ milk.
The parent pigeons open their bills and the squabs thrust
their bills within to get sustenance. This supply of pigeons’
milk lasts from five to six days. It gradually grows thicker
and in a week is found to be mixed with corn and wheat in small
particles. When about ten days old, the squabs are eating
hard grain from the crops of the mature cock and hen. They
fill up at the trough, then take a drink of water and fly to
the nest to minister,to the little ones. You see how im-
portant it is to have food available at all times.

In fourteen, fifteen or sixteen days after the first pair of
squabs have been hatched, the cock begins ‘“‘ driving” the
hen again. This shows the necessity of a second nest for the
pair. In this second nest the hen lays two more eggs, and
the care of the first pair of squabs, now between two and three
weeks old, devolves upon the cock. When this pair is four

SQUABS ONE WEEK OLD.

SQUABS TWO WEEKS OLD.

LAYING AND HATCHING 67

weeks old, it is taken out of the nest and killed and both the
mature birds are concerned then only with the new hatch.
This sequence of eggs and hatches goes on all the time.

If there are not two nests, the two new eggs will be laid in
the nest where are the growing squabs. The parents in their
eagerness to sit on the new eggs will push the squabs out of
the nest and they will die for lack of sustenance.

The hen lays the eggs about four o’clock in the afternoon.
The cock and hen take turns at covering the eggs, the hen
sitting during the night until about ten o’clock in the morning,
when the cock relieves her, remaining on until the latter part
of the afternoon.

When the squabs are taken out for market at the end of four
weeks, the nest bowl and nest box should be cleaned. If
this cleaning is done once a week, no trouble from parasites
will result. In the summer it is well to add a little carbolic
acid to the whitewash as an extra precaution. Sprinkle
unslaked lime on the floor of the squab house and in the nest
boxes, and spray squab-fe-nol freely.

One way of mating or pairing pigeons is to turn males and
females in equal number into the same pen. They will seek
their own mates and settle down to steady reproduction.
Another method is to place the male and female which you
wish to pairin a mating coop or hutch. In the course of a few
days they will mate or pair and then you may turn them loose
in the big pen with the others. The latter method is necessary
when improving your flock by the addition of new blood, or
when keeping a positive record of the ancestry of each pair.
By studying your matings, you may improve the efficiency
of your flock.

In the case of a new flock of pigeons shipped to a new
home, all do not go to work at the same time. Those pairs
which get to work first are bothered by the slower pairs. To
judge from the advertisements of some breeders, anxious to
claim everything for their birds and their wonderful matings,
the beginner would think that all the birds he buys from them
will go to work immediately when released in their new home.
This is far from the truth. The pairs will go to work to suit
themselves as to time. Some will be quick, others slow. As
fast as each pair goes to work, it should be caught and placed
in the breeding pen. The first pen, into which the birds

SQUABS THREE WEEKS OLD.

SQUABS FOUR WEEKS OLD.
Ready to be killed for Market.

LAYING AND HATCHING 69

were put on arrival, then can be used for the rearing pen for
youngsters raised in the breeding pen.

In case a pigeon loses its mate by death or accident, the sex
of the dead one must be ascertained. The live one should be
removed from the pen and placed in the mating coop with a
pigeon of the opposite sex.

The mating coop should have a partition of lattice work or
wire. Place the cock in one side, the hen in the other, and
leave them thus for two or three days to flirt and tease each
other, then remove the central lattice work or wire and they
usually will pair, or mate. If they show no disposition to
pair but on the contrary fight, replace the partition and try
them for two or three days longer. If they refuse to pair
after two or three thorough trials, do not experiment any
more with them, but select other mates.

The determination of the sex of pigeons is difficult. The
bones at the vent of a female are as a rule wider apart
than of a male. If you hold the beak of a pigeon in one
hand and the feet in the other, stretching them out, the
male bird usually will hug his tail close to its body —the
female will throw her tail. The best way to determine the sex
is to watch the birds: The male is more lively than the
female, and does more cooing, and in flirting with her usually
turns around several times, while the female seldom turns
more than half way around. The male may be seen pecking
at the female and driving her to nest. When one pigeon is
seen chasing another inside and outside the squab house,
the driven one is the female and the driver her mate.

Neither the squab breeder nor the flying-Homer breeder
is much concerned about the color of feathers. There are
blue checkers, red checkers, black checkers, silver, blue,
brown, red, in fact about all the colors of the rainbow. Color
has no relation to the ability of a pair to breed a large pair of
squabs. We wish specially to emphasize the fact that the
color of the feathers has no influence on the color of the skin
of the squab. A white feathered bird does not mean a white-
skinned squab. The feed affects the color of the meat a ittle.
A corn-fed pigeon will be yellower than one fed on a mixture.
Squabs with dark skins (almost black in some cases) are the
product of blood matings. The trouble with a dark-colored
squab is in the blood and the only remedy is to get rid of them

‘
i
‘
|

THE MATING COOP.

One way of mating squab breeders is to turn cocks and hens in equal numbers
into the same pen. The miting coon is used when the breeder wishes to palr a
certain male with a certain female. The above mating coop is divided by a partition.
The cock is placed on one side of the partition, the hen on the other, as pictured.
They are left thus for a day or two to tease each other. Then raise the partition,
or take it out, and allow them to approach each other when they usually will be
found to have formed an attachment. This being the case, they may be put into
the large pen with the other birds, where they will find a nest box and go to house-
keeping. If they fight when the partition is removed, try again, or try other mates.
The coop pictured above is two feet long, one foot wide and one foot deep.

TCANGIENG SAGNID! Sa AT CALLEN G rel

either by killing the parents or by remating. Usually the
trouble comes from one parent bird, which you find by turning
up the feathers and examining the skin. Having found the
bird which is at fault, kill it. This point has come up con-
tinually in our correspondence. The erroneous belief that
white-feathered birds produce the whitest-skinned squabs
seems to be widespread and we are asked sometimes for a
flock of breeders ‘“‘ all white.’’ Our experience with all white
Homers is that they are smaller and have less stamina than
the colored ones. The marketmen will take two cr three pairs
of dark-skinned squabs in a bunch without comment, but
an excess of dark ones will provoke a cut in price. Breeders
who are shipping only the undressed squabs should pluck
feathers now and then to see just what color of squabs they
are getting. The dark-colored squabs are just as good eating
as the light-colored ones, but buyers for the hotels and clubs,
and those who visit the stalls, generally pick out the plump
white-skinned squabs in preference to the plump dark-skinned
ones. As a rule, squabs from Homer pigeons are white-
skinned—the dark-colored squab is an exception.

Many beginners wish to know if it will be all right for them
to buy a flock and keep it in one house for six months or a
year, paying no attention to the mating or pairing of the
young birds, but leaving that to themselves, so as to get
without much trouble a large flock before the killing of the
squabs for market begins. Certainly, you may do this,
providing extra nest boxes from time to time until your
squab house has been filled with nests; then you will have
to provide overflow quarters. We are asked if the flock will
not become weakened by inbreeding, that 1s, a brother bird
mating up to a sister, by chance. According to the law of
chances, such matings would take place not very often.
Pigeons in a wild state, on the face of a cliff, or in an abandoned
building, would pair by natural selection. The stronger
bird gets the object of its affection, the weaker one is killed
off or gets a weaker mate, whose young are shorter-lived, so
the inevitable result is more strength and larger size. Nature
works slowly, if surely. A lot of pigeons in one pen mating or
pairing as they please when old enough is the natural way,
and if you follow this, you cannot go very far wrong. We
advocate matings by the breeder because it hurries Nature

12. NATIONAL STANDARD SO UAB SO ONS

along the path which makes most money for the breeder.
We all know how Darwin studied natural and forced selection
of pigeons. He took one pigeon with a certain peculiarity,
’ say a full breast, and mated it to another pigeon with a full
breast. The squabs from these birds, when grown, had
breasts fuller than their parents. Then these in turn were
mated to full-breasted pigeons from other parents, and the
grandchildren had even larger breasts. Darwin’s experi-
ments covered a period of over twenty years and in this time he
developed li tle faults and peculiarities to an amazing degree.
Every intelligent, careful pigeon breeder is striving by his
forced matings to push along the path of progress the peculiar-
ity in pigeons which is his specialty. The breeder who selects
most carefully and keeps at it the longest wins over the
others. By selecting from your best and most prolific
breeders the biggest and fattest squabs, keeping them for
breeders and mating so as to get something larger and plumper,
you are all the time getting bigger squabs. Every breeder
of squabs has it in his power to increase the efficiency of his
flock by studying his matings. There is commerical satis-
faction in breeding for size and plumpness because it pays
at once, and at the same time the breeder has the satisfaction
of increasing the stamina and variety of pigeons.

To be master of the matings, the breeder should band his
squabs. As scon as they are weaned (that is, as soon as the
breeder sees them flying to the feed and eating it) they should
be taken and put into one of the rearing pens. When about
six months old, the breeder should begin mating them by
selection, using the mating coop, then when they are mated
turn the pair into a working pen with other adult birds. By
looking at the number on the band of each bird, then on your
record card, you know how to avoid mating up brother and
sister.

When the young birds are just over four weeks old, or
between four and six weeks, they are able to fly a little, and
if they do not hop out of the nest (or are not pushed out by
the parents) you may push them out yourself. They are
now able to feed themselves. If these young birds are left
in the squab house, they will bother the old birds by begging
for food, and this infantile nagging will hinder the regular
breeders in their next hatch, so the very best thing to do is

LAYING AND HATC@ING i es

to put the young birds by themselves into a rearing pen,
where they cannot bother anybody.

Of course there is likely to be a little inbreeding when you
‘eave the birds to choose for themselves, but not much. If
the breeder has not the time to make forced matings, then
he may not care to make them. Remember in mating that
like begets like. The parent bird that feeds its young the
most, and most often, will raise the biggest squab. Some-
times a parent bird will have fine nursing abilities and will
stuff its offspring with food. These good-feeding qualities
are transmitted from one generation to another and are as
much under the control of the breeder as size and flesh-color.
Your biggest squabs will be found to have an extra-attentive
father or mother, or both. A pigeon with a dark skin, if
mated to a white-skinned bird will produce a mulatto-like
squab. It is the large, fat, white-fleshed squab which you are
after. Disregard the color of the feathers when mating.
If when plucking your squabs you come across a “ nigger,”
that is, a squab with a dark skin, find out what pair of breeders
it came from and whether the cock or the hen is at fault,
and get rid of the faulty one. It is important to start with
adult birds that are not related, then you will not begin
inbreeding. That is why we make a special effort with our
adult birds to have them unrelated.

Some letters from customers make plain to us that a clear
knowledge of what inbreeding means is not possessed by
everybody. Several have written to this effect: “If I buy
two or three dozen pairs from you to start, how can I increase
the size of my flock without inbreeding?’ When (1) a
brother is mated to sister or (2) a father to a daughter, or (3)
a mother to a son, or (4) a grandson to his grandmother, etc.
that is inbreeding. We know it is forbidden by law for
human beings to mate in that manner, because (a) God in the
Scriptures has forbidden it, and (b) because the State does
not wish to have to care for the puny, weak-minded offspring
that would result from such unions. We all know that the
marriages of cousins often result in demented, diseased chil-
dren. Now suppose you buy two dozen pairs of pigeons of
us, and number them pairs one to twenty-four. If you mate
the offspring of pair two (or any other pair)to the offspring of
pair one (or any other pair) that is outbreeding or cross

(4. NATIONAL STANDARD SOU AE wa0 One

breeding. What you do not do, and what you try to prevent,
is the mating of the offspring of pair number one (or any other
pair) to each other. So, you see, if you have a dozen or two
pairs, you need never inbreed, for there is an infinite variety
of matings possible. Breeders of animals sometimes inbreed
purposely in order to get better color of fur or plumage, or
finer bones, etc. There are no brothers and sisters in the
flocks we sell. If you buy one dozen or twenty dozen pairs
of breeders of us, the pairs will be unrelated, and you need
never inbreed. We never heard a real pigeon breeder worry
much about inbreeding, because the likelihood of it in a flock
of even a dozen pairs is extremely remote, as we have demon-
strated above.

PIGEONS IN ST. MARK’S SQUARE, VENICE.

Get acquainted with the pigeons which you buy of us, and let them get ac-
quainted with you. They will work all the better for being tame and docile. These
pigeons in Venice are fed by tourists on corn only. A peddler selling whole corn
for two cents a package sits all day long on the steps at the base of the monument.
Several photographers in the square make a specialty of taking pictures of tourists
feeding the pigeons; snap shots by amateurs are constantly being made. In this
city of canals, these pigeons get no grit, in fact nothing but the corn, and they would
die if obliged to pick up a living for themselves. They are healthy, proving the
incorrectness of thé assertion that a feed of nothing but corn will cause canker.
They are small, however, of stunted growth. They are so tame that they will perch
on your hand and eat grains of corn held in your lips.

CHAP LER Vit.

INCREASE OF FLOCK.

It ts Posstble to Breed One Pair of Squabs Each Month, but
in Actual Practice this 1s Seldom Attained—The Squab
Ratser with Pure Thoroughbred Homers should Count on
Six to Nine Pairs of Squabs a Year—The Common Pigeon
Breeds Only Four or Five Pairs of Squabs a Year, but
Eats as Much or More than the Homer—Dtfferences
between the Homer and the Common Pigeon—Good Homers
Scarce and the Market for them Firm and Steady.

It is theoretically possible for a pair of pigeons to breed
twelve pairs of squabs a year, for it takes only seventeen
days for the eggs to hatch, and the hen goes to laying again
when the hatch is only two weeks old. So, if you start with
twelve pairs of Homer pigeons, and they should breed one
pair of squabs a month, at the end of the first month you
would have twenty-four squabs; at the end of the second
month, forty-eight squabs; at the end of the third month,
seventy-two squabs; at the end of the fourth month, ninety-
six squabs; at the end of the fifth month, one hundred and
twenty squaps. Now the first lot of squabs which your birds
hatched will be ready to mate and lay eggs, so at the end of
the sixth month you should have one hundred and sixty-
eight squabs; at the end of the seventh month, two hundred
and forty squabs; at the end of the eighth month, three
hundred and thirty-six squabs; at the end of the ninth
month, four hundred and fifty-six squabs; at the end of the
tenth month, six hundred squabs; at the end of the eleventh
month, seven hundred and sixty-eight squabs, and at the end
of the twelfth month, nine hundred and sixty squabs. Such
figures are purely theoretical and are seldom attained in actual
practice. You will have some pairs in your flock which
will raise ten and eleven pairs of squabs a year, but the
average will be seven to nine pairs of squabs a year. If you
get less, your flock is not pure thoroughbred Homers, or your
feeding and nesting arrangements are wrong. In our visit
to squab breeders in 1902, we asked every one with whom

(8 -NATIONAL STANDARD SOCUAB EO OTS

we talked how many pairs a year he was getting from his
birds, and about all of them said seven to nine. This expe-
rience corresponds with ours. We remember particularly
an old gentleman, Preacher Hubbell, in Vineland, who had
been in the squab business for years but was just going out
of it, having sold his place, pigeons and all, to a Swede farmer.
He told us he had always made squabs pay him and that his
birds, of which he kept a careful record, raised him nine
pairs to the year right along.

It is a well-known fact that the common pigeon will breed
only four or five pairs of squabs a year, and if handlers of big
flocks of common pigeons, like Johnson of California, can make
a net profit of one dollar per pair a year from such low breeders,
we think anybody of no experience is justified in believing
our statement that our Homers are capable of earning a net
profit of from two to three dollars per pair a year, taking into
account not only their fast breeding qualities, but the superior
size of the squabs. Here in New England we consider the
common pigeons inconstant and lappy-go-lucky breeders.
They are not in the same class at all with the Homer pigeon.

The common pigeon, the pigeon which flies the streets of
our cities and towns, is a mixture of all kinds of pigeons, and
it partakes of the faults of each, and not of the virtues. Its
outward appearance is large, but it is an effect of feathers and
not of flesh. Its feathers are loose and fluffy an@ its muscles
soft and flabby. Its head is smaller than that of a Homer,
the deficiency being marked in the curve of the skull which
covers the brain. The Homer has a white flesh ring around
the eye, but the common pigeon has none. The Homer has
the largest brain of any variety of pigeon, and discloses this
fact by its behavior. It has more sense and behaves with
more intelligence. Its wonderful homing instinct marks
it above and beyond all classes of pigeons and it is this quality
which gives it a commercial value all over the world. The
feathers of the Homer are laid close like a woman’s glove and.
the muscles under it feel as hard and firm as a piece of wood.
Its breast is firm and well protected, with just the right amount
of fullness. Its chest is large, indicating good lung power and
staying qualities. Its wings are trim and shapely, in flight
the poetry of motion. The poise of its body and head reminds
one of a race-horse listening for the signal to speed over the

TINCREASE-OF FLOCK feel

course. The lines from the neck to the body descend in a
long, graceful sweep. Put a thoroughbred Homer into a
flock of common pigeons and even a novice, if told to pick out
the bird which would fly the fastest and furthest, would pick
out the Homer. The Homer has a long bill (but not so long
as the Dragoon pigeon). The bill of the common pigeon is
short. Its bill is more hooked and is sharper pointed. Its
head is shorter and more rounding on top.

The common pigeon is seldom bred in captivity, because it
does not pay for the grain which it consumes. If bred in a
wild state, it picks up a living in the neighborhood, the owner
not keeping it wired in. It is the cheapest kind of a pigeon,
and thousands of pairs are used by trap shooters. Under-
takers sometimes buy the white common pigeons in order to
liberate them at graves, to signify the ascent of the soul to
heaven. Common pigeons will live anywhere, do not get
attached to any home, but a Homer never forgets the place
where it was bred and will search out its home in long flights.
Common pigeons will alight on any building and will drink
from different springs and wells, fouling them and making
themselves a nuisance in a neighborhood. The Homer will
alight only on its own squab house and drink only at its own
home. Common pigeons sell for fifty cents a pair and are
frequently offered as Homers. Do not start with common
pigeons and think to learn the habits of squab breeders with
them. If you cross a common with a Homer pigeon you will
take away the good qualities of the Homer and add nothing.
There is not one element in a common pigeon which if added
to a Homer would improve the offspring. It is hard to
convince some people that there is any difference in pigeons
whose feathers are the same color. The result is they buy
the cheapest they can get. After feeding them for a time and
getting no profitable results, they are compelled to sell them
to the first trap shooter who comes along, and they go among
their townspeople declaring that the pigeon business is no
good. Remember this point, that if you are going to buy
grain and feed it to anything so as to get a profit, it is the
best policy to feed it to that grade of animal which will show
the largest profit. Very few people are satisfied with shoddy
suits nowadays, even if they look almost as well as the all-
wool garments. It is the wear which the customer is after.

78. (NATIONAL STANDARD es UAB BOOK

Beware of shoddy pigeons. Buy the best Homers you can
get, they will wear best and give you the most pride. Ex-
perienced poultrymen do not go here and there looking for
fowls at cut prices. They buy breeding stock of a reliable
breeder which is reliable and sold at a price which will enable
the seller to deliver a high quality article. We can tell when
an order for our breeding stock comes from an old poultry-
man, for they all write: ‘“‘ I want the best stock you can give
ime:

Good Homers do not glut the markets. They are always
fairly scarce, and the price for them has always been well
kept up. Beware of cheap Homers for sale at cut prices.
There is always something the matter with such birds. They
have been worked too long and are played out, or if a flock
is offered ‘‘ at a bargain,’’ the birds do not produce the large,
plump, No. 1 squab, but only culls. If a squab breeder is
going to quit the business and offers you his flock of birds on
the bargain counter, make him give a good reason to you for
selling. If he has been unable to make the flock pay, you may
be sure that you will be unable to make them pay. If he
offers them to you without a good reason for selling, the
chances are that it is a poor flock and he has got tired of buying
grain for them, and wishes to saddle the burden upon you. We
are always selling breeders and it is very much to our interest
to protect our reputation by sending out only good Homers
that will make money for their owners. This is what we
do, and our large business has been built up by square dealing,
and knowing the business thoroughly.

A pair of Homers capable of earning a pair of squabs in one
month which will sell for at least fifty cents is worth more than
one dollar or one dollar and twenty-five cents a pair. A pair
of birds capable of earning only a ten-cent or twenty-cent
pair of squabs once in two or three months is worth only
fifty cents a pair. Jersey cows are worth more than common
cows because they earn more. Good Homer pigeons, bred
skilfully, are worth more than poor Homers because they
earn more.

CHAPTER Vit.

KILLING AND COOLING.

Kill the Squabs in the,Morning when their Crops are Empty
— Not Necessary to Use a Kwmife, their Necks may be
Tweaked — Drive the Animal Heat out of their Bodies by
Hanging them from Nails — The Ideal Squab when
Shipped has an Empty Crop, its Feet have been Washed
Clean, and No Blood Shows — Sorting Squabs so as to Get
the Highest Price from the Dealer.

The time to kill the squabs is in the morning, when the
crops are empty. In killing them it is not necessary to use
a knife. Hold each squab in the manner shown in the
illustration and break the neck with a sudden pull and push.
Do not pull too hard or you will sever the neck from the body.
Some of our customers have hard work to get this knack of
tweaking the necks and prefer to wring the necks, or to use a
knife. To wring the neck, hold the squab by the head in
the right hand and throw the body around in a complete
circle, this act twisting and breaking the neck.

After the squabs are killed they must be cooled. In other
words the animal heat must be driven out of their bodies.
Provide a piece of board or studding eight or ten feet long and
every four inches along this studding drive a couple of nine
penny wire finish nails close together, but not so close that
you cannot squeeze in the legs of the squabs. A finish wire
nail has no large head like an ordinary wire nail. Suspend
the studding from the ceiling by means of wire adjusted at
both ends of the studding. This method of hanging it up is
to prevent rats and cats from climbing up onto the studding,
walking along it and eating the squabs. Place the feet
of the squabs between the wire nails and let them hang down-
wards over night. In the morning the heat will be all out of
their bodies and you can pack and ship them. If you are
delivering plucked squabs to market, you do not need such
an arrangement, but will throw the bodies into a tub of ice
water (or cold spring water) after you have plucked them. _

When plucking the feathers from the killed squabs, the

INCORRECT POSITION OF HANDS.

CORRECT POSITION OF HANDS.

A squab is killed for market when it is plump and well feathered, usually when
four weeks old, although many are ready for market when a day or two over three
weeks old. Hold the hands close together on the neck, as shown in the bottem
picture and break the spine of the bird by pulling firmly and then pushing back.
Do not put so much strength into the operation that you pull the head from the body.
This method of killing is faster and neater than using a knife.

KILLING AND COOLING 81

operator should moisten his thumb and forefinger in a basin
of water, to give him a grip on the feathers. They come off
easily and an experienced picker will work very rapidly. A
sharp pen-knife, or knife such as shoemakers use, 1s necessary
to remove some of the pin feathers. They should be shaved
off.

Ignorance of how to cool the killed squabs properly has
discouraged many a squab raiser. If you throw the squabs
in a pile on the floor after you have tweaked their necks, you
will have a fermenting mass and the following morning,
when you are ready to ship, many of the bodies will be dark-
colored at the place of contact with the floor, or with other
squabs, and decay will start from such discolored places.
Hang the bodies from the studding, as we have described, and
you wll cool them just right and you will be surprised that
this part of the business ever could have discouraged anybody.

If you number the nails which you have driven into the
studding you will know just how many squabs you hang up,
and you will not have to handle the squabs a second time to
count them.

The ideal squab which brings the highest price in the market
is not only large and plump, but has a clean crop, so that no
food will be left in it to sour. No blood shows anywhere on
the body and its feet are clean. Ship in small quantities,
especially in the summer. Do not pack in an enormous box,
or the bottom layers will suffer.

A squab should be killed, as we have stated, when from
three to four weeks old, most generally at four weeks. Do
not wait until it is five or six weeks old, when it may have left
the nest. As soon as a squab is old enough to get out of the
nest and walk around on the floor of the squab house, it
quickly trains off its fat and grows lean and slender. Its
flesh also loses its pure white coor and takes on a darker
shade. You do not want either of these two conditions.

If you tie up your killed squabs by the feet when shipping
to market, do not tie a lean with a fat squab, for if you do the
dealer probably will give you the price of the lean one. Put
the fat squabs in one bunch and the lean squabs in another
bunch. If you are shipping to two dealers, you can very
often get the top price from both by giving one your best
squabs and the other your second best.

KILLED SQUABS HUNG TO COOL.

After the squabs have been killed they should be hung as this picture shows to
cool. ‘The wooden scantling or studding is several feet long and is suspended from
the ceiling at its ends by wire, so that cats and rats cannot climb to the squabs. A
pair of nails are driven in four inches apart and the squabs’ legs set in between them

CHARTER LG

THE MARKETS.

Squabs with the Feathers on Taken by the Boston and Some
Other City Markets—The New York Market Wants Them
Plucked and Pays the Highest Price of Any Northern City
—Inter pretation of Quotations of Squabs as Seen in the News-
papers—Whuite-Fleshed Squabs are Wanted, Not Dark-
Fleshed.

The Boston market, and the markets in some other cities,
will take squabs with feathers on. It is only necessary for
you to tweak the necks of the squabs and send them to the
train, after they have cooled over night. Some shippers do
not take the trouble to box the killed squabs, but tie their
legs together with string and send them along to market.
In the baggage cars of the trains running into Boston you will
sometimes see strings of squabs going in to the dealers in this
way.

The New York market demands squabs plucked. The
squab breeders who have large plants and who ship to the
New York market employ pluckers and pay them by the
piece. A skillful plucker will strip feathers from squabs at
the rate of ten to twenty squabs an hour. The proper time to
pluck the killed squab is immediately after killing. When
picked clean, throw the squab into cold water and leave it
there over night to plump out and harden the flesh. In the
summer use ice water.

The squab puts on more feathers than flesh during the
last few days of its growth and if you see squabs which are
only three weeks old, but which are of good size, you may save
a week on feed by killing the squab at that age and plucking
it. When the feathers are off of it, it looks like the four weeks
squabs which have not matured so rapidly.

If you are shipping to the New York market, you should
pack your squabs in a neat white wood box, printed if you
please. Do not use a pine box for if you do the odor of the
pine will penetrate the squabs.

The New York market for squabs is the best in the North.

84- NATIONAL STANDARD SOUAS BOCK

Squabs delivered by our customers there invariably bring
from one to one dollar and fifty per dozen more than the
Boston market. This is because there are more rich people
in New York than there are in Boston, and they are more
free with their money in providing luxuries for their table
than Boston folks. We do not mean to disparage the Boston
market for squabs, which is always good, averaging three
dollars a dozen, but we wish to emphasize the fact that the
New York market is a phenomenal one. Anybody living
near New York can make a fortune raising squabs. Our
largest orders have come from customers who are shipping
to New York.

Not all the New York newspapers print market quotation
of squabs. The New York Evening Sun is an exception.
All through the winter squabs are quoted in the Evening Sun
at five dollars a dozen. This means that a squab breeder
shipping to New York should have got six dollars and seven
dollars for a choice product, from private customers.

A correspondent in New York State sends a clipping from
the New York Tribune’s market columns and asks for an
interpretation. We quote from it as follows:

‘““ Pigeons, 20c.; squabs, prime, large, white, per doz., $3.50
and $3.75; ditto, mixed, “$2.75 and $3; ditto, dark ehlers
and $2.”

The quotation, ‘‘ Pigeons, 20 cents,’’ means twenty cents
a pair for common old killed pigeons. These tough old birds
are occasionally found in the markets and are worth only
ten or fifteen cents apiece. They are neither squabs nor the
old Homer pigeons, but are common pigeons such as fly in
the streets. A small boy might get a pair of these street
pigeons and kill them and give them to a butcher who would
pay him fifteen or twenty cents a pair. These cheap pigeons
come into the eastern markets largely from the West in barrels
and are sold to Boston commission men for five cents apiece,
or fifty cents a dozen. They are retailed at from one dollar
to one dollar and twenty cents a dozen. They are in the
Chicago market masquerading as squabs. They have been
killed with guns and have shot in their bodies. If you ask
for pigeon pie at one of the cheap Boston restaurants, you
will get a shot or two against your teeth with mouthfuls.
After every trap-shooting contest some skulker goes over the

’

THE MARKETS 85

field and gathers up all the killed and mained birds he can
find, and sells them for two and three cents apiece, or for
anything he can get, and these find their way into the markets.
The cruel practice of pigeon shooting by miscalled ‘‘sports-
men ” on Long Island is quite common, and the presence of
these birds in the New York butcher shops accounts for the
above quotation in the Tribune. It is unnecessary to add
that such birds do not compete with squabs. They can be
made palatable only by stewing for hours in a pie, which takes
out a little of their toughness. There is now a law in New
York forbidding pigeon shooting.

As to squabs, the quotation, “‘ Prime, large, white, per dozen
$3.50 and $3.75,” is for the kind of squabs that are raised
from our Homers, namely, No. 1 grade.

By the quotation, “ Mixed, $2.75 and $3.00,” is meant that
these amounts are paid for lots of birds composed of No. 1
and No. 2 grades, mixed. If you sort up your birds care-
fully you will be able to get the No. 1 prices for all. Some
people do not know how to sort them, and they have to be
satisfied with the price of a mixed lot.

By the quotation, ‘‘ Dark, $1.75 and $2.00,” is meant the
dark-fleshed squabs, as you have learned by reading our
Manual. Squabs whose flesh is dark do not sell for as much
as the white-fleshed squabs.

Pigeons are of all colors, 7. e., as you see their feathers, and
the squabs likewise, but when you pluck the feathers off the
flesh is either a pure white with a tinge of yellow, or dark like
a negro’s skin.

Quotations for squabs as found in the market reports in
the newspapers are always lower than they really are. The
writers of the market columns in the daily papers see only the
commission men and cater only to them; they smoke the
commission men’s cigars and believe what the commission
men tell them. They do not see the producer at all. The
object of the commission men is to get the squabs as cheaply as
they can. When you are breeding squabs make up your mind
to get from twenty-five cents to one dollar or more per dozen
than you see quoted in the market reports. The only way to
find out the truth about the squab markets is to go into them
and offer to buy squabs, not to sell them. Then you will learn
the true prices.

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‘SdVNOsS GCassaud AAUHL

FHE MARKETS 87

At the same time the report quoted above was printed in
the New York Tribune a breeder in Mauricetown, N. J., was
getting from four dollars and twenty-five cents to four dollars
and fifty cents a dozen for his squabs. (This was the last
week in January, 1902.) You see, it does not pay to trust
wholly to the market reports in the newspapers. The motive
of the city men is to get their goods as cheaply as they can. It
is your motive to get as much as you can, and don’t be fooled
by second-hand information. Go direct to headquarters
yourself in person and learn the truth. If the middleman
tries to hold down the price to you, go to a consumer and
make your bargain with him at top prices.

A breeder in New Jersey writes that there are several
squab breeders in his town, all of whom give their regular
time to other businesses. He continues: ‘‘ I am now (Feb-
ruary, 1902), getting thirty-two cents each as they run, no
sorting, for what few squabs I am now raising, and they
are sold to a man who calls every Tuesday for them. When
I have enough, I ship direct to New York by express. They
sort them in New York.”

This is doing extremely well for unsorted squabs. It is
only another bit of evidence which proves the money-making
condition of the New York market. (The above correspon-
dent’s breeders are not first-class, he admits, saying he has
been breeding for seven years and his flock has run down.)

The Kansas City market does not yet know what a fat
squab is. The only things obtainable there are the squabs of
common pigeons, which are quoted low, as they are all over
the country. A correspondent in Atchison writes: ‘‘ I wrote
to the Kansas City dealer again, telling him I thought his
prices were pretty low for Homer squabs. He replied that
they had so few Homers offered that they did not quote them,
and they would be worth from two dollars to two dollars and
fifty cents per dozen. He quoted common pigeon squabs at
one dollar and twenty-five cents to one dollar and seventy-five
per dozen, as I wrote you before. That is better, and I want
to try raising them as soon as I can get into a place where I
can handle them.”

Fact is, the squabs that bring from three to five dollars a
dozen east of the Mississippi will bring that (and more) as soon
as the wealthy trade of Kansas City gets a taste of them.

88 “NATIONAL STANDARD SOUAG BOOK

Find out for yourself whether your market wants squabs
with the feathers on or off. We do not know such details
about the squab market in every city in the country and can-
not advise you accurately on this point if you write to us
from a distant town or city.

The best way to find out the facts concerning the squab
market is to go from place to place, or to write, offering not to
sell squabs but to buy them. The squab sellers are much
more interested in a possible buyer than a possible seller.
They receive letters from many inquirers about markets but
as a rule pay scant attention to them unless the writer is
really producing squabs and has them for sale.

a. PEs
ae ae
ss

DE SNELL, ec ABDI IGE RISE Lee

SQUAB HOUSE BUILT OF LOGS.

CHAPTER X.

PIGEONS’ AILMENTS.

Canker a Filth Disease which Makes its Appearance in Nasty,
Cramped and Crowded Quarters — It is a Captivity Disease
and a Sure Cure for 1t 1s to Turn the Bird Loose to Get a
Change of Food and Plenty of Exercise — A Flock Supplied
with Pure Food and Clean Water Never will be Sick —
Canker 1s Not Epidemic —It does Not Pay to Dose a
Sick Pigeon, Better Turn it Out to Get Well.

The principal ailment met with by the squab breeder is
canker. This ailment is a puzzle to some breeders and they
are alarmed when it makes an appearance in their flock, as
it does if the feed is poor or sour, the water dirty, or the squab
house filthy. The advice which they give when they find a
cankered bird is, ‘‘Kill it.”” That is the advice we used to
give at first, but now we know better. First, what is canker?
It is a disease of which you know the cause (filth, poor feed or
dirty water) and whose symptoms you see in the form of a
cheesy-like deposit in the mouth of the pigeon, and breaking
out around the bill. Catch the pigeon, hold it in your lap
and force open its bill and you will see a yellowish patch or
patches in the mouth, and the mouth will usually be filled
with a yellowish deposit which smells bad. The disease is
not serious. The trouble lies with the feed and the filth and
that is what spreads the same symptoms from one pigeon to
another. A case of canker in your flock should be a warning
to you that the feed or water is wrong, or that you
have a filthy house. Do not get alarmed and kill the bird.
Catch the affected pigeon, carry it out of your flying pen
and squab house and throw it into the air. The bird may
fly away and lose itself, and if it does you are out one pigeon
just as if you had killed it. The chances are, however, as in
the case of any sick animal, that it will linger around home.
Now you will be surprised to see how quickly that pigeon’s
health will improve. Not having a steady supply of food
before it, it will have to hustle for a living, and this exercise
and the change of living, and the scanty living, will effect the

PAIR OF HOMERS BILLING.
This illustration is made from a photograph of a pair of our pigeons caught in

the act of billing, or kissing. The pigeon on the left is the male and on the right
the female. Billing is one of the acts of love making. Mounting and treading
generally follow immediately after billing.

PIGEONS’ AILMENTS . 9

cure. It will get more fresh air, and a great deal more exercise,
and more sun, than it would get if left in company with the
other birds. In about a week you will notice that it will hold
its bill tighter, and if there is a sore on the outside of the bill
you will see this sore dry up. In two weeks the chances are
that the yellowish deposit on the interior of the mouth will
be entirely gone. The pigeon will hover around the other
pigeons. It will fly to the outside of the netting and look at
its fellows. Place a dish on the ground now and then with a
little feed and you will attract it. Catch it when you have a
favorable opportunity either with a net on the end of a pole,
or with a broom, pinning it into a corner. You may have to
try several times, but you will get it after a while. Its eye
will be brighter and signs of disease will be gone, and you can
put it back into the squab house with the others. The exer-
cise, sunlight, change of food, and scanty food, have made
the cure. There are few pigeons so bad with canker that they
cannot be cured in this way. For that reason we have not
much hesitation in saying that canker is a captivity disease,
caused by lack of exercise as well as unavoidable filth and too
much of the wrong kind of feed. We have observed wild
pigeons in the streets and we never saw a case of canker among
them. You may say to yourself that it is quite a risk to
throw out into the open air a pigeon which has cost you from
seventy-five cents to a dollar, but it is better to do this than
to take the advice of all other breeders and books and kill it.

If you do not wish to throw a sick pigeon out into the air
to get well, construct a box with wire netting over the front,
and put the pigeon in there for special feeding and watering
until it gets well.

Powdered alum sprinkled in the drinking water now and
then will tend to ward off canker from a flock.

It does not pay to dose sick pigeons, because a cure seldom
is obtained by dosing, and you are out your time.

The squab breeder who follows the advice as to feed and
water, and cleanliness of squab house, given in this Manual,
will not have any sick pigeons. It is so very easy to keep a
pigeon in perfect health that the fear of disease is a bugbear
not worth taking into account. The element of disease is a
constant source of worry to the chicken breeder, and a source
of heavy loss to the best of them. We wish to assure all who

92 |. NATIONAL STANDARD SOUAS BOO

contemplate starting in the squab breeding business that the
pigeon naturally is a healthier and more rugged bird than the
domestic hen and that positively you will not be fussing with
remedies and cure-alls, in handling them.

‘Going light,” or wasting away, is an ailment of pigeons
occasionally met with. The cause of it is an absence of grit
and salt. If your staples of feed are provided as we tell, and
you give a variety of feed, and you provide grit and oyster
shells, you will have no cases of “‘ going light.’”’ The disease
is known by a steady wasting away of the pigeon. Catch
it and you feel a prominent breastbone, and scanty flesh,
showing that some element in the feed is lacking.

GHA iiix, 2ol-

GETTING AHEAD.

Make your Birds Pay jor themselves as they Go Along,
unless you Wish to Wart Patiently until a Small Flock
Increases to a Large One — Better to Take the Money Made
from Sale of Squabs and Buy More Adult Birds than to
Raise the Squabs, Because it is a Long Jump from Four
Weeks (the Killing Age) to Six Months, at which Age the
Birds Begin Breeding — Shipping Points.

It is the birds and not the buildings which count in squab
raising and if you have fifty dollars to start, put thirty-five
dollars or forty dollars into your birds and the balance into
your building. We have had customers start with a hundred-
dollar building and put a ten-dollar lot of birds into it, con-
tinuing to buy ten-dollar lots of us about once a month until
they had their flock to a good size, but we believe it is best to
let the buildings follow the birds, and not the birds the
buildings. In other words, let your birds earn buildings as
they go along. It is quite a drag on a small flock to weigh it
down with an expensive building much too large for it.

Put this down in your mind solid, where you will not forget
it: Make your pigeons pay for themselves as they go.

We sell to a great many poultrymen, and we like to get their
orders, for they have been through the mill of raising feathered
animals and are practical, and they are quick to see the money
in squabs, and when their order for breeding stock comes
along, it is in nine cases out of ten a large order, even if they
have had no previous experience. They know that in order
to sell squabs they have got to have birds enough to breed
squabs and it is just as easy for them to spend fifty dollars or
one hundred dollars at the start as it is for them to spend ten
dollars or fifteen dollars and use up one hundred dollars’ worth
of time while waiting a year to begin selling squabs.

Many beginners are So skeptical that they do not believe
squabs grow to market size in one month, or they have no
confidence in their ability to feed the mature birds so as to
keep them alive. They wish to make a start with a few pairs

04- NATIONAL STANDARD SQUAG BOCK

and actually convince themselves. We do not believe in
untried hands plunging into something of which they know
nothing, and we commend the caution of the beginner with
squabs who wishes to feel his way and “ make haste slowly ”’
as the saying is, nevertheless we know it to be a fact that our
customers who started with large flocks are making splendid
successes, and we are not so cautious as we were in former
books in advising a small purchase, at the start. The rules
for breeding we have given have stood the test of time; we
have not had it said to us that they are misleading or erroneous;
on the contrary, our customers write and tell us that their
experience corresponds with ours, that the books are all right,
and our business has increased right along. When a customer
orders two hundred dollars’ worth of breeding stock of us and
two months later two hundred dollars’ worth more (we sell to
some customers month after month steadily, as their means or
their inclination permit them to buy) we are given a large
measure of confidence, first, that people (many of whom we
never see and who are not experts) can start with our writings
and our breeding stock and make a success; second, that
all we have advised about the industry is of general and con-
vincing application; and third, that it does not take extraor-
dinary skill to make a success with squabs.

There are failures with squabs, even by college professors,
because some beginners are unsuited to the business. Many
are lured into it by get-rich-quick stories. It would amaze
you to read the letters that some beginners write. You never
can tell a man’s pigeon and poultry ability by his orthography
and grammar. Letters in crude spelling and crooked writing
frequently come from the most successful squab raisers. The
knack of caring for animals successfully cannot be acquired
by some. Given two women, with cooking materials and the
same cook books, one cooks splendidly, and the other mis-
erably. Why? Well, it is the same with pigeons. Some
can and some can’t. However, the failures at squab or
poultry raising seldom blame themselves.

There are many of the naturally careless, improvident
persons who have turned to squabs to help them out of finan-
cial holes, and they have made a failure of squab raising.
Many of us remember the furore over raising chicken broilers
for market, which started a score of years ago. The fact that

GETTING. AHEAD 95

some were making money at it started a burning hen fever in
hundreds of young and old people anxious to make a lot of
money quick. Clerks and society women from New York
moved into the suburbs on small farms and began to try to
make realities of their dreams.. Not accustomed to manual
labor, they made a sorry mess of it. Writers of that period
tell of chicken gentlemen and ladies who went about their
daily round of duties with their delicate hands carefully pro-
tected by kid gloves. It did not take long for the end for such
experimenters to arrive. They returned to the great city
sadder, but wiser. The squab industry has suffered also the
past five years from such treatment. Many have played
with it as a child would with a new toy, giving up their
pigeons in a few months at the slightest discouragement.

The past six years are strewn with the wrecks of imitation
squab advertisers and their guarantees. Every spring, when
demand for breeders is greatest, some of these come to life
again, or new ones crop up, and they get what harvest they
can, many of them selling what they can pick up in the way
of culls, such as we ourselves sell to Faneuil Hall marketmen
to be killed. These advertisers start advertising in January
and by June they have quit.

The following, from the pen of an old poultry writer,
appeared in a farm periodical of large circulation in January,
1907: ‘‘ So far, every attempt made in this country to estab-
lish a large poultry (chicken) farm has been met by failure.
The extensive and successful plants of today are the outcome
of a small beginning and a gradual growth. True, the main
cause for failure has been the lack of experience; men have
undertaken work for which they were not qualified.”

So it is the rule with squab and poultry failures, especially
women, to blame everybody but themselves. Such persons
learn bitterly that experience is indeed a factor.

The place and flock of the one who fails with squabs tell
their own story. The drinking fountains are seldom washed,
the pen is seldom cleaned and the place has a run-down look
generally, sometimes being positively filthy. The grain is
bought and fed on the catch-as-catch-can principle with no
provision for variety. The cheapest grain is bought, or it is
ignorantly bought, and may be full of weevils, or sour. The
owner of such a place generally matches the place.

96 NATIONAL STANDARD SOUAE GOOK

Some advertisers selling breeding stock try to give the
impression in their advertising that they control the matings
and love affairs of the pigeons they sell, to the uttermost
degree. ‘‘ We are the ones who can start you right,’”’ they
say, ‘‘with our guaranteed mated pairs.’ Their pigeons, how-
ever, behave just the same as all pigeons. You have just as
much control over the minds of your pigeons as anybody.
We have the finest equipment for mating in America, as it is
the largest, a thousand mating coops being in constant use.
One of the buildings is heated by a hot-water plant so as to
get quick results in mating in the winter. It is natural for
pigeons to breed, same as all animals. Do not believe that
the man who offers to sell you pigeons has it in his power to
control them after they have left his hands. ‘The control of
your pigeons is in your hands absolutely. If vou raise an
excess of cocks, or if you have an excess of either sex, for any
reason, you should procure enough of the opposite sex to
match up evenly. You should have some mating coops
(ordinary boxes with wire fronts will do) and in them you
should pair up birds to suit yourself as to color of plumage, or
size, or special characteristics, as you raise them.

We fill all orders, large or small, with equal care and
thoroughness, for it is just as much to our interest to please
the customer and get more orders in the one case as in the
other.

There is not much choice as to what time of year a start
in squab breeding should be made. Our customers who
start in the winter have been exceptionally successful because
then prices for squabs are at the top notch, and it takes only
a few sales to make a new breeder thoroughly convinced to
go ahead to success. We ship breeders all the year round.
A pigeon will not break down under either stifling heat or
bitter cold, being different from other animals.

We fill orders in rotation and treat customers alike, and
ship promptly. Frequently we get orders to ship by first
returning express, and it is very difficult to do this. One
customer in Chicago planned to start for Alaska with twelve
pairs of our birds, but he held back his letter so that we got
it with only two hours to fill crates and get birds to him before
his departure. We filled his order as a matter of accommoda-
tion.

GETTING AHEAD 97

In ordering supplies to be sent by freight, remember that
it takes a freight shipment some time to get to destination,
especially when traffic is congested in the spring or in the
harvest season. Give us your order for nest bowls and
supplies before your house is ready.

The live breeders are shipped by us either in specially made
pine crates or wicker coops. The wicker coops remain our
property and are returned to us at our expense by the express
companies after the customer has released the pigeons. These
baskets are expensive and are fitted with large tin feed and
water dishes. It is impossible to break them open with the
roughest handling. The birds have plenty of room in them
and arrive at their destination in fine condition.

The usual fault of inexperienced shippers is that the box
or crate is too high, and too large, giving an opportunity for
one bird to pass another by flying over its head. If there is
too much room between the top and bottom of the crate
feathers will be rumpled and pulled out, and the birds by
crowding will suffocate one or two. A large, heavy crate
also adds enormously to the express charges. It is not
pleasant to buy pigeons and receive them in a cumbrous
box weighing from twenty-five to seventy-five pounds, on
which the express charges are more than double what they
would be were the birds crated properly.

If the birds are going to a point only a day or a day anda
night distant, they need no feed nor water. For a long
journey, a bag of grain should be tied to the crate. It is the
duty of the express messengers to feed and water the birds en
route, and they are so instructed by their companies.

Do you know that pigeons are transported by the express
companies at the rate charged for ordinary merchandise under
the classification in force for 1907 on? The rate is found in
every express book (ask your agent to show it to you if there
is any dispute over charges) now as follows: “ Pigeons,
homing, merchandise rate.’’ Tell the agent to look in the P’s
for Pigeons and he will find it there.

For carrying most live-stock short distances, the animal
rate (which is double the merchandise rate) is charged. This
is a peculiar rule when it was formerly applied to pigeons, and
it worked so that the buyer at a r=mote point got his ship-
ment cheaper than the buyer nearer us. For instance, we

HOW WE SHIP PIGEONS.

Care and skill exercised in shipping live pigeons are large factors in satisfying
customers. It is not a pleasant experience to send money away for pigeons and
have them reach you in a home-made box, generally of enormous weight, and bearing
enormous express charges.

We originated the above style of shipping and have two thousand shipping
baskets in use. They are expensive but by their use we are able to guarantee safe
arrival. The customer receives his shipment in faultless condition.

The small bag of grain on top of the basket, tied to it, is for the use of the express-
man in feeding the birds en route. The tin water dish is at the end of the basket,
outside, where it ought to be, not inside.

These shipping baskets remain our property and are returned to us empty at our
expense after the customer has released his birds.

GETTING AHEA® 39

could ship a crate of pigeons to Chicago from Boston cheaper
than we could to Buffalo. All the express companies doing
business in the United States and Canada have the same rule,
which is, that between points where the single or merchandise
rate is two dollars or more per hundred pounds, live animals,
boxed, crated or caged, are charged for transportation at the
single or merchandise rate. Between points where the single
or merchandise rate is less than two dollars per hundred
pounds, live animals are charged the animal rate (which is
double the merchandise rate). Poultry (not pigeons) are
charged the one and one-half rate when the rate per one hun-
dred pounds is less than two dollars.

In order to obtain the lowest rate of transportation, the
value of each pigeon must be stated by the shipper at five
dollars or less.

We have seen breeders who have been shipping live-stock
for years and they never heard of the above rule of the
express companies, and also we have seen scores of express
agents who did not know of their own rule, but always charged
the animal rate on animal shipments. But the rule is found
in every graduated charge book of every express company
and the experienced expressmen and experienced shippers
know all about it. If the agent in your town is ignorant of
the rule, ask him for his graduated charge book. Many
express agents at local points seldom handle a pigeon ship-
ment and do not know how to charge for it.

A live animal contract release, to be signed both by shipper
and express agent, is needed in all cases where the value of
each pigeon is more than five dollars. If pigeons which we
ship are killed in a smash-up, we can recover from the com-
pany. We have no hesitation, therefore, in guaranteeing the
safe delivery of our pigeons to customers. Our respon-
sibility does not end when we have given them to the express-
man. Our guarantee follows them as long as they are in the
hands of the express company. We will put them into your
hands safe and sound.

Once in a while you will read of live-stock and breeding
associations getting together and complaining about the
“exorbitant rates’ charged by the express companies. The
trouble is not with the rates of the express companies, but lies
wholly in the ignorance of the breeders who meet to complain.

1002 NATIONAL STANDARD SOUAS BOOTS

They simply do not know how to ship and how to talk to the
express agents.

We never read the above advice as to shipping live-stock in
any book or paper. It is the product of our own experience
and the information cost us at least one hundred dollars in
excess charges before we learned how to get the low rate.
It is worth dollars to our customers, and that is why we have
given it here in detail.

Killed squabs go to market at the rate charged for ordinary
merchandise, no matter what the distance. Breeders having
special customers who wish the squabs plucked should pack
them in a clean white wood box (with ice in the summer) and
nail the box up tight. Such shipments go through in splendid
condition and if the breeder has a choice article, with his
trade mark stamped on the box, he gets the fancy price.
Squabs which reach the Boston market from jobbers in
Philadelphia and New York are plucked and packed with ice
in barrels. Breeders around Boston who reach the Boston
market with undressed squabs send them in wicker hampers
or baskets on the morning of the day after they are killed.

No express agent anywhere has a right to make any extra
charges whatever on our pigeon shipments.

There is no duty on our pigeons to Canada, Cuba or Porto
Rico, when we send with the pigeons and also to the customer,
as we do, a certificate of purity of breed, declaring that the
pigeons are for breeding, and not to be killed for market.

CELA T Eu Xai

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.

Women and Squab Breeding — Attentions of the Male to the
Female Pigeon — Equal Number of Males and Females
— Birds Flying Wild—Sale of Birds for Flyers —
Variation in Size of Nest Boxes— How Squabs are
Artificially Fattened — Shipping to England — Training
Flyers — A Remarkable Service for Messages between
Islands.

Question. I am a woman who knows absolutely nothing
of squab raising. Do you think I can make a success of it?
Answer. Our books are written and printed for the purpose
of telling an absolutely ignorant person just how to proceed.
If you will study this Manual, until you get the general plan
and method of procedure in your mind, there is no reason
why you cannot make a success of it. A woman is quick
enough to puzzle out a new pattern of embroidery or a blind
cooking recipe the terms of which are expressed in language
utterly incomprehensible toa man. We find that our women
customers are just as quick to comprehend pigeons as soon as
they get started. It is necessary to have confidence, first,
that the birds can make money, and second, that you are able
to handle them right. Women succeed with hens quite as
well as men. They “‘ take’’ to animals fully as well as men.
The fact that you, our customer, are a woman, ought to
encourage rather than depress you, in the squab business.

Question. 1 have an old poultry house fifteen by twenty
feet in size, ten feet high. How many pairs of pigeons can I.
accommodate? Answer. We have this question asked us
many times, and our reply to all is the same. Sometimes the
customer varies it by asking, How large a house do I need to
accommodate one hundred pairs of breeders? Sometimes
they say they propose remodeling a barn loft which is thirty
by twenty feet in size. The dimensions of the building vary
with the customer. You can always accommodate in theory
as many pairs of breeders as you can make room for pairs of
nest boxes. Fix up your building to suit yourself, and put in

101

102- NATIONAL STANDARD SOQUAB BOOK

as many nest boxes as you wish. Then count your nest
boxes and you will know how many birds you can accommo-
date. You must have two nest boxes for every pair of birds.
Always allow more nest boxes than there are pigeons, and do
not crowd the birds, as we have explained on page 29.

Question. How does the male bird impregnate the female
bird? They do not seem to me to act as roosters and hens do.
Answer. The human eye is not sharp and quick enough to
follow the actions of the mate bird. He mounts the female
in a manner which is called ‘“‘ treading.’’ A female occasion-
ally will “‘ tread’ the male bird, exactly as a female animal
when in excessive heat sometimes will mount the male, or
another female. Customers who had what they thought was
a doubtful pair sometimes have written us saying that each
would tread the other, and that of course both were males.
After a while the same customer would write and say that the
pair fooled him and that he had two eggs from them. The
actions are in nine cases out of ten, of course, a positive guide,
but there are exceptions to every rule.

Question. (1) The legs of the pigeon you sent me are
red; are they inflamed? (2) The droppings are soft and
mushy; I am afraid they have diarrhoea. What shall I do?
(3) Most of my pigeons have a warty-like substance on their
bills, varying in size with the pigeon; how shall I get rid of it?
Answer. (1) The red color which you see is perfectly natural.
The legs of all Homer pigeons are red. (2) The natural
droppings of the pigeon are soft and somewhat loose. When
they have diarrhoea the droppings are extremely watery and
the tail feathers are soiled. Your pigeons are all right and
have no diarrhcea. (3) The growth of which you speak is
perfectly natural. It varies in size with the pigeon, sometimes
covering the base of the bill, in other cases clinging closely to it.

Question. Can I figure with certainty that of each pair
of squabs which my birds hatch, one is a male and the other
a female? Answer. Not with absolute certainty, but as a
rule. It is Nature’s way to provide for an equal number of
males and females, for that is the way the species mates and
is reproduced.

Question. Enclosed find ten dollars, for which please send
me settings of pigeon eggs to that value, and send me the
balance due, if any. Answer. We do not sell pigeon eggs.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 103

It is impossible to use an incubator and raise pigeons success-
fully, because there is no way of feeding the young squabs
when they are hatched. The life of squabs is nourished and
prolonged from day to day by the parent birds, which feed
them. To raise squabs, you must start by buying the adult
breeders. You cannot start with the eggs.

Question. It seems to me that if each pair of squabs
hatched consists of male and female, that this couple is likely
to pair when grown, being well acquainted with each other.
This would be inbreeding and would weaken my flock. What
shall I do? Answer. It is not the plan of the species to mate
and inbreed like this. If brother and sister mated as you
describe, the species would be extinct after a while. They
will look for new mates as soon as they get out of the nest and.
are of breeding age.

Question. When are the young pigeons old enough to
mate? Answer. At from four to six months.

Question. My birds do not know enough to go in from the
roof of the squab house when it rains. How shall I get them
in? Answer. Let them stay on the roof in the rain if they
wish. The rain will do them no harm.

Question. Must I heat the squab house in the winter time?
Answer. No. The heat from a flock of pigeons in a well-
built house is considerable. You will get more squabs from
your pigeons in the winter time if you do heat your house
slightly, not enough to cause much expense, but just enough
to take the chill off. Do not let your birds out of the squab
house on bitter cold days.

Question. JI live in Texas and I think in this climate your
squab house would be too warm and stuffy. Answer. You
are right. Adapt the construction to your locality. The
poultry houses in Texas as compared to those in the North
are much less expensive and more open to the air, and your
squab house should be built on the same principle.

Question. Suppose I cool the squabs as you direct and
pack them into a box for shipment, shall I use ice? Is there
any danger that the meat will be discolored when they arrive
at market? Answer. Ice is not necessary in the fall, winter
and spring. In the summer time you should use ice, although
if the shipment is for a short distance, ice may not be necessary.
In hot weather the squabs should not be killed until the night

104 -—NATIONAL STANDARD SOUABTBEOOTS

before shipping. In the cool months you may keep them
at home longer. If the squabs are cooled by hanging them
from studding as we describe, there is no danger that the
meat will be discolored. The object of hanging them from
studding is to cool the carcasses properly so that the meat
will not be discolored by contact.

Question. How shall I pack the killed squabs when I send
them to market? Answer. Lay them in the box layer on
layer, in an orderly fashion. Do not throw them in helter
skelter.

Question. Can I hang the squabs to cool from studding
suspended in the barn, in the summer time? Answer. It is
better to use the cellar of the house, or the coolest room in the
house.

Question. I do not like your idea of keeping the birds
wired in. They are free by nature and it strikes me that they
should have a chance to get exercise by long flights. Answer.
You must keep them wired in, or they may leave you. Re-
member that the Homer is attached to the place where it is
bred, that is the Homer instinct. If you buy birds of us and
on opening the crate let them fly anywhere they choose,
trusting to luck to have them come back to you, you may be
disappointed and lose some of the birds. You must keep
them wired in all the time.

Question. You say your Homers are fine flyers. What is
the use of my buying them of you to fly in races or to sell
again as flyers, if they may desert me when I let them out
into the open air? Answer. The squabs which you breed
from our birds will know no home but yours, and they will
not fly away from you. You can send them away, when they
are old enough, and time their flight back to your house,
their home. When you sell these trained flyers to others,
you do not expect that they will try to fly them, but that they
will use them for breeders.

Question. How large are the mating coops? Answer.
A convenient size is two feet long, two feet wide and two feet
high.

Question. My birds seem timid and I am afraid to catch
them. How shall I go about it? Answer. Do not be afraid
of hurting them. Take a broom and drive one where you
will, finally pinning it against the side of the squab house, or

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 105

in acorner. Grasp it and hold its wings firmly and it will not
struggle. Or you may make a net on the end of a pole, like
an ordinary fish landing net, and scoop the bird into it as it
flies through the air.

Question. Suppose I have several squab houses, as you
describe, but let all the birds together in one large flying
pen, where they can bathe from one large fountain. Answer.
This is all right if you do not wish to keep close track of your
birds. If the birds can roam from one house to another,
there is nothing to prevent a pair from building one nest on
one house and then going to another house to build the second
nest.

Question. I believe I will put a strip of wire or piece of
wood across the front of each nest box so as to keep each
pair more secluded, and to keep the nests from dropping out.
Answer. Don’t do it. Don’t worry about the nests falling
out. Build the pigeon-holes perfectly plain.

Question. How many squabs shall I pack in one box when
sending to market? Answer. Having picked out the size
of the box you wish, fill it up close with squabs, so they will
not “shuck.”’ As to the size of the box, make it as big or
little as you please, but do not make it any bigger than one
expressman can handle easily. A good size is two feet square
and one foot deep.

Question. Send me two males and ten females. Answer.
You must buy your birds in pairs. They pair off in this way,
namely, one male to one female. One male does not have
two or three females. We have heard pigeon breeders talk
of having one cock which would attend two hens, but never
had a case in our experience.

Question. After plucking the squab, and before sending
it to market, do you remove the entrails?’ Answer. No.

Question. In order to avoid the trouble of using the
mating coop, may I put an equal number of cocks and hens
in the same pen? Answer. Yes.

Question. Can I discover the male and female organs by
examination of the birds with a magnifying glass? Answer.
No. You can discover them by dissecting the dead bird.

Question. Suppose I build the nest boxes larger, so as to
give a shelf on which the birds can alight? Answer. Don’t
doit. The bird will fly directly into the nest, or onto the nest

106° NATIONAL STANDARD SOUABIEOOK

box in front of the nest. You do not need an alighting place.

Question. Seems to me that if I start with forty-eight
pairs of birds, I ought to have ninety-six perches. Answer.
The birds do not all perch at the same time. While some
are perching, others are on the nests, or walking on the floor,
or are outside in the flying pen, or on the roof. Put up a few
perches where you have room and let it go at that.

Question. I live in England; can you ship me twenty-four
pairs of your breeders? Answer. Yes; the transportation
charges will be four dollars. In addition you will have to pay
the butcher or steward of the boat ten shillings for feeding
and watering the birds. Send us six dollars and fifty cents
in addition to the regular price of the birds and we will ship
to you all charges prepaid. In shipping to Cuba and remote
points in the United States and Canada, we do not have to
pay anything extra for the feeding and watering of the birds;
the express charges include the feeding and watering.

Question. What is a Runt pigeon? Please quote prices
on a dozen pairs of Runts. Answer. A Runt pigeon is a
special breed of pigeon, remarkable for its large size. They
come all colors, as a Homer does. The white Runts are an
exceptionally beautiful bird and command large prices, as
high as six dollars to fifteen dollars a pair. The squabs which
Runts breed weigh from eighteen ounces to one and one-half
pounds at four weeks. If Runts bred as fast as Homers, they
would be just the bird for squab breeders, but they are
fatally slow in breeding, as a rule. The Homers raise two
pairs of squabs to the Runts’ one. Therefore it is of course
more profitable to raise Homers. We do not sell Runts and
do not advocate their use either as a separate breed, or
crossed up with Homers. The large, plump, thoroughbred
Homer is the best.

Question. What is the difference between the Homer and
Antwerp breeds of pigeons? Answer. No difference. The
name is used interchangeably to apply to the same breed of
pigeon. In New England we speak of them mostly as
Homers. In some places they are called more often Antwerps.

Question. Can I feed some of my squabs by hand if nec-
essary? Answer. Yes. Mix up a mushy, soft handful of
grain, hold the squab in the left hand, close to your body, and
with the thumb and first finger of your right hand force the

QUESTIONS AND ARSWERS 107

mixture into the bill. The squab will swallow and fill its
crop. A backward squab may be forced in this manner.

Question. Can you sell me twelve pairs of young Homers,
about eight weeks old? Answer. No. It is impossible to
tell the sex of pigeons of that age. Any breeder who under-
takes to furnish squabs several weeks old in equal males and
females cannot do so and is imposing on you.

Question. Please give recipes for cooking squabs. An-
swer. See the cook books. Squabs are generally served
broiled. They should be drawn, singed and washed. Cut
off the heads, split into two parts, season, put on a lump of
butter and broil over a hot fire. Place close to the fire at
first so as to brown the outside and retain the juices, then
hold further away from the fire to complete the cooking. If
roasted, leave them in a hot oven for thirty minutes. For
roasting, squabs may be stuffed with cranberries or currants.
Baste every ten minutes with spoonfuls of hot water and
butter.

Question. How shall I train the young birds raised from
your Homers to fly? Answer. There is a large business in
flying Homers and if you have a pen or two of trained birds
you can sell them at fancy prices. There are homing clubs
all over the country which have contests and it 1s worth while
for a breeder to work for a reputation of breeding and selling
fast flyers. The young Homers when five months old are
strong enough to be trained to fly. Take them in a basket
(having omitted to feed them) a mile or two away, and
liberate them one by one. They will circle in the air, then
choose the correct course. You should have left grain for
them as a reward for their safe arrival home, and an induce-
ment for their next experience in flying. Two or three days
later take or send them away five miles and repeat. Next
try ten miles, and so work on by easy stages up to seventy-
five or one hundred miles. If you have a friend in another
city, you may send your birds in a basket to him with instruc-
tions to liberate certain ones at certain hours, or you may
send the basket by train to any express agent, along with a
letter telling him to liberate the birds at a certain hour and
send the basket back to you. If you wish to have the birds
carry a message, write it on a piece of cigarette paper (or any
strong tissue), wrap the paper around the leg of the bird and

SELF-FEEDER FOR GRAIN.

This trough gives excellent satisfaction with us. We do not sell it, but will
tell you how to have it made. It is four feet long. At the bottom of this page
you will see a sectional view of it. The grain is put into the hopper, H. It drops
in the direction indicated by the arrows into the spaces, AA, where it is eaten by
the birds. As fast as they eat, more drops down. ‘The strip through which they
stick their heads is three inches wide and the slots are cut one and one-half inches
wide. The V at the bottom of the trough is made from a solid piece of four by four.
It is solid so that rats cannot get inside of it and hide and pilfer the grain. The
inch-square pieces at the front of the bottom prevent the birds from pecking the
grain out upon the floor. One-inch lumber is used in the construction for every
part except the slot-boards, BB, which are three-eighths inch thick. The top and
»ottom are of twelve-inch boards, the sides of ten-inch boards. The top is held in
place by a hook and eye at each end as pictured. The trough will hold from three
days’ to two weeks’ supply of grain, depending on the size of the flock. Put the
trough not in the flying pen, but inside the squab house. Or, you may build a
half-trough (slot-board down one side only) and set it in the passageway, and it
will fill the space between the lower tier of nest boxes and the floor. Here it may
be filled from the passageway, and you will not have to enter the unit pen. We
have tried all kinds of self-feeders and recommend this pattern as the best of all.
If you adopt it in connection with the dowel system (illustrated on previous page)
your dowels will be used only behind the drinker, this trough taking up four feet of
the rest of the space. Make it either longer or shorter than four feet, to suit the size
of your flock, if you wish.

Gees - - orr--

QUESTIONS AND AWSWERS 109

tie with thread, or fasten with glue or a stamp; or, you may
tie the tissue around one of the tail feathers. A thin alu-
minum tube containing the message may be fastened to a
leg, or to a tail feather. A trap window should be constructed
to time the arrival home of birds. This is an aperture about
six inches square closed by wires hanging from a piece of wood
at the top of the aperture and swinging inward, but held close
to the aperture by its own weight. The pigeon cannot fly
out but on its return home (if you have sprinkled grain on the
inside of the house, next the wires) the bird will push the wire
door and goin. It takes only a day or two for the pigeon to
become accustomed to the trap. If you connect the trap
with a simple make-and-break electric circuit, the pigeon on
its arrival home from its flight will ring a bell in any part of
your house or barn. When you have a record of the flyers,
you will have a guide for mating. The majority of fanciers
recommend a medium-sized Homer. A large hen should be
mated to a small cock, or a large cock to a small hen. What
is perhaps the best pigeon service in the world has been in use
for several years between Newton Roads, Auckland, New
Zealand, and the Great Barrier and Maro Tiro Islands, some
seventy-five miles distant. A boy of sixteen years worked
up the service and makes a large income from it. About
twenty messages an hour are carried back and forth by the
Homers. A year ago the government declared its intention
of laying a cable from Auckland to Great Barrier. The
project was abandoned, however, as the residents of the little
island decided that they were well pleased with the pigeons,
-and that a cable would not be patronized. The government
offered to buy the whole pigeon outfit from the boy owner,
but he refused. There are from four hundred to five hundred
pairs of pigeons in the service.

Question. In the case of young birds mated up for the
first time at five or six months of age, is it best to destroy the
first eggs, or let them go ahead and hatch in the regular way?
Answer. Let them go ahead and hatch and learn to feed their
young. It will improve them for the next hatch.

Question. Please describe the self-feeder more fully and
explain its operation. Answer. The hopper of the feeder
is V-shaped so that the grain will fall by its own weight to the
centre at the bottom, which is cut away as shown in the

110° (NATIONAL STANDARD, SOUS BOOKS

illustration so that as the birds peck up the grain, more falls
from the hopper. The slit where the birds eat should be
about an inch and a half in width, just enough to prevent the
grain from running out faster than itis eaten. If the grain is
pulled out on the floor, tack a strip of wood, like a lath, so as
partly to block the holes.

Question. Should I cover the yard of the flying pen with
your grit? Answer. No. Providea box and keep our grit in
the box. When the pigeons want grit, they will go to the
box and get it.

Question. Are the carrier (flying) pigeons the same breed
as your Homers? Answer. Yes. A flying or carrier Homer
is a Homer that has been trained to fly a long distance.

Question. What are artificially fattened squabs? An-
swer. An artificially fattened squab is a squab which has
been stuffed by hand. Take a syringe and fill it with fattening
mixture of gruel-like consistency, open the mouth of the squab
and force the contents of the syringe into the crop of the squab.
Very few breeders take this trouble to bring their squabs to an
extraordinary size.

Question. 1 wish you had shipped my breeders in one
large crate, then the express charges would not have been so
much as for the two crates which you used. Amswer. You
are mistaken. An express shipment goes by weight and not
by number of packages. The express clerks put all the crates
going to one customer on the scales together and weigh them
all at once and on the total weight the charge is based. They
prefer to handle a large shipment in small packages, rather
than in one large package.

Question. Can I use the upper part of my henhouse for
pigeons, and if so will the pigeons interfere in the flying pen
with the hens? Answer. You may use the upper part of
your henhouse and the pigeons will not be harmed by the
hens, nor the hens by the pigeons. It is best to build the
flying pen in two stories so that the pigeons cannot fly into
the henhouse to try to nest.

Question. To save room, I would like to build my pigeon
house in two stories. Answer. That is all right. Build the
top flying pen out over and extending beyond the bottom
flying pen if you wish to separate the flocks on the ground
floor from the flocks upstairs.

QUESTIONS AND AMSWERS Ba

Question. What are the bands for pigeons’ legs and how
are they applied? Answer. The seamless band is a ring of
aluminum three-eighths of an inch in diameter and from
three-sixteenths to one-quarter of an inch in width. You
cannot apply it to an old pigeon. It is put on either leg of a
squab when the squab is four or five days old, by squeezing
the toes of the squab through the band. As the leg of the
squab grows, it becomes impossible to remove the band
except by cutting it off On the band, before putting it on
the leg of the squab, you may stamp year of birth and your
initials, or anything you choose. We sell an outfit consisting
of aluminum tubing, dies, etc., by which the squab breeder
may make his own bands at a cost of two or three for a cent.

Question. Since I bought twelve pairs of you, I have kept
a careful account of the feed, and find as you state that five
cents a month for a pair of breeders is right. Grain has been
much higher than usual this summer and it strikes me that
under normal conditions of the grain market the cost of a
pair of squab breeders would be less than five cents a month,
or sixty cents a year. Answer. Our figures of cost were
ascertained not by “ skimping”’ the birds, but feeding them
liberally, and an estimate of five cents a month for a pair is
based on a low cost of grain, and on selling the manure.

Question. What pattern of trowel do you recommend for
cleaning the nest bowls and nest boxes? Answer. The
common trowel such as bricklayers use is too pointed. The
best pattern has a square point and a stout blade with strong
handle. With such a trowel you can clean out the nest
bowls and nest boxes very effectively.

Question. Can pigeons be raised on the sea-coast as well
as inland? Answer. Yes; the Homer pigeon is descended
from a variety of pigeon which first bred among the cliffs
bordering the sea-shore.

Question. Do the squabs fly out of the nest before they are
four weeks old? Answer. No; they look old enough to fly
at four weeks, and their wings seem all ready for use, but they
stay in the nest and are fed by the parent birds, and when you
wish to kill them you find both in the nest ready for you.

Question. Your book states that pigeons sometimes lay
their eggs on the floor. But it does not say anything about
taking the eggs and putting them in a nest bowl. Would the

112, NATIONAL STANDARD SOUAB BOCK

birds follow their eggs and accept change of nest from floor to
nest bowl? Answer. No; you must leave the eggs where
they lay them. You can handle a nest and change eggs from
one nest bowl to another, if you wish, but you cannot move
eggs from one place in the squab house to another and expect
the birds to find them and go on with their laying.

Question. Do all squab breeders heat their houses in the
winter time; I mean those who do a large business like your-
self. Answer. No; some breeders of many years’ experience
believe that a warm house is detrimental to the health of the
birds, on account of the sudden change of temperature from
a warm house to a cold flying pen. The object should be
merely to take the damp winter chill off the air. If you have
a warm, tight squab house which you will close when night
comes, you will need no heat.

Question. In the case of a long house, say four units long,
should there be wire netting partitions between the units, so
as to separate the birds into four flocks? Answer. Such an
arrangement is more practical than one long house. It is
better to keep track of four small flocks than one large flock.
You can keep account of the birds both on paper, and with
your eyes, with more precision.

Question. How would a cement floor for the squab house
do? Answer. Do not use cement. See page 43 again.

Question. How is salt cat made? Answer. Take sixteen
quarts of sand, eight quarts of slaked lime, four quarts of
ground oyster shells, one pint of salt, one pint of caraway
seeds and mix with water into a stiff mud. Form into bricks
and set away to dry. The water with which you mix should
have a tablespoonful of sulphate of iron and a tablespoonful
of sulphuric acid for tonic and disinfectant. The birds peck
at this mixture and it is believed to have a tonic and strength-
ening effect on them.

Question. Shall I crowd one of the units with nest boxes,
or would it be better to have a smaller number of nest boxes
and build another unit to accommodate the new birds which
I am going to buy? Answer. Better enlarge your squab
house. In case of doubt, you will be on the safer side if you
do not crowd the birds.

(See following pages for points which may occur to you and
which are not covered in these questions and answers.)

SUPPLEMENT

NATIONAL STANDARD SQUAB BOOK
By Eumer C. RIcE

Every year shows a healthy growth in the squab industry and in our
business, which has become the largest and most successful in the world
in the pigeon or poultry line, and is expanding steadily, requiring every little
while new buildings, larger business offices, more help—and the growth is
going steadily on, with every prospect of a like increase the coming year.

On April 1, 1904, to get more room for the Boston office, we were obliged
to move from No. 9 Friend Street, and are now located at 287 Atlantic
avenue, Boston, where in a new modern building and with our quarters fitted
with every convenience for the rapid and accurate handling of business,
we have the largest space in New England devoted to the pigeon or poultry
or kindred trade.

Our Manual, the National Standard Squab Book, is the best-selling work
on breeding or farm-life ever published in any country, and has been carried
in the mails to every part of the civilized world.

We do not speak of these matters to magnify what we have done, but
because they are an assurance to new customers that we are entitled to their
confidence and patronage. We are grateful to the men and women who have
favored us so bountifully with their trade, and intend to merit further con-
fidence.

We have an extremely modern equipment in our Boston office for handling
correspondence, including a $200 system of business phonographs, Edison
patents. Mr. Rice handles the important part of the large correspondence,
dictating personal replies to phonograph cylinders which are taken by
young women and transcribed on typewriters. By the use of this phono-
graph system, easy, full and correct replies for all letters are possible.

Our business is too much a matter of pride with us, too large, and too
successful, to permit of a single patron being dissatisfied. We have spent
over $100,009 to put our trade on a firm and successful footing and we cannot
afford to run the risk of displeasing a customer. If resources, skill and
experience count for anything, and we think they do, we intend to keep on
furnishing the best Homer pigeons possible, and patrons can rest assured that
they are getting for their money the greatest possible value. Moreover,
we have one price to all; the customer in California can buy of us as cheaply
as our next-door neighbors. Our farm is always open to inspection and
custoners may make their own selection of breeding stock, if they desire.

Our general advertising in the high-class magazines and other periodicals
not only induces the breeding of squabs but also leads people to eat squabs.
For every one who sees our advertising and writes for particulars and starts
breeding, there are a score of men and women who inquire of their butchers
or marketmen for squabs in order to eat them. Squab dealers in every
section of the United States and Canada are reporting an increased demand
with which the supply cannot begin to keep pace.

We take some pride in the squab industry. We were the pioneers in it
and we put it on a commercial basis. We have fostered it on correct lines
and according to sound business principles, and the growth has not been a

113

114 NATIONAL. STANDARD SOUAB BOOE

‘“ boom,’’ as some other things in the past have been boomed, but has been
steady and sure and successful. We paint no extravagant picture as to the
profits of squab raising, and we show proofs every step of the way—stories
of success of our customers who started green and are making money.

That there are occasional failures is to be expected. We give no recipe
and sell no machinery for transforming an incompetent person who fails at
many tasks into a success. But the history of this industry and of our
business demonstrates with a power that cannot be denied that squab
raising is right.

No business climbs up the hill of profit steadily for any length of time
unless it is absolutely fair, advertised by true statements, and giving a true
money’s worth. When we began to tell the country about squabs, people
would come to our office and say, ‘‘Well, it reads pretty good, but is it true?”
We did not have much evidence ready then, but we have now. Our answer
is the present condition of the squab industry, forging ahead with giant
strides to its place alongside of eggs and poultry, millions of dollars in value,
and the unsolicited letters from our customers which we print, showing the
most remarkable and convincing progress of this breeding.

We have already printed a great many of these letters in years past, and
we print more in this Supplement. We have room here to show only a
small part of such testimony. For every letter printed here we have scores
just as convincing. These communications have come to us unsolicited,
day by day, as the business brought them, and more are coming every day,
and they are our answer to doubters. They are the proof that what we say
about the business and what we teach in the Manual, is true, and is being
worked out successfully. We do not print the names and addresses of the
writers of these letters because many of them are regular buyers of our
birds, and moreover, we cannot advertise other breeders free of charge.
These letters and the testimony they give are valueless if they are not
genuine. Each and every one is genuine, and moreover, we guarantee
their genuineness, and will produce the originals at any time to satisfy
anybody. In these days when many ‘“‘testimonials’’ are unblushingly
“worked up” without a shadow of foundation, there are skeptics, and to
such who cannot come to Boston and see us, we recommend that they send
one of the commercial agency men to make the inquiry and handle the
evidence. We have never yet had the genuineness of our letters from
customers questioned, for they ‘‘ring true’ and are in the simple language
of facts which cannot be counterfeited, but we are ready at any time for
any doubter.

What others have done and are doing with our birds, you can do.

KILLING MACHINE. To kill squabs with clearly. The neck of the squab is placed

extreme rapidity we have made a machine
with which the operator can work with much
ease and satisfaction. The method of tweak-
ing the necks which we describe and illustrate
in the Manual is slow when compared with
the work of this machine, and is repugnant
to many, especially women.
The illustration shows

the construction

between the movable arm (or lever) and the
lower arm, and the lever is brought down
upon the neck, breaking the bones, crushing
the spinal cord and killing the squab instantly.
The operation produces no blood, nor does
it break the flesh. The two edges of the
upper and lower arms, where they come to-
gether against the neck of the squab, should

SUPPLEMENT

not be sharp so as to cut the flesh, but should
be rounding, and slightly flat at the points
of contact.

The base-board is made of three-quarters
or one-inch lumber, twenty inches long and
seven inches wide. The upper arm (or lever)
is of half-inch stock, one and three-quarters

inches wide and fifteen inches long. The
lower arm is of half-inch stock one and three-
quarters inches wide and eight and one-half
inches long. The two upright pieces in
front, nearest the hand of the operator, are
each of seven-eighths or inch stock, one and
three-quarters inches wide and three and
three-quarters inches high. The two upright
pieces in back, furthest from the hand of
the operator, are each of seven-eighths or
inch stock, two and one-half inches wide
and three and three-quarters inches high.

The pin at the back of the machine on
which the lever turns is of one-quarter inch
brass or iron rod two and one-quarter inches
jong.

The upper arm (or lever) is bevelled or
cut off at an angle on lower corner (behind
the uprights, and consequently invisible
In the picture) so that the lever can be raised
_to an angle of forty-five degrees, thus per-
mitting the neck of the squab to be inserted
between the arms at a point just back of
the farther uprights. When the upper lever
is at rest upon the lower arm, there should
be no space between the two; they should
batt flush together.

The whole machine is built of wood with
the exception of the metal pivot and the
screws which hold the parts together. It
is not necessary to mortise the uprights
into the base-board. The screws which
fasten the uprights are started underneath
from the back side of the base-board and
go through the base-board. Nails may be
used instead of screws to hold the parts
together, but the job will not be so strong.
The base-board should be nailed or screwed
to a bench or table so as to give firmness
and splility in operation. Carry the squabs
in a basket to the machine and kill them
there; do not take the machine into the pens
and kill the squabs in sight of the other
birds.

We do not sell this squab killer.
be built by you or your carpenter.

Customers with large plants have told us
that this tool is a handy article, and we

It should

ius:

have found it indispensable. The squabs
can be killed as fast as you can work the
lever. The pressure is considerable and
the cords are crushed at once. The squab
is not strangled but is paralyzed, and made
lifeless at once. ;

For those who do not care to build a wood
squab-killing machine as described above,
we sell pincers, to accomplish the same
purpose in the same way; see our catalogue.
These pincers should be oiled at the joint,
and the joint worked so that they will open
and close freely. When first purchased
the joint is tight, and works hard.

For dealers who wish squabs bled, use the
knife which we describe in our catalogue.

WEANING THE YOUNG BIRDS. Ii you
are starting with a small flock with the
expectation of raising your own breeders,
do not take the young birds away from
their parents out of the breeding pen until
they are weaned. They are not thoroughly
weaned until they are six or seven weeks old.
It is true that many of them hop or fly or
are pushed out of the nests when they are
from four to five weeks old, but they con-
tinue to cry for food when they are
hungry, and the old cock bird of the pair
which hatched them will be seen feeding
them on the floor. The youngsters at this
time are feeding themselves, but to keep
them strong and rugged they need the crumbs
of parental food which they get as described,
and for which they cry, or squeak. These
crumbs have been moistened by the parent
bird and consequently digest quicker and
better.

When the youngsters are weaned, take
them out of the breeding pen and put them
in the rearing pen. (The rearing pen is
fitted with nest-boxes, etc., exactly the same
as a breeding pen.) You can tell by their
looks when they are old enough to remove,
even if you have not kept track of their age.
The substance (called the cere) at the base
of the bill of an old pigeon which is white
will be a dark brown on a squab or young
bird. A squab in the nest is so fat as often
to be bigger than either of his parents, but
after he has got out of the nest and hustled
around on the floor he trains off that fat and
becomes thin and rangy and can generally
be told from an old bird, if in no other way,
because he is smaller.

A poor beginner will sometimes be heard
to say: “Many of my young birds -are
dying.’”’ When he says that, you may be
sure that the trouble, every time, is with
him, and not with his birds, provided, of
course, his parent stock is rugged and hand-
some. It may be deduced, without asking any
further questions, that he is taking his voung
birds away from the breeding pen before
they have the strength to support themselves.
The precarious period of all animal life is
the weaning age. Some beginners who have
had no difficulty in raising squabs tc market

116

age have had losses because they supposed
that a full-fledged youngster was able to
take care of itself, but we never knew a
case of this which we could not straighten
out simply by recommending the breeder
to keep his young birds longer in the breeding
pen.

NEED OF HEALTH GRIT. It has been
our experience in dealing not only with
many thousands of beginners in the squab
business, but also with a great many breeders
of considerable experience, that comparatively
few have a proper appreciation of the value
of grit. Pigeons have no teeth and must
have grit to take the place of teeth, otherwise
they .cannot prepare their food for their
stomachs properly, and will not do well.
We have had customers take the most
extraordinary care with regard to the grain,
but supply absolutely no grit, and then they
complained because their birds were not
breeding properly, and that the squabs
were not plump.

Grit is not oyster shell, nor is oyster shell
grit. You must have both. The grit is
needed, as stated, to grind the grain, while
the oyster shell is needed to supply the
constituents out of which the female pigeon
forms the egg.

The yard of the flying pen must be gravelled
not grassed, and out of this gravel the birds
get considerable grit. If you watch them,
you will see them pecking at this gravel in
the flying pen constantly. Beach sand, or
sand of any kind, may be used in the flying
pen instead of gravel. The flying-pen yard
should be renewed with fresh sand or gravel
every six weeks, for although it may look
the same to you, you must remember that it
does not look the same to the birds, for they
have been going over it constantly picking
out the particles which they liked. In the
winter time when the flying pen may be
covered with snow, it is well to keep a pro-
tected box filled with gravel or sand in the
squab-house. By a protected box, we mean
a box which the birds cannot foul, but which
allows the grit to fall down as fast as eaten.

In a protected box in the squab-house
there should also be fed the Health Grit
which we sell. We have used all kinds of
grits, and the grit we are now using and
selling to the exclusion of everything else,
is the only grit which pigeons will eat greedily
(thus showing that it is good for them).
It contains salt, and no salt need be provided
in lump form if this grit is supplied. The
grits commonly manufactured and sold for
poultry, made out of granite, etc., are useless
for pigeons, and it is a waste of money to
buy them, for common gravel or sand would
be fully as good, and cost nothing. ay

A flock of pigeons under any conditions
and in any part of the country will do better
when our Health Grit is fed. The squabs
will be ready for market a few days earlier, they
will be plumper, and both they and the old

NATIONAL STANDARD SO UAS (5 OO

birds will be in rugged health, and will keep
so. We keep this grit before our own pigeons
constantly, and consume and sell more tons
of it every year than of any grit in the
market. It is used by practically every
large squab breeder of our acquaintance.
We recommend it in the highest terms,
knowing in our own experience that it pays
for itself many times over.

We charge two dollars per 100 pounds
for this grit. We do not sell less than fifty
pounds. Price of fifty pounds, one dollar.
We ship it in bags and it goes at a low freight
rate. A hundred-pound bag will last a small
flock formonths. Itisas good for hens as for
pigeons. This grit should be kept in and
fed from a wood box. Do not put it in a
tin or galvanized iron box.

OYSTER SHELL. A great deal of oyster
shell on the market is unfit for pigeons, not
being ground fine enough. It is quite
difficult in some sections of the West and
South to get oyster shell, which has to be
transported from the seaboard. The oyster
shell which we supply our trade is put up
in one-hundred-pound bags. Price 75 cents
per 100 pounds. No order filled for less
than fifty pounds; price of fifty pounds,
forty cents. It is ground fine and is just
right for pigeons. It should be fed to the
birds from a protected box in the squab-

ouse.

INSECT SPRAYER. Pigeons have a
long feather louse which is not harmful.
The mite which causes the only trouble is
small, about the size of a pin-head, called
the red mite, because after it has sucked
the blood of the pigeon it is colored red.
We have gone a whole season without seeing
any of these mites in our breeding houses.
If lice of this kind, or any kind, are discovered,
the insect sprayer which we illustrate here
will be found useful. The barrel is filled
with kerosene (or water in which squab-fe-nol
has been poured) and a fine spray driven
against the nest-boxes and nest-bowls, or
even against the birds.

These insect sprayers are well made of
heavy tin. We sell them for fifty cents

each. They cannot be mailed, but should
be sent by express, or with other goods
by freight.

Birds which are lousy may be dusted
under the feathers, next the skin, with any
good lice powder, or with tobacco dust.
The best time for such treatment is at night,
when the birds may be readily caught and

SU PEE

handled. It is also a good idea to throw a
pinch of tobacco dust in the nest, on and
around the squabs, about once a month during
the summer.

Lice are the terror of chicken raisers, but
we never knew a squab raiser, if intelligent, to
be troubled very much or very long with lice.

Once free of lice, the birds almost in-
variably keep themselves clean. It is only
the loft where cleaning is badly neglected
which is troubled with lice.

There is a light-colored grub which some-
times forms in the manure on the bottom
of the nest-box, but no trouble comes from
it and it does not get on the bird.

RED AND WHITE WHEAT. It is im-
possible for us to tell what is the difference
between red and white wheat. We do not
know the chemical constituents which color
one kernel red and another variety white.
This question is asked us by inquirers who
have never heard of red: wheat, yet it is a
common and staple variety of wheat quoted
daily in the Chicago and other grain markets.
If you cannot get red wheat where you live,
feed white wheat, which is fed regularly by
nine-tenths of our customers. As we say
in the Manual, we feed red wheat instead
of white wheat because it is not so much
of a laxative. When we cannot get red
wheat, which happens at some periods of
some years, we feed white wheat.

The effect of wheat is to keep the bowels
of the birds open and regular. There is
not much fattening substance in wheat.
That function is performed by corn.

Birds. fed on wheat_and nothing else get
so weak that they do no breeding. We
have found this out by the experience of
customers. Now and then a customer buys
birds without thinking that they must eat
to live. After he has got them he suddenly
recalls that they must be fed and starts out
to find something. We recall vividly one
Kansas customer of this kind who was induced
by some grain man to buy a lot of wheat
and nothing else. After feeding his birds
nothing but wheat for two weeks, he wrote
us that they were dumpy and showing no
inclination to build nests. ‘‘They are all
the time on the floor,’”’ he wrote, ‘“‘and cannot
fly.’ He had made them so weak by feeding
the wheat that they could not fly to their
nest-boxes, to say nothing of building nests.

USE OF LEG BAND OUTFIT. The
aluminum which we sell with our leg band
outfit is seamless tubing and by the use of
the outfit you produce a band which is
seamless and which can be applied only
to a squab, because, of course, the feet of an
old pigeon are too large to be squeezed through
the band as a squab’s can be squeezed. To
make an open band (which can be applied
to the leg of a full-grown pigeon) out of the
closed band, you simply make a_saw-cut
lengthwise the band, then open the band

EMENT

Lee

with your fingers, put it around the leg of
the pigeon, then close the band again. If
any one has old pigeons which he wishes to
band, he will find this band outfit quite as
serviceable as if used only for banding squabs.
We have sold thousands of these band out-
fits, and customers like them first-rate.
We can furnish open bands (to be applied
to the legs of full-grown pigeons) made of
aluminum, V-shaped joint, each band
numbered. a first-class band in every way,
for two cents each, or two dollars for one
hundred, postage paid.

MANAGEMENT OF BATH PANS. The
sixteen-inch bath pan which we recommend
and sell is better than a larger size, no matter
what the capacity of your plant. It is
easier emptied of water, there is less strain
on the arms, and it is kept clean easier.

There should be one bath pan for every
twelve pairs of birds. If you have about
48 pairs of birds in each unit, you should
have four bath pans in that unit, outside
in the flying pen. You can get along very
well with one drinking fountain to a unit
with that number of birds, or a less number
of birds, but if you do not have bath pans
enough the bathing water will get dirtier
than it should and the birds should not be
given an opportunity to drink this dirty
water.

In the winter, when the birds are shut
up in the squab- house frequently for days
at a time, it is not necessary to bathe them
every day. Bathe them once each week,
taking the bath pans into the squab-house
and letting the pans stand before them for
about an hour. If you let the water stand
in the bath pans in the squab-house in the
winter time all day, they will splash too
much out onto the floor, and the house will
get damp.

If your plant is a small one, the best way
for you to manage is this: At evening
(sunset, sometimes before) your birds will
all leave the flying pen for their nests and
perches inside. Then fill the bath pans with
water. When the following day dawns, and
before you are up, the pigeons will fly out and
take a bath. When you get up, go to your
pigeons and empty the bath pans, turning
them bottom side up and leaving them that
way all day.

The price of these sixteen-inch bath pans
is forty cents, crated ready for shipment.

KILLING WITH A KNIFE. Some dealers
in squabs wish them to be killed with a knife
as this gets out the blood and makes the
flesh somewhat whiter. Find out whether
or not the man to whom you are going to
sell the squabs wants them bled. The way
to kill them with a knife is to insert the
knife inside the bill and cut the jugular vein.
Then hang up the squab bill downward and
let the blood drain out. By using the knife
on the inside of the throat you do not make

11s NATIONAL ST

a wound which is visible to the eye of the
consumer. Use a knife with a long, narrow,
sharp blade. We sell them for forty-five
cents each, postage paid.

CONCERNING NEST BOXES. Many
customers who do not use egg-crates or
orange boxes, but build their nest-boxes of
half-inch or five-eighths lumber. have written
us that they have used the construction
which we illustrate herewith and which is
good, because cleaning can be better done.

The bottoms of the nest-boxes are re-
movable and rest on cleats, as the picture
shows. The cleats are seven-eighths or one
inch square and are nailed to the uprights.

When this construction is employed, it is
not necessary that you have a block or
base screwed to our nappy or nest-bowl.
The nappy or nest-bowl may be screwed
directly onto this removable nest- box bottom.

It is not necessary to nail a strip of wood
across the fronts of the nest-boxes, to prevent
the squabs from falling out.

The squabs stay in the nest until they
are ready to leave it, and it is very rare to
fin! one on the floor. It will be noticed
tha in the cities, the street pigeons’ nests

in many. cases will be found on the open
cornices of high buildings,

and if squabs

stay in such nests until they are able to
fly, the beginner with squabs ought not to
be worried about his birds’ nests which are
only a few feet from the floor.

SQUABS IN CHICAGO. The _ following
article is. taken from the Chicago American:
Squab Farming is a new Chicago Industry.

Little Capital is Required and Persons of good

Judgment and Care can Realize Good

Profits from Pigeon Culture.

all the birds in all the pies were suddenly

) lift their voices in song like those in the
nursery rhyme, the chorus would be loud
and long, for raising of squabs for food is a
constantly growing and lucrative industry,
and withal very fascinating.

ANDARD

SQUAB BOOK

A number oi farms, each sheltering several
hundred birds, are being conducted within
easy reach of the Chicago market.

Such clubs as the Union League and
Athletic are always ready buyers. Plump
birds are readily sold for a dollar apiece fur
breeding purposes, and their squabs at $4
a dozen for food. As in any field of labor,
the best results come from studied and
carefully planned effort. Utmost cleanliness
in food and in the little compartments to
which each bird comes with unerring instinct
to nest enters largely into success.

Eggs of clear black or white birds are
difficult to hatch because the birds of those
colors are very restless and nervous, not
caring for their eggs; sometimes only one in
a dozen being matured.

In four weeks the young bird is ready for
the market. Many of the squab farms are
side issues of those employed at other voca-
tions during the day, and bid fair to attract
the attention of those seeking quick returns
from a small outlay.

Attention to recognized habits of the
birds, sanitary conditions and good breeds
for parent birds are all that is necessary to
success.

ACTUAL TESTS CONVINCED THEM.
11 Appendix A in our Manual, we tell of
a2 sale of our Homers which we made in
February, 1903, to a_ship captain, who
intended ‘to sail from Boston around Cape
Horn to the Pacific coast, with stops, the
whole voyage to be made in about a year,
the pigeons to furnish fresh squab meat for
the long journey. The ship went to Florida,
from Boston, thence to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil,
safely, and sailed from there October 1, 1$08.
Under date of June 22, 1904, the Captain
wrote us as follows from New York City:
“The birds proved all you claim for them,
and even more. I put them in a small house
I built, four by eight, and four by four flying
pen, on March 7, 1903. (This was on the deck
of the ship.) They all hatched before pre ril
6, and up to June 5, 1904, every tird
hatched twelve times, and one pair eee
times. I saved one pair of the first hatches,
that were bornabout April 6, and in October
they hatched their first pair, and up to June
5 had six hatchings, which I think was pretty
good. I am satisfied that if the birds are
taken care of there is Lig money in them,
and just as soon as I can get a locaticn in
New Jersey, near New York City, I will send
to you for two or three hundred pairs. I have
an option on a place now and will know
tomorrow. I am pretty sure I shall get it
and by next Monday I am in hopes to begin
my houses. As soon as I get them ready,
I will send you a draft for what birds I want.
As my houses are built I will order and fill
them and I hope you will try and give me a
good lot of birds. I shall build for one
thousand pairs this summer and increase
next year if the birds are as good as those

SUPPLEMENT

you gave me. In two weeks you may expect
to get an order for two hundred pairs, so you
can begin to get them paired off. Any sug-
gestion you can give me about the houses will
be very acceptable, as I am going to begin
to build at once.”’

Since the above was written, he has built
his first house and we have shipped him
the first large lot of birds. His experience
is certainly convincing. Any ore who has
doubts can start with a small purchase of
birds and find out the facts for himself, just
as this customer did.

We are continually filling large orders for
customers who started with a small purchase
and did well. Why don’t you start with
two dozen or so pairs and have the experience
of this Michigan customer whose order we
received this summer: ‘“‘A short time ago
I received twenty-five pairs of your Homers.
They are all doing finely, every bird being
lively and full of vim., They are almost all
at work now, nest-building, and I am more
than satisfied with results thus far obtained.
I am about to build two houses, each house
to accommodate two hundred and fifty

airs, divided into five flocks of fifty pairs.

nclosed find New York draft to pay for
four hundred and fifty pairs Extra Homers.”’

Under date of July 1, 1904, a customer
writes us from an Ohio town: ‘‘The Homers
I purchased of you two years ago this month
have been doing very well, in short, their
increase has been marvelous, averaging nine
and one-half (9'2) pairs per year for the
two years I have had them. I now have
quite a flock, bred exclusively from the
three pairs of mated birds purchased from
you, but think it is about time to get some
new blood in the flock; therefore will you
kindly quote me your prices for birds from
one to three or four months old, equal parts
cocks and hens, so that I may turn them
in with my young birds to prevent as much
inbreedinz as possible in that way. I want
to say that I at first had some doubts as to the
profits of the business, but must confess that
they are even more than you have ever
claimed.”

Some of our most successful customers are
women. One writes us this summer as
follows: ‘‘Enclosed find post-office money
order for $7.03, payment for the following
order: three dozen wood nappies, three bath
pans, four galvanized iron drinkers. Ship
by freizht or express as is cheaper. Some-
thing over a vear ago I bought twelve pairs
of pigeons of you. Imperative duties have
prevented my giving them as much attention
as I would wish, but they have increased and
prospered with but trifling loss. There are
now more than forty. pairs nesting, and
altozether a flock of something over one
hundred and fifty. I have sold none, not
having had time even to sort them out and
‘send them: to market. I hope soon to get
into the lofts and put things in first-class
shape and weed out all the culls. I

119

am very well satisfied with my experiment.”’

A customer in New York writes: ‘‘There
have been two pigeon fanciers here this
week who say they have no such fine stock
as ours, mor have they seen anything like
them.”’

BOSTON PRICES. The squab market is
improving every year, and breeders every-
where are getting better prices, even right
here in Boston, the centre of the section
where our business is done, and where the
interest in squabs is very great. The follow-
ing quotations from the Boston Daily Globe
cover a period of over five years, and, as will
be seen, prices are firmly maintained.. New
York prices are better than these:

March 28, 1903......$4.00 and $5.00 a dozen
Apr. 25, 1903....... 3.50 and 4.00 a dozen
Marre23 90302 case

0 a dozen

i 4
June 27, 1903....... 3.50 and 4.00 a dozen
Aiilyaltl GO3R te eee DU randozen
Aug. 22, 1903....... 3.00 and 4.00 a dozen
Sept. 19, 1903....... 3.50 and 4.00 a dozen
Oct. 24, 1903........ 4.00 and 4.50 a dozen
Noy. 14, 1903. ...... 3.50 and 4.00 a dozen
Dec. 5, 1908......... 4.50 and 5.00 a dozen
Jan. 30, 1904....... 5.00 and 6.00 a dozen
Rebs 205 1904. ooo. 3 gs See >, £50saidozen
Mar. 12, 1904........ 5.00 and 5.50 a dozen
Apr. 30, 1904........ 4.00 and 4.50 a dozen
May 28, 1904........ 3.00 and 4.00 a dozen
June 11, 1904....... 3.00 and 4.00 a dozen
July 23, 1904........ 3.50 and 4.00 a dozen
Aug. 13, 1904....... 3.50 and 4.00 a dozen
Aug 20, 1904........ 3.50 and 4.00 a dozen
Sept. 10, 1904....... 3.50 and 4.00 a dozen
Oct. 8,1904......... 3.00 and 4.00 a dozen
Nov. 5, 1904... .3.00, 3.50 and 4.00 a dozen
Dec. 31, 1904....... 4.50 and 5.00 a dozen
Jan. 7,1905......... 4.50 and 5.00 a dozen
Mar. 25, 1905........ 4.50 and 5.00 a dozen
Apr. 1,1905......... 4.00 and 4.50 a dozen
May 27, 1905........ 3.50 and 4.00 a dozen
June 3, 1905........ 3.50 and 4.00 a dozen
July 8, 1905......... 3.00 and 3.50 a dozen
Ate a2 el 90 5h... de eae ete ae Oladozer
Sept. 28, 1905....... 3.00 and 3.50 a dozen
Oct. 21, 1905........ 3.00-and 4.00 a dozen
Dec. 16, 1905........ 3.00 and 4.00 a dozen
antec 0 006% ame ee OD ratdazen|
Mar. 31, 1906....... 4.25 and 4.75 a dozen
Apr. 7,1906......... 4.00 and 5.00 a dozen
May26, 1906. aa. sce 2a oO andozen
June 16, 1906....... 3.50 and 4.00 a dozen
fnlys28l90Ge= ) aon a od 50 ratdozer:
Rape DO a OOG sees ae ne oo Ora dozen
Oct. 20 Sl90Gi awe cnleee whoo nro. Obaedozen
anwar lOO Ve aes sees ey DOO aidozen
Jan. 19, 1907........ 3.50 and 5.00 a dozen
Mar. 9, 1907........ 3.00 and 3.50 a dozen
Mar. 23, 1907....... 3.50 and 5.09 a dozen
Apr. 6, 1907......... 4.00 and 5.09 a dozen
June 29, 1907....... 3.00 and 3.50 a dozen
Sept. 28, 1907..... .. .. 4.00 a dozen
Novy. 23, 1907....... 3.00 and 4.50 a dozen
Dec. 14, 1907........ 3.00 and 4.00 a dozen
Jan.18; 1908... 22... a4 wien ve 9s D:00'a dozen

120

Eee 25, 1908....... -$+4.00 and $5.00 a dozen
eb. 8, 1908......... 4.00 and 5.00 a dozen
Mar. 2, 1908........ 3.50 and 5.00 a dozen
Mar. 21,1908........ 3.00 and 4.00 a dozen
Apr. 11, 1.08........ 4.00 and 4.50 a dozen
May 9, 1y08......... 3.00 and 4.00 a dozen
June 6, 1908........ 3.00 and 3.50 a dozen
July 3, 1908......... 3.00 and 4.00 a dozen
July 18, 1908.. 3.50 and 4.00 a dozen

(This edition of this Manual went to press
in August, 1908. If you write us in 1909 or
later for Boston quotations we will give them
to you by letter.)

Sometimes different newspapers published
in the same city will give varying quotations
for squabs, as it depends largely on the
reporter who writes them. For example,
in the Boston Globe for Feb. 8, 1908, squabs
were quoted at $4 and $5 a dozen. In the
Boston Herald of that same day is the follow-
ing quotation: ‘“‘Squabs are high at $5 and
$6 a dozen.’”? On March 14, 1908, the Boston
Globe quoted squabs at $3.50 and $4 a
dozen, while the Boston Herald quoted them
at $5 and $6 a dozen.

In every large city are published trade
bulletins known as ‘‘Price Current,’ ‘‘Boston
Prices,’’ ‘‘Market Bulletin,’ ‘““Smith & Jones
Price Current,’’ etc. In some large cities
one printer will furnish a great many middle-
men with the same printed sheet, putting
at the head of each the name of a dealer or
firm. The prices given in these trade sheets
are never the true prices, but are what these
middlemen would like to pay to get the farm
products quoted. This is quite an important
subject to farm people but we do not remem-
ber ever having seen the attention of poultry
and produce raisers called to this matter
before. For example, these price current
sheets in New York will quote squabs at
$2.50 a dozen when the leading squab buyers
in that city, suchas Messrs. Silz, McLaughlin,
and Knapp & Van Nostrand are paying
from $4 to $6 a dozen to squab breeders and
reselling to their New York retail trade at
$5 to $8 a dozen. These trade sheets and
the trade columns in the daily newspapers
(which are supplied with quotations by the
dealers) not only quote squabs at prices
which they would like to pay, but poultry
and everything in the nature of farm produce.
Their object, of course, is to get farm produce
as cheap as they can. If a producer objects
to the small price they offer him, they will
send him their printed price quotation sheet
and write, ‘‘You will find the market prices
enclosed.” The producer not only of squabs
but of all kinds of farm produce should inform
himself of the true market and the only way
to do so is to go into that market by letter,
telephone or in person and offer to BUY,
not to sell. hen you have found out, for
example, that the dealer wants $6 a dozen
for squabs which he has for sale, you can go
to that man with your squabs and get $a
dozen. Don’t let him take more than his
fair share of the profits, Some of the poultry

NATIONAL STANDARD SOUAB BOOK

and produce buyers are not reliable. The
Rural New Yorker is a farm paper which
keeps its readers posted on unreliable and
irresponsible middlemen in New York State.
Assure yourself that the man or firm which
is going to buy your squabs is not only
prepared to pay you good prices but is able
to give you cash returns promptly.

The best way to sell squabs is direct to the
private trade at about double what the
middlemen pay. A customer of ours in
Illinois who is a printer gets at the private
trade by the use of a handsome circular
giving photographs of squabs and telling
what they are, prices, etc. He circularizes
the rich residents and also sends out the
circular in reply to newspaper advertise-
ments. His plan works well and gets him
the top prices. We have told many of our
customers of the plan and we tell it again
here so that you may get up such a circular
if you wish and go after the private trade.

It will be noticed, in the above table of
prices, that although the supply of squabs
has greatly increased during the past five
years, the demand for squabs created by
our advertising has more than kept pace
with it. Prices at this writing (1908) are as
mien or higher than we have ever known
them.

BUSINESS MANAGEMENT. Not a few
breeders raise squabs by the hundred and
are successful in every detail of the manage-
ment of their plant except selling the product.
Some beginners seem to think they will be
perfectly helpless without the co-operation
of some dealer.

It is a shame to raise fine squabs and
then sell them to some commission man or
other dealer who immediately resells them,
in most cases for double what he pays you for
them. It is the steady practice of the dealers
in Chicago, for instance, to pay from $2 to
$3 per dozen and resell them for $3 to $6 per
dozen. If you don’t believe this is true,
drop your role of a squab seller and go into
these markets to buy and you will see how
much profit is being made off your goods.

The squab dealers and commission men
do not advertise for customers. The squabs
are just as salable in your hands as in theirs.
Many people would prefer to buy of the
producer, being surer of a fresher and more
satisfactory product.

If you are producing squabs, by all means
sell them to the consumer and get the price
which the middleman is getting. It is
essential, however, if you are going to do this,
that you make it known in some way that
you have goodsquabs to seil. Think of the
rich people, the well-to-do people, the good
diners around you or nearest you, and figure
out for yourself a way of getting to them
the information that you are selling something
which they want and will buy steadily.
Perhaps a neatly printed circular sent by
mail will do it. Or an advertisement in the

SUPPLEMENY

newspaper in your territory which will
produce results. Or you might pick out two
or three likely families and make them a
present of a squab or two to get them started.

The products of the plants of hundreds
of our small customers are spoken for ahead
of capacity all the time by a neighborhood
trade, and this is what you should aim at.
This is the way the finest butter and eggs
and poultry are sold, and also squabs, and
the plants of our customers who are selling
squabs direct to the consumer are paying
better than the plants of other customers
whose product is marketed with poor judg-
ment.

Don’t be too fast to sell to a hotel. Some
farmers and breeders get the idea that if only
they can find a hotel to take all their goods,
their fortune is made. In every city there
are one or more first-class hotels which want
the best of everything and pay accordingly.
On the other hand, there are many hotels
which do not care for the best. For example,
few hotels care for the best ducks, because
a single dinner order is half a duck, and half
of the biz, first-class, expensive ducks is more
than a diner wants, so the hotel keeper of
course prevents waste by buying a small
duck. Same with squabs. The hotel buyers
are sharp bargainers, and if they think that
their trade will be satisfied with a seven or
eight-pound squab, they will take such a
bird rather than pay more for a ten or twelve-
pound squab. The average squab breeder,
like the average farmer and gardener, is
content to sell to the middleman, and if you
make the acquaintance of a good one, of
course you avoid some bother, yet it has been
our experience that it is just as easy to sell
squabs to the consumer as to anybody else,
in fact, after you have started with him
he will come after you and pay you a great
deal more than anybody else, still he is
paying just what he always has paid, and he
is better satisfied. Squabs are phenomenal
sellers and it is well to take advantage of
this condition, which is not always true of
poultry.

MR. McGREW CALLS. The following is
from the pen of Mr. T. F. McGrew, associate
editor of the Feather, poultry editor of the
Country Gentleman, also a_ widely quoted
writer for the government’s bureau of animal
industry, and a lecturer for the New York
State Board of Agriculture. He is one of the
best known judges of poultry and pigeons in
the United States. The visit to our farm of
which he speaks was made in November,
1903; since then our stock of Homers has
been increased.

“Tt was our pleasure within the last two
weeks to visit the home plant of the Plymouth
Rock Squab Co., at Melrose, Mass. We were
beautifully entertained by Mr. Elmer C. Rice
and his family. The buildings at the home
plant are by far the best that we have ever
seen for squab growing. Each building is

constructed for the best possible light, air,
and sanitary conditions. Those who may
be interested in squab growing will find it to
their profit to communicate with Mr. Rice
at Boston for the printed matter which gives
a full description of his plant and methods
of doing business.

“We saw at this plant 12,000 full-grown,
well-matured Homing Pigeons ready for dis-
tribution for growing squabs. In all our
experience we have never seen a better lot
than these. They are large, vigorous, full-
breasted, broad-shouldered specimens such
as one would select for producing squabs of
the best character. There are Blues, Blue
Checks, Silvers, Reds, and mixed colors such
as would naturally be produced through the
cross mating of any of these varieties. While
we were there Mr. Rice shipped from the
plant between five and six hundred birds,
all of which are sent out in large roomy
baskets, the baskets returnable at the shipper’s
expense. So far as we can calculate, we are un-
der the impression that Mr. Rice is doing a
very large business. In addition to this we
carefully perused a number of letters received
by Mr. Rice from localities as far west as San
Francisco, as far south as Florida, all of
these communications speaking in the highest
tens of the shipments made to them by Mr.

ice.

RUNTS NOT DESIRABLE. From the
Farm Journal—‘‘Our remarks in the October
issue respecting the relative merits of large
and small birds were put in a way to be
easily misunderstood.

“By large birds we meant Runts and that
class, usually found only in the hands of
fanciers and experts in pizeon breeding.

They are not at all desirable for squab
breeding.

“Common pigeons are not hardy and
prolific in proportion to their smallness. The

largest of these should be selected for breeding
always.

“There is a great difference in the size and
quality of what are called common birds.
Where they are chosen as the basis of a squab
breeder’s business a careful selection should
be made.

“Of all the pure-bred types, we know of
nothing superior or equal to the Homers for
breeding squabs. They are hardy and
prolific and rear large, meaty squabs. There
is also room for selection in Homers, some
being much larger than others.

“When a breeder already has a flock of
common pigeons he can greatly improve it
by the infusion of Homer blood.”

USEFUL MESSENGERS. We have quite
a call for our birds from physicians having a
country practice. They leave two or three
birds at a patient’s house to be let loose when
the doctor’s services are needed. In cases
of expected confinement at a distance of
several miles from the doctor’s home, our

birds are extremely useful. We earnestly
advise country physicians with a wide ter-
ritory to cover to look into this matter
and communicate with us. It will be money
in their pockets.

DEMAND IN COLORADO. We have had
the same experience with the Western trade
as the following writer in the Western Poultry
World, of course excepting Calitornia, which
is one of the best squab markets in the
country. What he says is conservative and
sensible and bears out what we have always
maintained, that wherever there are men
and women who are good eaters, there squabs
will be eaten. If you live in a town where
a squab never was seen, but where there are
people who set a good table, to them you
certainly can sell squabs:

“Having been asked by your editor to
write an article on pigeons or squab raising
and also having said I would, I commence
by stating a few facts which I have gained
from both practical experience and inquiries
from Eastern breeders. In the first place,
I want to say that little is known of this
industry in the West, and in fact it has not
been known in the East until about ten years
ago, when they began to take it up about
the same as the Western people are doing
now. Many got discouraged at finding it
was not a get-rich-quick scheme.

“T am constantly having letters from
different parts of the country asking me
if squab raising pays, and saying that from
inquiries they have made at meat markets
and of commission merchants, they are told
that there is no demand for them. Of course
there is not at the present time, for if there
was they could not get them. No man can
sell what he has not got. I once went to a
gentleman and told him my plan of starting
a squab farm, and he in turn went to his
market man and asked him what he thought
of it, and he said I was either lazy or crazy.
Now this man knew absolutely nothing of
squabs, and never had any in his store, and,
consequently, never had any calls for them.
I dare say that if one were to go to every
market in the city they would tell you the
same thing, and nine out of every ten people
would tell you they had never eaten a squab
in their lives; still I have people—come
right to my door—-who come a good distance
out of their way and want to buy squabs of
me. The reason hotels and restaurants do
not continually have them on their bill of fare
is because they cannot be supplied at all
times. Today they can get perhaps a dozen
and tomorrow, if they wish any, they cannot
get them, and even then they are obliged to
take common squabs and not Homers. As
to the demand, I want to say right here, that
I know one concern that will contract to take
400 dozen a week at good, fair prices. Two
parties that I know of right here in this city
are constantly in receipt of letters from hotels
and clubs in Denver wanting to buy squabs.

22 NATIONAL STANDARD SOUSA TOOK

In the East, where there are ten squab farms
to one in the West, the prices are higher than
here. It is because of the demand.”’

ELEGANT PROFIT. The following is from
Vick’s Magazine, an article on squab raising
by a practical breeder:

“Of recent years the demand for the
toothsome squab has been so great that the
supply does not come up to the demand.
Where years ago they were used only for
invalids, now they are on the bill of fare in
almost all restaurants and hotels. They
command good prices at all seasons and an
elegant profit is derived from them by the
raisers. It used to be that pigeons could not
thrive when housed up, but now the former
obstacles have been overcome and _ better
success is made where they are confined than
where they have their freedom.

“The squab business if conducted properly
will bring in a large percentage of profit
considering the first capital invested. Only
a few hundred dollars are required to start
where such a sum would be nothing to com-
mence in such a business as stock keeping,
etc., and yet with a few hundred pairs of
pigeons any one with a little judgment can
make a living for himself and family. Many
farmers’ sons could make nice yearly incomes
by stocking a part of their barn (not used
for anything else) with pigeons. The risks are
not so great as with chickens, but the birds
must be attended to and not neglected.

“With chickens one must not only feed
the old, but must also give the little ones
their meals, but not so with pigeon breeding.
You feed the old birds, and they feed their
young. One person can feed a thousand
pairs of birds in about a quarter hour; the
rest is left for the old ones to do. The little
birds are fed from pre-digested food from
the crops of their parents, who by a sort of
pumping force the food into the squab’s
mouths. It tales no longer time for a person
to feed a lot of birds with young than it does
without young.

“After the squabs are four to five weeks old
they are ready for market. It costs but one
and one-half cents per pair for feeding birds
a week and their young also, so with the
prices received for the squabs, which is forty
cents per pair in summer to eighty cents per
pair in the winter, one can imagine the
percentage of profit.

“Squabs of the largest size demand the
highest ma~ket prices, so it pays to commence
right by buying only good large stock. The
amount of labor required is almost nothing,
in fact unless very large numbers are cere:
one will have only a few hours’ work daily.
The writer has nearly 2,000, and it takes only
fifteen minutes: to feed and half an hour to
give fresh water. Of course it takes a dav
or two a week for killing young ones, and a
day or two each month for cleaning buildings.
then the work is about done. One person
can attend 1,000 pairs nicely and have ample

SUPPLEMENT

time to do other work around a place. The
writer finds it a snap to other occupations and
one is his own boss and can go or come when
he pleases. It is the business for a young
man; he can advance as he saves money.
There are some who commenced on a few
dollars and by careful saving now operate
plants of thousands of pairs of birds.

“The larger the’ pigeon, the larger the
squab, the higher the price. The breeding
houses need not be heated artificially in
winter as the birds can withstand any tem-
perature and in cold weather sit upon their
youn: until they are feathered sufficiently
to stand the cold."

ENLARGED HIS PLANT WITH PROFITS.
Experience of a Breeder who Made it Pay
from the Begiuning. In Contry Life, a
monthly magazine, one of the handsomest
and hizhest-toned publications, the experience
of a gentleman in squab raising gives the
following facts: ‘‘Six years ago I did not
have a bird, but I invested fifty dollars in
purchasinz twenty-five pairs of extra-choice
Homer pizeons, remodelling a poultry house
for their accommodation. JI had kept pigeons
for pleasure for five years, previously, and
felt that I knew a little about them. In these
six years I have not invested another dollar
exceptinz the dollars the birds have earned,
and my present establishment of five houses
and fifteen hundred pigeons, which has
cost me two thousand dollars, is all paid for.
In aliition, for the last three years, I have
paid out from five to seven dollars each week
for the wazes of a helper, to dress the squabs
and clean -he houses, for my regular business
woul 1 n >t permit .ne to attend to these duties
myself. ;

“The consensus of opinion of all experienced
squab breeders stamps the Homer as the best
pigeon for this purpose. This variety is
stronz and vizorous; a hearty feeder and good
worker; brizht-eyed, alert, and active;
stocky, symmetrical and full-breasted, which
counts so much in squabs. They are also
proliic, and their squabs are full-feathered
and fit for market in four weeks.

“T was very fortunate in getting my first
twenty-five pairs of birds. These were
Homers, full-blooded, and had established
records for flying, having taken first honors
in several contests.

“They not only averaged me seven and.

one-half p2irs of squabs a year, but stamped
their vitality on the birds I have selected
from their young.

“As my profits accrued I purchased
straisht Homer stock, picking from the best
near-by breeders, as well as those of estab-
lished reputation at a distance. :

“T alwavs put a lot of new birds in a clean
coop by themselves, give generous supply
of feed and water, and have plenty of nesting
materials in the coop. and if they have come
from a cistance put a good poultry powder
in their feed for the first meal, and let them

123

alone for a few days. If they are strong,
healthy birds they ought soon to begin to
carry materials and build nests. When nest
building is fully under way I transter each
mated pair to permanent breeding quarters.
When I find a pair of birds mated, | call my
assistant and tell him which bird to keep his
eyes on, and not to lose sight of it a single
instant. At the same time | note the other
bird and catch it. I pass the caught bird
to the assistant. He points out the other
bird and it is soon caught. I band all
purchases as well as those I raise.

“My weekly expense for feeding my flock
of fifteen hundred pigeons during the month
of December, 1903, was eighteen dollars and
thirty cents for the following: Three hundred
pounds of cracked corn, three bushels each of
wheat, peas and kaffir corn, one and one-half
bushels of millet, one bushel of hemp and half
a bushel of cracked rice. The rice I do not
feed regularly, but give when the bird’s
bowels are loose, for which condition it is an
excellent corrective. Feed is now much
hizher than last year.

““Pigeon-keeping for squabs may fitly be
termed a twentieth-century industry, for
only during the last five years has it by its
rapid development attained to the dignity of
a special business. The business will surely
still more increase during the first decade
of this century. The price of squabs has been
strongly maintained during the five years
just passed, notwithstanding the marvelous
increaseinthe business. The business furnishes
a way by which either men or women (for
many of the latter have successfully taken
up squab raising) can embark in an enterprise
which does not call for severe bodily exertion
and which if intelligently managed will yield
good dividends.”

SQUAB RAISING ON THE FARM.
Pigeons Kept in the Upper Part of Duck and
Poultry Houses.—The following is from an
article in the Country Gentleman, entitled
“A Combination Plant, Fruit, Bees, Fowls
and Squabs’’:

“For growing squabs some have separate
houses, some use the lofts of old barns, and
many are so constructing their poultry
buildings as to have quarters for growing
squabs in the second story of the poultry
houses. This is gained by laying a flat roof
on top of the poultry house, on top of this
a double thickness of tar paper well coated
with hot tar, with a board floor laid over it.
This provides the floor for the pizecn house,
the roof for the poultry house, and makes it
absolutely vermin proof both ways. A large
duck grower of our acquaintance has squab
houses of this character built over his duck
brooder houses and his poultry houses.
Several thousand pairs of breeding pigeons
are kept in this way, with a hanging outdoor
flying aviary for the pigeons. When it has been
successful on so large a scale, smaller growers
need not hesitate in adopting such a plan.

124

“Of course cleanliness, care and sanitary
conditions about the plant are imperative.
The most successful squab growers do not
scatter sand or dirt of any kind on the floor
or in nest boxes. Neither do they use any-
thing but straw for the birds to build their
nests. The droppings are all thoroughly
scraped up from the board floor, from the
nest boxes and under the perches once or
twice a week with a hoe, and stored away in
bags and sold at 50 to 60 cents per bushel.
They are used by tanners in making the very
best grades of leather. These droppings are
of no value when mixed with tobacco stems,
shavings, sawdust or sand. Grain or feed
of any kind if mixed in with them will not
injure their value, nor will some little straw
or feathers count much against their value.
Buy a good sharp hoe; floors constructed in
this way can be thoroughly cleaned by scrap-
ing up once or twice a week, and in this way
ee sanitary conditions will be of the very

est.

“Those who do not care to dispose of the
droppings in this way in some_ instances
spread from six to eight inches of soil from
their land over the floor of the squab house.
This is allowed to remain from three to six
months. Usually at the end of the moulting
season all the nest boxes and the whole house
is thoroughly cleaned out and the entire con-
tents of same dumped on the floor, scraped and
hauled away and scattered over the land.
This makes an excellent fertilizer. We know
of one instance where a large number of
squabs are kept in this way, and the house is
cleaned but twice a year. In the spring all
the cleanings from the house are hauled ovt
and spread over the land for the growing of
summer crops. After the fall moult, the
place is thoroughly cleaned up for winter,
the cleanings of the house are stored away
in a dry place and retained until spring.
Many persons would call this a filthy, un-
healthful way to keep a squab house, but
some of the most successful breeders follow
this plan. The presence of the five or six
inches of dry soil on the floor keeps it in good
condition throughout the season. The cloud
of dust that is raised at times by the pigeons
flapping their wings and flying about is
almost a certain guarantee against insect
attack. However, we do not advise this
method. We simply give the facts as we
have seen them.

“The only limit to the extent of such a
plant is the ability of those who possess it
properly to care for and manage all its
branches at a profit. Where there is a family
of boys and girls it might be well to engage
the attention of all in growing these several
kinds of products, and to lend encourage-
ment to each by giving him a share of the
profits. Scattered all over the country are
thousands of families in country places con-
tinually worrying and wondering why they
cannot keep their children at home. The
real reason so many of the young people

NATIONAL STAN DAKD SS OUAB IS OOis

leave the farm is that they are compelled to
work continually and never receive any
portion of the income for their labor. If the
parents would allow their growing families
to make an equal sum of money or in propor-
tion to what they can make by leaving home,
there would be far less complaint on this
score. All children wish to have the privilege
of earning a few dollars that they may call
their own.”

The following paragraph is from the same
paper in its report of the New York pigeon
show, January, 1904:

“There seems to be a depression in the sale
of high-class pigeons. Well-favored speci-
mens of the highest character still sell at top
prices, but the absence of any commercial
value for a large number of pigeons that are
grown detracts from the numerous sales that
their producers might have. If producers of
the hundreds of varieties of beautiful pigeons
would turn into the market as squabs the
greater part of all their product that was
not valuable for the exhibition room, greater
returns would come for those which were
saved for exhibition purposes. There is a
grand stride forward in growing squabs.
The combination of poultry-growing with
squab-growing works well. and is being
adopted by so many small farmers as to
create an unusual demand for all grades of
pigeons that are good for this purpose.

“Tt is well for those who go into the squab
business to remember that the price is graded
by size and quality. During winter squabs
that would average eight or nine pounds to the
dozen have sold at retail in the New York
market at from 35 to 40 cents each, while
those which averaged two or three pounds less
to the dozen sold at from 12% to 20 cents.
It takes quite as much time and as much
care and food to produce the small specimens
that bring the lower prices as it does to pro-
duce the hizher grades which bring the better
prices. People are beginning to find this out,
and taking advantage of the knowledge, are
looking about for the best quality of pigeons
to produce the best market squabs.”’

SQUAB PIN-MONEY. The following para-
graph appeared in the January, 1904, issue
of the Designer, a monthly magazine for
women published by the Butterick Publishing
Company of New York City:

“A young woman of my acquaintance
has kept herself supplied with hats, boots and
gloves during the past year by selling the
squabs of six pairs of Homer pigeons. They
require very little care, and the young are
ready for market when four weeks old. My
friend is so well pleased with her success that
she has added seven pairs to her stock, and
confidently expects to dress herself completely
on the sum derived from the sale of her
squabs.—M. P.”

THEY FLEW HOME. A dispatch from
Paris, printed by the Baltimore Sun, says:

SUPPEEM ENA

“A man named Maraud complained to M.
Brunet, Police Commissary for one of the
districts on the south side of the Seine, that
he had been robbed of six valuable carrier
pigeons and said that one of his friends had
seen them at the house of another man.

“The magistrate went to the place indicated
and there saw some birds. ‘How did you
come by them?’ he asked of the man. ‘Oh,
I bought them months ago.’ was the reply.

““Well, bring them to my office,’ said Mr.
Brunet. There he had a wax seal attached
to each bird’s leg and the birds liberated.

“They flew back to Maraud’s house and
an hour later the thief was on his way to
the police depot in the black maria.”’

SQUAB INDUSTRY’S GREAT GROWTH.
Address Delivered Before the New Jersey
State Board of Agriculture. Years ago when
poultry and egg production was being first
advocated extensively, there were many
fears expressed that the business would be
overdone, that chickens and eggs would come
to be common and low priced, and the fear
that there would be no money in the business
no doubt kept many out of it. Nevertheless,
more and more have gone into poultry and
eggs year after year, and millions of dollars’
worth of both are marketed yearly. Whole
communities, like Petaluma, California, are
given up to poultry and eggs. Eggs got as
high as sixty cents a dozen in the large cities
the past winter (1904).

Some people not informed as to squabs
think that if many go into squab raising the
prices are going to drop until there is no
profit in the business. On the contrary,
prices for squabs have been increasing every
year here in the East, and they are going to
increase in the West in the years to come.
Consumers who have read our advertising
all over the country are eating squabs who
never ate them before, and the effect of our
advertising on the general squab market
everywhere has been to boost prices. Well-
to-do people who are led to get into the habit
of having squabs on their tables keep on
ordering them, and tell others, and thus the
market grows.

If all the Homer breeders we have sold
during the years we have been in business
were concentrated in one plant, we could sell
the entire squab output of that one plant to
any one of a hundred commission men in one
of the large cities. .

New Jersey is doing well with squabs.
Other States, notably California, Iowa,
Wisccnsin, Michigan and Massachusetts are
producing a great many. Just what is being
accomplished in New Jersey comes as a
surprise to people who look upon this business
as something new and untried. At the
annual meeting of the New Jersey State
Board of Agriculture in January, 1904, an
address was given by Mr.G .L. Gillingham on
squab raising, in the course of which he said:

“The production of squabs for the markets

125

of our large cities is an industry that is reach-
ing considerable proportions in this State.
And, although it is growing yearly, yet the
prices seem to be advancing; showing that
there is an unlimited demand.

“The great scarcity of game all over our
country compels the keepers of first-class
hotels and restaurants to look for something
to take its place, and at the same time be sure
of a supply at all seasons of the year. There-
fore they have hit upon the squab to fill this
void, and now when one calls for quail on
toast, or order of a similar nature, it will
very often be found that the quail was raised
in a pigeon loft, and is much younger, more
tender and juicy than the quail would have
been, could it have been secured.

“This is a business that can be carried on
in connection with poultry raising, and is one
that may be conducted upon village lots
by women and young persons, if need be, and
by those whose other business takes their
attention during the middle portions of the
day, as the labor connected with it is not
heavy. It is particularly adapted to women
who wish to add something to their income.
In fact, women are more apt to succeed in
it than most men, as it requires close atten-
tion to the little things, as it is the many
little things that go to make up the final
profits at the end; as women are generally
more patient and thorough with small details
they will be more successful.

“The extent to which this business is
conducted in some parts of our State may
be shown by stating that in one town in
Burlington County of about 3000 inhabitants,
the purchase of one dealer the past year was
56,582 squabs, for which he paid $16,400;
while another dealer bought perhaps a little
over half as many more, bringing the aggre-
gate to 86,000 squabs, for which the people
of that town received nearly $25,000; while
another single grower in the same county
shipped from his own lofts between 13,000
and 14,000 birds.

“The cost of feed and care for a working loft
of pigeons is about $1 per pair per year
(manure not sold). Some put it much lower,
but at the present prices of feed, if proper care
is given, we should not figure much lower
than $1. A good pair of birds will produce
from seven to ten pair of squabs per year;
generally an average of not over eight pair.
The prices have ranged the past year from
25 cents for the poorest, to as high as 75,
80 and 90 cents for the best. Putting the
number raised at the lowest (seven pairs)
and the average price at 40 cents, we have
$2.80 for the $1 invested yearly after the first
cost of investment for buildings, etc., which
need not be expensive, according to the taste
and means of the builder and the amount of
capital he wishes to put into it. The houses
should always be placed where the drainage
is good, preferably upon a dry knoll, facing
the south or southeast. Some paying lofts
have been made by fitting up unused wagon-

126

house or wood-house lofts, or over hen houses.
Other houses have been constructed for
poultry on the ground floor and the story
above for pigeons. In this case great care
must be exercised to have the floor well laid
with planed and grooved flooring, to keep
vermin from passing up from the poultry.

“Very large flocks should not be kept in one
room. From 50 to 100 pairs aie enough to
keep together for the best results, preferably
the former. A room 10x 12 is ample for 50
pairs of working birds. A house may be
built of any desired length, 12 feet wide and
divided into apartments of the above size
by wire partitions with doors hung on spring
hinges, to facilitate passing through in
feeding.

“These houses should have windows on
the south, of sufficient size to afford ample
light in all parts of the house and no more,
as too much glass makes the house too cold
on the winter nights.

“As each pair requires two nests, as they
are generally sitting in one while raising
young in the other, there should be twice as
many nests as pairs of birds, with eighteen
to twenty to spare, that they may take their
choice.

“The period of incubation is eighteen
days, the hen bird sitting on the eggs, except-
ing about four hours each day. when the male
takes her place, while she is feeding and
resting.

“During incubation a substance forms in
the crop of both birds, known as pigeon milk
or curd, on which the young are fed for the
first five or six days, until they are old enough
to digest the grain, which is carried to them
in the crop of the old birds, and ejected from
their mouths to the mouth of the young bird
by the same process as the pigeon milk is
fed in the first place. Hence it is important
that the proper feed be given, which should
consist of a variety of grain and seeds, the
larger the variety, the bettcr. These should
consist of cracked corn, rather coarse (prefer-
ably about three or four pieces, from a single
kernel), with the fine sifted out. This should
be kept before them in troughs or hoppers,
so constructed that they cannot throw it
out and waste it, which they will frequently
do in search of other grains of which they are
more fond. The other seeds should consist
of whole corn, Canada peas, Kaffir corn,
hulled oats, millet and hempseed. These
should be fed on the floor twice daily, just
what they will clean up quickly, feeding the
hempseed but twice or three times per week,
except in the moulting season, when a small
quantity may be fed each day, as hempseed
is very fattenine, and when fed in excess bad
results may follow. Do not feed wheat too
liberally, and always mixed with gather
seeds, using the hard, red wheat and never
new wheat, as it has a tendency to loosen the
bowels of the young birds with sometimes
fatal results. In connection with the feeds,
the birds should be furnished with ground

NATIONAL STANDARD SOQUAB BOOK

oyster shell for grit, also a liberal supply of
salt and small bits of charcoal and gravel.
The salt is necessary to keep them in good
health. These substances may kept in
small boxes around the house where the birds
can have free access to them.

“A generous supply of pure water should
be kept before them at all times near the
feeding trough, and should be supplied each
morning before feeding, that the old birds may
have access to it immediately after feeding,
before taking the feed to their young.

“In stocking the houses, always avoid
using common breeders, as the results will be
disappointing. They are not prolific and are
more liable to produce dark squabs, which
always bring the lowest price in market, and
do not feed the young as well as the full
bloods. The best all-round birds for squab
raising are the straight Homers, as they are
the most active, good workers, quiet disposition,
and the best of feeders.

“The Runt is the largest of pigeons, but a
very slow worker, seldom producing more
than four pairs of squabs per year. It
makes a good cross with Homer and Dragoon,
but even then will not produce as many birds
as either of the others alone.

“The squabs are dressed for market once
a week, on regular shipping days. They are
dressed just before they are large enough to
leave the nests, and when they are full-
feathered, and should weigh at this time
eight pounds per dozen, this size commanding
the highest price, the prices falling off very
fast as the size drops from this weight. The
squabs should be dressed with empty crops.
They may be caught in the early morning
before feeding, and dressed, or caught the
evening before, after the old birds have fed
them for the night, and kept in hampers until
morning, when their crops will be just in the
rizht condition.

“After the young birds are two or three
weeks old, the old birds build another nest
and begin to sit again, the male bird taking
most of the care of the young until they are
ready to dress; hence the importance of
supplying two nests for each pair. Thus a
good pair of working birds have a pair of
young and a pair of eggs a large portion of the
time.

“During the summer months the birds
should be furnished with a shallow tub of
water in which to take a bath, two or three
times per week, which will help them to keep
free of vermin. These tubs should be
emptied after they have bathed, as the -
should not be allowed to drink the water in
which they have bathed.

“With good care, properly constructed
houses, wholesome food, never sour or tainted,
very little disease should be encountered.
Prevention is better and more easily ad-
ministered than cure. Some of these are dry
houses, pure water, recularitv in feeding and
cleanliness. The water buckets should be
washed out frequently with creoline water,

SOP PLEMENT 127

made by adding a teaspoonful of creoline to
one quart of water. This will kill any disease
germs that may be present, and is a good
disinfectant.

“Give good care, not neglecting the small
things, as it is the multitude of these wherein
the profit lies.

“The demand for squabs is constantly
increasing and any one entering into this
business and willing to give it the attention
it requires will always find a profit on the
right side of the ledger. But remember this
profit will be according to the care and
intelligence put into the business.”’

NEW YORK MARKET. The following is
taken from the New York World, an article
on squabs, published in August, 1904:

Squab-Raising as a Fine Art.—Game Laws
Make Propagation of this Small Bird a
Remunerative Business.—Palates Demand Sub-
stitute for Quail and Other Morsels that
Statutes Forbid.—Few persons, even among
the devotees of late suppers in New York's
high-priced restaurants, in looking over their
elaborate menus and selecting, say, a squab
on toast, realize what a tremendous industry
the Broadway taste for a large cold bottle
and a small hot bird has developed in the
United States in recent years.

The industry may, indeed, be considered
in itself in a squab state, but such has become
the after-theatre demand for the tasty little
birds that many business men have turned
from less lucrative pursuits to devote their
energies to their raising.

It would be impossible to state precisely
how many squabs are annually bred in the
United States, but it is estimated that
hundreds of thousands reach the tables and
tickle the palates of luxury-loving and
extravagant people.

The best of judgment in regard to quality
and quantity of feed is essential, cracked corn
and red wheat being the staple food. Kaffir
corn, Canada peas, buckwheat and_ millet
comprise about 20 per cent of the food in
winter, and in the summer less corn but more
wheat. Grit and salt are before the birds
always.

At the aze of four weeks the squabs are
ready for market and are deliciously tender,
as they have never learned to fly, and their
muscles have not had the hardening influence
of exercise. The killers now get busy. With
a slip-n ose around the feet, and wings locked
on the back, the squabs are suspended from
a rack. A killinz knife is inserted well into
the mouth and a quick, deep slash mace at
the back of the throat, allowing the bird to
bleed freely.

An expert can kill and rough pick about
four birds before they get cold. The squabs
are next dropped into a galvanized iron tub,
through which a constant stream of water
flows, which cools the birds. Then a small
hose nozzle is inserted in the mouth and water
allowed to fill the crop, after which it is with-

drawn and a quick pressure forces everything
out. A second use of the hose thoroughly
cleanses the crop. Two more immersions
in iced water make the birds ready for local
shipment.

In the Lenten season commission houses
buy and ice thousands of dozens of squabs
for winter trade. That is also the time squab
raisers select and save the best stock for
breeders.

Many of the live birds, especially the
Homers and red Carneaux, cost from $2.50
to $6 per pair.

Prices for squab in New York City run from
$4 per dozen in the early season to $5.50 and
$6 in the winter,

TWO YEARS’ EXPERIENCE WITH OUR
BIRDS. Will you kindly send us price-list
and such other printed matter as you have
issued within the past year? You will
remember we bought six pairs of you one year
ago last July. We have about 124 now and
are disposing of all the squabs we can raise
at three dollars per dozen. All of our birds
are not laying vet but will soon mature. We
have lost several when they were young birds,
then we had some stolen (one of which came
back). One bird had a peculiar substance
form around the outside under the bill. Will
you tell us if this was canker? We disposed
of the bird at once... We did not try to treat
it at all. The people here know very little
about fine squab, but I believe the market
is growing better right along.. Feed is much
higher here than in the East. We have to
pay $1.75 per 100 for cracked corn, $2.15 for
red wheat, $1.75 for Kaffir corn and about
$5 for hempseed, so that $3 per dozen does
not bring in a very large profit. Would you
advise our raising the price? We hope to
send you another order shortly. We have
not tried to use the manure at all. We have
had no trouble with our birds as to vermin.
They seem to keep entirely free from it.—
Mrs. H. D., State of Washington.

TO MONTANA IN GOOD ORDER. 1
received the crate of pigeons yesterday.
They were all alive and in good health.—
J. F., Montana.

FINDS OUR BIRDS FAST BREEDERS.
On September 16, 1902, I ordered six pairs
Extra from you and now (August 30, 1904)
have about two hundred old pigeons and
squabs together, and will want to begin
shipping a few before long. Wish you
would please give me the names of a lot of
desirable squab buyers in New York and
other nearby cities. Do you think prices
will be better later on in the fall, and which
is the best way to ship them, dead or alive?
Can I get shipping crates already made?

If so, where, and at what price? Thanking
aoe an aayeae for this information —
W.E. H., North Carolina.

128

HAD NO TROUBLE RAISING THEM.
Last spring, in April, I think, we bought
twelve pairs Extra for thirty dollars of you.
At present we have eighty-five in all, or about
sixty young birds that we have raised our-
selves. We would not think of selling them
as we have had very good success and are
much interested in the business, but through
sickness I lost my former position in this
village and have now secured a permanent
one in Chicago, and expect to move there in
a few weeks. Expect to locate right in the
city and consequently will have no facilities
for keeping the pigeons, and so am anxious
to sell. The birds are as healthy as when
we received them, as we have followed very
carefully the rules laid down, in caring for
them, and have never seen any signs of
disease among them. Have lost only com-
paratively few, and those were small ones
which were neglected by mother birds, or by
some accident. Quite a large number oi
our young birds have mated and have bred
the latter part of the winter.—R. F. G.,
Michigan.

GETTING SIX DOLLARS A DOZEN. Two
of the six pairs have now hatched out three
squabs, twoon February 4 and oneon February
7 (the other egg evidently was chilled by the
extreme cold weather). The market price in
Newark is six dollars a dozen, and we have
contracted to sell these three squabs at that
price. They are fat and very satisfactory.
We are very much encouraged and wish to
increase our flock.—F. C., New Jersey.

THE TRUTH ABOUT THE MARKETS.
I received your Manual and have read it
through very carefully. I have found that
it tells the very truth. I was in Washington
Market and there they told me just the same.
They will take all the squabs I can give them.
I think I will give you an order next month
for 48 pairs Homers and one gross nappies.—
H. T., New York.

ATTRACT ADMIRATION IN CALIFORNIA,
Birds arrived on the 11th safe and in first-
class condition for the length of their trip.
I am well satisfied with the birds and expect
to give you an order for more before long.
Every one that has seen them thinks they
are fine. —E. J., California.

OUR METHODS IN SOUTH AFRICA:
Enclosed find fifty cents for which please send
me a copy of National Standard Squab Book.
Perhaps it may interest you to know that
this is to assist in the raising of squabs in
South Africa.—L. E. D., Pennsylvania.

YOUNGSTERS ARE BEAUTIES. I have
fifty or more pure Homers from the original
old birds purchased from your concern.
These youngsters are beauties between the
ages of six months and one vear.—B. R. D.,
Long Island.

NATIONAL STANDARD SQUAB BOOK

IN PERFECT CONDITION. My mother
bought one dozen pairs of your birds a year
ago and now has about sixty in flock. They
have been well cared for and are in perfect
condition.—T. A. B., Kentucky.

A NEWS-AGENT’S SIDE LINE. I have
been doing a little business that I did not
have time to tell you about in my last letter.
I have boys in several of the towns around
here to get squabs for me and I have made
arrangements with the above firm to deliver
those that I don’t sell myself, on commission.
The hotel has an order for 150 per week.
Besides this order I sell to several restaurants
and let the market deliver to the houses. I
am the only one here who buys squabs to any
extent, and average 200 to 300 per week. I
make from $5 to $7.50 each week this way,
besides what I make on the train. How is
that for a news-agent running a train every
day from 21) pim to JalSiaimee— BaD
Texas.

HAS OVERSOLD HIS SQUAB CAPACITY.
Could you supply me with two dozen first-
class squabs for shipment from Wooster on
or about December 22? I have an order for
that amount, and while the birds I purchased
from youare doing fine, I will not have enough.
Have orders for breeders and squabs enough
to keep the flock working overtime until
spring, at which time I expect to enlarge my
plant to at least 500 pairs. I could of course
fill this small order from nearby markets,
but Homers are Homers, and I don’t care to
depreciate the value of my flock by shipping
inferior squabs.—C. L. Z., Ghio.

THE MAN HE WORKS FOR IS MAKING
MONEY WITH OUR BIRDS. I see in the
Poultry Keeper that you offer a squab book
free, so | would like to have one, for I have
squabs myself and I would like to learn how
to raise them. I am only a boy and I am
working for Mr. Fairbanks on his farm. He
told me that I could write to you and ask
you fora book. I know the chicken business
very well, but not the squab business. Mr.
Fairbanks bought pigeons from you last year
(eighty pairs Extra shipped August 4, 1902).
and he is doing fine with them, so good-bye
and don’t forget the address. That penny
is for a stamp, and the other stamp is for the
letter —W. H., Missouri.

A LONG SHIPMENT IN GOOD ORDER.
Your two letters dated January 27 were
received yesterday, February 1. I went to
the express office early this morning and
found the pigeons had arrived in the night.
The birds are all alive and in fine condition
but two, one of which was bruised and I
fear its wing is broken. I thank you for
the extra two pairs and for the crates.
have a fine new squab house built according
to your plans, only the flying pen runs up to
the top of the roof, which I think a better

SUPPLEMENT, 29

plan for this damp climate. I may send for
one or two dozen pairs more by spring.—Mrs.
E. N., State of Washington.

A PERFECT SHIPMENT OF HOMERS
TO FRANCE. The pigeons arrived this day
in perfect condition, but I am sorry to say I
have neither the nappies nor the bases. I]
duly received your letter of December 16
which I answered at once. I have this day
written to Puritan Line of steamship asking
for information concerning the non-arriva]
of the nappies.—G. D., France (Europe).

DOING WELL. The pigeons purchased
of you last fall are doing well. Am in im-
mediate need of more wooden nappies.—F.
C. J., Massachusetts.

GOT ONLY TEN CENTS EACH FOR
SQUABS BUT MADE MONEY. I built two
rustic seats for a neighbor for three pairs
of Homer pigeons, and put them in a pen
eight by eight feet. They increased at about
a pair of squabs a month. We turned the
young ones out as soon as they were able to
fly. We soon had a flock of pigeons of about
fifty or seventy-five. Suddenly we found
that we could sell the young ones for ten
cents apiece and the butcher took them off
the nest for us. We killed the three original
pairs as we did not want any in coops.
built a pigeon house sixteen feet high and
ten feet square on the ground, two stories.
The birds come in at the top and nest where
they please. I took up a homestead seventy
miles north. On this my whole family lived
for most of the time. While we were away
from this place, the butcher came regularly
ani took away the squabs and left the money
or his account with a neighbor. We never
kept any account of the profit of these splen-
did birds except last year, when the profit
was $34.50, and the feed would not amount
to a dollar, as they fly out and rustle their
own feed. My wife feeds them a little to
make them friendly. I have a large wagon
shed and they used to nest in this. I shot
some of them and they have never bothered
me there now for two years. They are wise
and I think they can talk. As a comparison
of profit between chickens and squabs, we
had a coop of chickens that required con-
stant care. After deducting $19 for chicken
feed, the profit on them was $33. The
chicken coop and corral are quite a distance
from the pigeon house and the pigeons never
feed with them.—W. S. M., California.

NEVER LOST A BIRD BY SICKNESS.
In June, 1902, I got twenty-four pairs of
you, paying sixty dollars for them. I have
never lost a bird by sickness. I killed one.
He was ailing and did not look well, so I
killed him. This was three or four months
after I got the birds. Right off after I got
them I raised twenty-five pairs, then I be-
gan to kill squabs, as I had no room. I sola

the first lot of squabs in February, 1903,
and got 25 cents apiece at first (this was
much too low), then | sold for 30 cents apiece
until May, 1903. I should say I sold in all
150 squabs up to May 1. From that time
on the marketman to whom I was selling
refused to give me more than 18 cents apiece,
so I rigged up a new place and put forty
pairs in there, then I sold a few more. Since
then to now (November, 1903) have sold
about 60 to 75 squabs. I have sold only
squabs, but the other day I sold six pairs of
breeders for two dollars a pair. All the 24
origiaal pairs I got of you have kept working.
I have three or four pairs which have made
a nest almost every month since I have had
them. They had eleven nests, others four
or five nests a pair. I have eighty-eight
pairs of breeders now. I have got confi-
dence now to go ahead and am going to start
a large plant in the country and will buy
some more birds of you.—H. C., Massachusetts.

A YOUNG WOMAN’S SUCCESS. A year
ago last July I received from you one- -half
dozen pairs and paid you $15. I have tried
to take good care of them and they have
increased till now I have some one hundred
young birds. I did not try to sell any of them
as I wanted to let the flock grow. I took good
care of the young birds mating and so there
are not any of them that are related to each
other now that are breeding. I had built for
them a good warm house according to your
directions and they have done very well.
Some few died during this winter, but I think
they were crowded and so the older ones
would push the little fellows out of the nest
and they froze during the night.—Miss E. M.
C., Kansas.

A GOOD HEALTHY FLOCK. I bought
24 pairs Extra of you a little over a year ago.
IT now have besides the 24 pairs about 40 pairs
of mated birds, all leg banded. Also I have
about one hundred young birds and all but
about thirty of these will be old enough to
mate by the first of April. All of these are
leg banded and are good healthy birds in first-
class condition.—E, A. H., Iowa.

GOING TO MAKE AN EXHIBIT. My
birds that I received of you in July and
August are doing fine, and as there is a poultry
show here in this city next month, I thought
perhaps I would show a few of them, Could
you give me any pointers on putting them on
exhibition ?—E. G., Michigan.

EXPERIENCE DEARLY BOUGHT. You
may possibly think I am doing considerable
correspondence without doing much trading,
but I wish to get your advice in regard to a
little matter. Last April I purchased seven-
teen pigeons of a friend of mine for $5.95. I
knew nothing except what your Manual
taught me about the business. I purchased
in the fall of 2 Westerner what were supposed

150

to be twenty pairs of Al Homers, but they
proved to be a poor mess. The Westerner
also proved to be a dead beat. The next man
1 tackled was in your State, who shipped me
twenty-four pairs Homers for $36. Well, at
present | have fifty-three to fifty-five pairs of
birds and about thirty-five to forty head of
young stock. Now I see where I am lame,
and where I made a big mistake in not buying
your best breeders, if I had only purchased
one-half the number. I wish to get rid of
what I have. I have a large house and wish
to fill it with the best stock obtainable.—M. D.,
New York.

NEW JERSEY SEES WHAT REALLY
PLUMP SQUABS ARE. The 400 pairs of
pizeons I got from you are hale and hearty.
By actual count I have ninety-eight pairs of
eggs and squabs, besides the squabs ready to
kill, which number is, however, very small.
Takinz the lateness of the season when I got
the birds and the extreme cold we have here,
I think the outlook all right. What do you
say? Everybody is stuck on the plumpness
of the squabs when dead and their bright and
fine appearance when alive.—J. New
Jersey.

OUR PROMISES MEAN SOMETHING.
Thank you for prompt, kind and satisfactory
way of settlement, in answer to our letter to
you. If all dealers would as satisfactorily
adjust claims similar to ours as you have done,

‘there would be a much easier feeling among
purchasers. This action on your part shows
that your guarantee is just what it says.
Again thanking you for your business-like
settlement of our claim.—R. B. M., Pennsyl-
vania.

BOUGHT BIRDS THAT NO ONE ELSE
WANTED AND FOUND THEM INDEED
CHEAP. About four years ago, my son, now
16 years old, got the pigeon fever, and I must
admit I caught it myself. He first put up a
dry-goods box and bought a few birds. He
showed so much interest in them I thought
it would be a good pastime and bought him
more birds, and erected a house as per en-
closed sketch. Like most beginners, we
wanted a variety and we were foolish enough
to buy them anywhere, and presume we got
what no one else wanted. We spent quite a
few dollars and our last purchase was from a
fellow in Pennsylvania, who had ‘“‘more than
he wanted,’’ and we bought them because they
were cheap, and they were cheap, or I had
better say they were mighty dear. The
pigeons never had a nicer home or better feed.
I try to do right what I undertake, every one
of our friends said we would succeed, but we
made a miserable failure indeed. My wife
saw your advertisement, sent for some litera-
ture. we then sent for your squab book, which
we just received, and read it with considerable
interest. The fever has slightlv returned, not
as hard as at first. but I honestly believe that

NATIONALE STANDAKD SOCUAB BOOK

had I your stock in the first place, we could
now tell a different tale. After my wife read
your book, she said, “I believe I can do all
rizht with that kind of stock myself.’ So I
have encouraged her, as she feels that it
would be pastime for our two boys, and I was
certainly fond of the birds when we had them.
Send alonz the nappies and just as soon as we
can get rid of the truck we have, and straight-
en house up, we will be ready for the Extra
Homers. I believe there is a great opportun-
ity offered in squab raising, and we are going
to try it.—E. G., New Jersey.

READ OUR RULES TO THE EXPRESS
AGENT AND GOT A REBATE OF ONE-
HALF. The pigeons came to me Monday
afternoon and seem to be none the worse
for the long journey. They are beauties
aad I find it almost impossible to keep away
from their pen, but I suppose the novelty will
wear away. I should have written yester-
day, but the express agent had overcharged
me and I wanted to settle the matter, if pos-
sible, without bothering you. I am glad to
say I was able to persuade him he was in the
wrong, and after reading your card he re-
funded half my money. Thank you for the
very prompt attention you gave my order.
—Mrs. R. B., Florida. a

STRAIGHT BUSINESS METHODS. The
birds arrived (this order was the second
order from this customer, six months after
the first order) in good condition, and are
now housed. The birds look fine. I thank
you very much for the extra pair, something
that I did not expect you to do under the
circumstances, as it was no fault of yours of
those birds going light. I also thank you
for the information and will try and save the
bird by your method. To get even with you
I shall show my birds to all and mention
E. C. Rice. Thanking you again for prompt
shipment and straight business methods.—
W. D., Ohio.

AN OLD CUSTOMER HEARD FROM.
I am still raising squabs and like my pigeons
better than ever (this customer has been with
us going on three years). Am having good
success raising them all through this awful
cold weather, and they seem healthier than
when it is warmer. I enclose check for which
please send me wooden nappies. If you
have anything new in the way of literature
kindly send me some, as I want to keep in
touch with you. Have you supplied birds
to any one around here lately? Our visit to
your squab plant last summer is pleasantly
remembered by wife and I.—F. L. B., New
Jersey.

NICE BIRDS. The pigeons arrived in fine
condition and seem to like their new home
very much. Thank you for selecting me
such nice birds. Hope the baskets reached
you safe.—Mrs. J. P. A., Virginia.

SUPPLEMEN i

BEAUTIFUL BIRDS GOT TO HIM QUICK.
Birds received yesterday noon, all in fine con-
dition. Put them in their house last night.
All took a good bath this morning. I thank
vou for your promptness and for sending me
such beautiful birds. I had not expected
birds so soon, but was ready.—P. M. R.,
Kansas.

SQUABS SUPERIOR TO POULTRY. I
am an old pigeon and squab and poultry
man. I have made money with squabs, and
I think they are superior to poultry.—H. S.,
Massachusetts.

FLORIDA PURCHASER DELIGHTED.
Pigeons arrived O. K. Saturday night.
I am delighted with them, and as I have fol-
lowed your instructions as to building house,
pen and other articles, the birds seem to be
at home.—M. F. B., Florida.

THEY ARE BEAUTIES. Received pig-
eons all O. K. They are beauties and have
begun to nest.—F. M., Ohio.

A TEXAS CUSTOMER’S APPRECIA-
TION. Your second shipment of Homer
pigeons was received yesterday and, like the

t, in excellent condition, and I am more
than pleased with them. Although my deal-
ings with you, when compared to some of
your large customers, are rather insignifi-
cant, I can’t allow this opportunity to pass
without expressing to you my thanks and
appreciation for your filling of my orders.
For square dealings, conducted solely along
sound business lines, you are without a peer
in the pigeon world today. I most heartily
recommend you to all.—sS. By hexas.
(The writer of this letter is a well-known
Texas business man, connected with one of
the largest corporations in that State.)

WON SUCCESS ALSO BY DOING AS WE
DO; NEVER HAD A SICK BIRD. Some
time ago I bought a dozen pairs of Homer
pigeons from you and paid $20 for them, and
I want to get about four or five dozen more
pair, and would like to know the price you
ask for them at present, so I can send the
money at once. I find your book on the
pigeon industry covers the pigeon business
in good shape. I have always found when
you start to make a new pie or cake, follow
the directions of the people that have made
a success. Consequently, I have not had a
sick pigeon since I received them some eight
months ago. The only difference I made
was in the house, and in that the only dif-
ference was not to make it quite as tight as
they are made in your locality. Hoping to
hear from you soon.—J. W. C., California.

ANOTHER WOMAN PLEASED. The
birds came on the afternoon of the 6th.
They are all very handsome. Some of them
are beautiful. You will be surprised to learn

151

that in less than 24 hours two pairs were
nesting. They have been very busy all day.
—Mrs. R. L. U.; New York.

INCREASING FAST. Enclosed find $1.70
for lez band outfit. I am receiving excel-
lent results from the birds and they are in-
creasing so fast that I find it necessary to
band them.—H. C. K., Maryland.

OUR HOMERS ADVERTISE THEM-
SELVES. For the enclosed $15 ship by
National Express six pairs Homers, equally
as fine birds as you sent on August 3 last
year, ten months ago, to Ben Barber of this
place.—J. B. H., New York.

MANUAL WORTH FIVE DOLLARS. I
am in receipt of your National Standard
Squab Book and am very much interested in
the work. I find that every time I pick it
up something new seems to appear. In fact,
the whole subject is covered, so far as I] am
able to judge, and I consider the work well
worth five dollars instead of your dinky price
of only fifty cents. There is a squab plant
between here and San Francisco, four thou-
sand birds. Their output of squabs, twenty
dozen per week, all go to the Palace Hotel,
San Francisco. I think prices for squabs
are lower here than in the East, still I be-
lieve there is money in it.—J. L. S., California.

ONE YEAR’S SELECTION. The number
of breeders has increased to about fifty
pairs from those I purchased from you about
a year ago (fifteen pairs) and all are good
breeders, as I have been particular to raise
those from the best breeders only.—H. W.
C., Michigan.

BREEDING THROUGH THE WINTER.
Several months ago I purchased from you a
number of your best Homers. They have
been doing fine, breeding right along through
this severe weather; in fact, my flock has more
than doubled.—L. Z., Ohio.

OUR MANUAL OF GREAT HELP TO
HIM. Some little time ago I sent for your
National Standard Squab Book and after-
wards for six dozen of your wood nappies.
Since then I have been keeping my pizeons
according to your instructions and with
great success. I had some fine, pure-bred
Homers and have been getting squabs at
four weeks averaging twelve ounces. I have
had them up to 13% ounces. You strongly
urge the adoption of all methods that will
reduce the time necessary to look after the
birds, and I heartily agree with you.—C. C.
C., California.

FROM A NEW JERSEY CUSTOMER.
Anything new in the pigeon line? If so,
send it to me. Iam raising lots of squabs.—
F. L. B., New Jersey.

132

SQUAB BUSINESS A SUCCESS. My
father is in the squab business in a town in
this State. His business is a success, but I
would like to have him give your birds a
trial and so have decided to make him a
present of a dozen.—H. L. T., Iowa.

GOOD WORDS FROM A COMPETITOR.
We have associated your splendid achieve-
ments and capacity with our dogged deter-
mination to remain in to the death, and by
elimination have differentiated both of our
establishments from the pretentious and
ephemeral plants that come and go. We are
a long way from feeling otherwise than
modest, and yet we realize that in about
eight months we have got a good plant, a
good stock, a good name and a good trade,
and do not owe a dollar. All the same, this
has been regretfully on our sole, unaided
inexperience, and your skill has been a
loadstar of hope, suggesting that perhaps
some day we might hit upon the course
which you have taken and follow it. If
this business shall ever be trustified, we
shall wish to be near you, and in any event
we have nothing but desire for your con-
tinued brilliant success, and that we shall
be worthy compeers.—C. F., New York.

WONDERFUL FECUNDITY. Here is
$3.84, for which please send me four dozen
wood nappies by Barstow’s express. My
pigeons bought of you a year ago are doing
fine. I bought six pairs of you a year ago and
have now (July 5, 1904) 175 birds. I had 100
stolen. But for this misfortune I would now
have 275. I have 400 or 500 hens as well as
the pigeons.—N. J. G., Massachusetts.

RAISED A HUNDRED. Will you send me
your prices on grain of all kinds? My birds
are doing finenow. Ihave about one hundred
birds raised from the ones I bought of you
(twelve pairs). As soon as I get started in
good shape I shall buy more breeders from
you. Ihave not sold any yet as I have been
raising them.—H. A. H., Massachusetts.

OTHER HOMERS NOT LIKE OURS. I
enclose my check for $1.50 to pay for leg band
outfit, and 20 cents additional for postage.
My birds are continuing to do fine, and I am
more pleased than ever with them. I was out
last night calling on a man who claimed to
have Homers. They looked more like com-
mon street pigeons than my Homers. All
these things tend to encourage me, when peo-
ple can breed such birds profitably. I know
mine will show up much better. Please give
me a few names of New York dealers in
squabs.—W. M. G., New York.

PERFECTLY SATISFIED. Pardon me
for not writing before, but I have been away
from home since the birds came, until within
a few days. Iam perfectly well satisfied with
the Homers you sent me. They are as fine a

NATIONAL STANDARD S OUAB BOOC

lot of birds as I could wish to see. Half of
them are nesting now and I think that they
went to work as quickly as could be expected.
We have taken great pains to make their house
warm, clean and convenient. I intended to
order more birds before this time but have
been unable owing to sickness in my family,
However, as soon as I get straightened round
again I intend to order more breeding stock
and work my flock up to 150 pairs as soon as
possible.—L. A. C., New Jersey.

ENCOURAGED TO GO ON AFTER EIGHT
MONTHS’ TRIAL. Kindly quote me price on
leg band outfit. Ihave lost the circular which
you sent me. The birds I got from you last
fall (eight months ago) are doing fine, one pair
especially, breeding regularly four weeks.
hope to have larger quarters and will then
plate order for more birds.—F. J. G., New

ork.

A PLEASURE TO DO BUSINESS WITH
US. The two dozen pairs of Extra birds
ordered Thursday night arrived Saturday
morning. It certainly is a pleasure to do
business with you. I am delighted with the
prompt service you have rendered, for which
I beg to thank you. The birds are a fine lot,
and they arrived all in the best condition. I
am convinced that you make a special thing of
each order sent you. Will return the baskets
tomorrow.—E. S. F., New York.

NEVER SEEN BETTER PIGEONS. Sev-
eral men who have seen my birds have said
that they have never seen a healthier or finer
lot of pigeons anywhere. The reason they are
in such healthy condition is simply this, that
I have followed your method to the very
veer, and hence the result.—E. W., New

ork,

SEVEN MONTHS OF STEADY INCREASE.
In May last I bought of you a dozen pairs of
Homer pigeons which proved a great success,
as I now have thirty or forty young birds fly-
ing at large. What I want to know is, can 1
let out my old ones? I havea fine large flying
pen for them, but if you think they will stay
with me if I give them their freedom, I would
like to do so. They have now been in their
present quarters nearly seven months.—W. L.
J., Maine.

THANKS FOR EXTRA HEN. This is to
advise you that our second order of breeders
was received on the morning of the 24th in
prime condition. We wish to thank you both
for your promptness in filling our order, and
also for the extra hen sent to replace the sick
one of our first lot—W. E. M., Pennsylvania.

NEVER SEEN LARGER, FINER OR MORE
VIGOROUS BIRDS. The Homer pigeons
ordered from you on Saturday last arrived
today, Tuesday, about noon, apparently in
excellent condition, and I believe I have never

SUPPLEMEN®

seen larger, finer or more vigorous-looking
birds. Please accept thanks for your careful
consideration and quick shipment. For
romptness you are certainly a wonder.—J.
Fi. B,, Delaware.

SHIPPED IN EXTRA FINE SHAPE. I
received from you last evening at 7 o’clock 208
birds, all alive and so far as I can see in good
condition. This morning one is choked and
stupid, but I think will come out all right
later. I am very grateful for the extra fine
shape in which you crated, labelled and fitted
them for their journey. I will send back your
baskets this date all in fine shape. I have
received everything else ordered, all in fine
condition.—J. C., Long Island, New York.

SENT HIS FRIEND TO US. Please send
me a pass to visit your plant at Melrose
February 27, and one for Mr. Burrows. Mr.
Burrows intends buying birds soon. Mine
purchased last April are doing nicely.—E. L.
S., Boston.

HE IS RECOMMENDING OUR BIRDS.
Enclosed you will find a money order for
which please send me wooden nappies. I
would like to have them as soon as possible
for my birds are beginning to lay. I was over
to your pigeon plant in Melrose and bought
a few pairs and I think that they are the real
stuff. They are doing fine. Please send mea
pass for two, as I would like to visit your plant
again, and I am recommending your birds.—
A. L. R., Massachusetts.

STARTED SMALL AND IS NOW CON-
VINCED. Please give me your best price on
100 pairs, giving an estimate of the weight
and express charges on same. My birds are
doing finely. All young birds are larger than
the parent birds and workers.—G. C. D.,
Michigan.

THE CHILDREN ARE BETTER THAN
THEIR PARENTS. I have forty-eight birds
raised from three pairs I bought of you, far
ahead in looks and activity of those you
sent me.—Mrs, C. L. P., Connecticut.

HAS RAISED SQUABS TEN YEARS. I
have received your Manual and it is beyond
my expectations. I have raised squabs for
about ten years from common pigeons.—J. H.
M., Pennsylvania.

EXPERIMENT A SUCCESS. My husband
is going into the business. He bought some
Homers of you last summer and intends buying
more.—Mrs. G. W. P., Massachusetts.

THEY GROW UP IN INDIANA ALL RIGHT
I now (December 1, 1903) have over eighty
Homers from the eight pairs I purchased from
you last spring. They are all in the very best
of condition.—R. T. M., Indiana.

133

IN FINE SHAPE ALL THE WAY TO
OREGON. I write you to acknowledge the
receipt of the birds. They arrived on the
morning of November 18 and were turned into
their new quarters on the 19th, and I guess
they were very glad to get out of the baskets
and stretch their wings which they did in great
shape and a number of them took a bath as
soon as it was presented to them. They all
seem to be in fine condition after their long
journey.—H., J. T., Oregon.

GOOD RESULTS IN SIX WEEKS. By
actual count I find we have the following
results today, six weeks after the arrival of the
pigeons: Forty-two pairs of squabs and sixty-
seven pairs of eggs in the process of being
hatched.—I. B., New Jersey.

VERIFIED STATEMENTS AS TO COST
OF FEED. My little experience justifies
the statement of your book as to cost of
feed. If you will answer my query as to
capacity of my house I shall greatly appre-
ciate the courtesy.—F. B. S., Oregon.

COMMON PIGEONS DO NOT PAY FOR
KEEP. I have studied squabs for two years
and have had good luck with them. I have
read your book and think it is good. If i
had a price list I would get some Homers.
I have always had good luck, but common
pigeons do not pay for the keeping.—H. K.,
Michigan.

AN ALABAMA BOY PLEASED. The
birds arrived safely on the 24th and in good
condition. We think they are a very nice
lot of birds. As I am a boy of only fifteen
years, I expect to follow your advice given
in your magazines, and would appreciate
any further advice you could offer me. As
I have a little more money on hand, I may
order some more birds soon. Thank you
for your prompt delivery.—W. L., Alabama.

THREE HUNDRED BIRDS RAISED IN
LESS THAN ONE YEAR FROM THIRTY-
SIX PAIRS. Our birds shipped by you
February 12, 1903 (thirty-six pairs), have
done very well. We have now deere 2s
1904), over three hundred and they are lay-
ing and hatching all the time. We are going
to buy some more before very long and
move our plant out onto our thirty-acre
farm. I think we will do some more busi-
ness with you. Please give us the -name
and address of the people who buy pigeon
manure. We have some to sell.—S. M. M.,
Indiana.

FIVE DOLLARS A DOZEN FOR THE
SQUABS PROVE THE QUALITY OF OUR
HOMERS. I wrote you the first of the
week for price of fifty pairs of Homers ready
for hatching. Not receiving any answer,
I think you did not get the letter. Please
give me figures by return mail, and if you

134

can ship at once. The Homers I bought
from you two years ago are doing finely,
also those I hatched from them. They are
very large and handsome. Shipped some
dressed squabs last week to New York and
they returned five dollars per dozen, which
proves the quality of the goods. Hoping
to hear from you soon.—A. C., Connecticut

OUR STOCK THE BEST TO BE HAD.
I find I will not be in the market for more
birds as expected, as my flock is in good shape,
but have recommended your company to
several prospective purchasers. Do_ not
know, however, what result this will bring.
I am glad to say that I have every confidence
in your dealings, as I am much pleased with
every article I have purchased from you
from time to time and will not hesitate a
moment to buy stock from you if in market
for same, as I believe your stock to be the
best that can be had.—O. C. S., Michigan.

IN FINE CONDITION, AND PERFECT
BEAUTIES. Please excuse delay in ac-
knowledging receipt of birds. They were
delivered to me in fine condition and cer-
tainly are perfect beauties. They seem to
enjoy their new quarters. I must congrat-
ulate you on your promptness in shipping
orders. With me it was the quickest move
I have ever seen, considering the distance.
The same day I ordered poultry from a
breeder in Jamesbury, New Jersey. Both
letters were posted late Friday afternoon.
The pigeons arrived Monday morning early,
while the poultry did not arrive until the
following Thursday. I was much surprised
at the difference——J. H. B., New Jersey.

KINDNESS TO A_ BEGINNER. We
thank you for the kindness you have shown
us in our inexperience.—F. . W., New
Hampshire.

PLEASED WITH HER INVESTMENT.
Last April I purchased of you some Homers.
I have had good success with them as far
as the laying and hatching are concerned,
and am very much pleased with my invest-
ment.—Mrs. L. G. S., Ohio.

STOCK TO BE RELIED ON. In talking
with my friend, Mr. C. F. Peters, about go-
ing into the poultry business, he advised me
to write to you about the squab business,
saying he knew you would do as well if not
better by me than anybody, and I could
rely on your stock and what you might wish
to tell me about the business. I have read
your works and think you have the right
idea about the business.—C. A. G., Illinois.

THREE WEEKS OLD AND WEIGHED
OVER A POUND. We weighed one of the
first pair of squabs from the birds bought
of you when it was just three weeks old,
and it held the scales at just seventeen (17)

NATIONAL STANDARD SOUAS BOGS

ounces. Pretty good, was it not?—Mrs,
E. K., State of Washington.

A FINE LOT OF BIRDS. The last lot of
pigeons which I ordered from you were re-
ceived Monday morning in splendid condi-
tion after their lonz journey, and are a fine
lot of birds. I will send you in a few days
another remittance, in addition to the one
already sent.—J. L. Louisiana.

SEES THE IMPORTANCE OF KNOWL-
EDGE AND GOOD STOCK. Just read your
book and saw how foolish we were. We had
seven dozen mixed birds, some common and
some Fantails, and some Runts and Homers.
We were ignorant about the kind, and only
had about eight or ten squabs in six months,
so we sold them to the first person that
came. Now I would like to start fresh again
and get about a dozen pairs of your Homers.
What would the express be to Alameda?
Kindly let me hear from you immediately,
as I would like to have some pigeons.—Mrs.
M., California.

DOING BETTER AS HE GETS EX-
PERIENCE. Enclosed find post-office money
order for which please send me leg band
outfit and extra tubing. From the twelve
pairs of Homer pigeons I bought from you
about May 1, 1903, nine months ago, I have
seventy-two birds all told, old and young,
and ten pairs setting. According to this
rate I ought to have, I think, at least sixty
pairs by May 1. That will be an increase
of five to one. I have lost so far four young
birds and four settings of eggs, but I hope
to lessen this this vear.—E. B. G., North
Carolina.

PREFERS OUR HOMERS. I am very
proud of my birds, they are so tame and
pretty. I can get Homers around here,
but I would rather have them all from your
place. Please send at your earliest con-
venience.—Miss B. D., New Jersey.

NO MORE CHEAP BIRDS FOR HIM.
Herewith I enclose fifty cents worth of
stamps, being in payment for one of your
Manuals. In May last I started in the
squab-raising business and never owned a
pigeon before. I naturally have made
some few mistakes, both in building a house
and selecting birds. I am going to sell out
if possible, if not incurring too much loss,
which, being a poor man, I cannot afford
to do, and if successful I shall buy land and
build, and also buy the best birds I can find,
even though it be only a few pairs. I now
have 150 pairs all mated, working nicely,
stove in house, eizht-pound squabs, seventy-
five cents per pair Philadelphia market. As
I said before, I am poor, but not a cheap
man. I want the best, which of course after
giving proper food and attention, I should
be rewarded both in stock of squabs and
prices.—S. B., Pennsylvania.

SUPPLEMENS

A FRIEND’S FLOCK DOING WELL.
Enclosed nnd express money order. I am
sure you will send the best birds. I find
the Manual very instructive. Mr. Connelley’s
flock which he obtained of you is doing fine.
—C. L., South Carolina.

STOCK THE FINEST HE HAS SEEN.
My home is in Buffalo, N. Y. I am stopping
in this city (Atlanta, Ga.), temporarily. It
is my intention to establish a squab plant in
the vicinity of Buffalo. I have been to
look over Mr. ——s plant, which is very fine,
and the stock is the finest I have seen. He
informed me that you furnished the stock
(five hundred pairs), an entire equipment.
My present intention is to start with not
less than 300 pairs.—P. H., Georgia.

IN FIRST-CLASS CONDITION. The birds
arrived yesterday in first-class condition, all
alive. Thanks for the extras—R. W. B
State of Washington.

A NOVA SCOTIA CUSTOMER. The
Homers arrived safely today, and I am very
much pleased with them. They are a fine lot
of birds.—J. H., Nova Scotia.

KIND AND CORDIAL METHODS. Many
thanks for your kind and cordial methods of
doing business, and if I find that the conditions
here are suitable to squab raising, I shall be
wanting some more stock before long. So far
Iam very well pleased, and the birds you sent
are certainly well worth the prices you quote.—
D. T. S., Kentucky.

CHICKEN INDUSTRY NEEDS A MAN-
UALLIKEOURS. The Manualsent me is the
most complete and concise work on the sub-
ject of squab raising I have ever read. I
doubt whether there is a book written on any
subject of its kind so complete in all its detail.
I would be willing to give most anything fora
like account of how to succeed with chickens.
If you know of any such work I would con-
sider it a personal favor if you would kindly
send me the title and where to get it. I am
glad to have in my possession such a book as
the Manual, it is a pleasure to read it. Of
course it’s business, but I think it wonderful
that you should give such valuable informa-
tion to the public_—J. H. J., Pennsylvania.

SAME AS YOU SENT BEFORE. Enclosed
you will find $15 for six pairs of your best
breeding Homers that breed white squabs,
the same as you sent before.—F. P., Virginia.

FROM FIFTY DOLLARS TO FIFTY CENTS.
Please ‘send to us as soon as possible 48 nap-
pies. We shall want 48 of your Extra Homers
as soon as these nappies reach us, and if con-
ditions prove favorable, hope to buy a thou-
sand birds. I think there must be money nN
this business. I wrote a squab raiser in lowa,
asking if he would show me through his farm,

and he replied that he would for fifty doliars.
I enclose fifty cents for a National Standard
Squab Book, which kindly send me.—A. D.,
Minnesota.

MAKING MORE MONEY WITH SQUABS.
The nappies have not yet come. 1 have quit
the railroad and gone into the squab business.
We are going to send for some ot your Homers
soon and let what we have bieed with a few
additions occasionally until the Homer trade
gets rooted. I am now making more with
pigeons than while working for the company,
or rather, I am making a good living and put-
ting in a large stock of pigeons.—S. D., Texas.

OUR CLAIMS PROVEN TO HIS SATIS-
FACTION. Last February, 1903, I bought
a small lot of adult Homers from your com-
pany and am satisfied they are all you claim
for them. Being desirous of getting along
faster in the business, I have advertised for
additional capital in a New York City paper,
and have had nearly two dozen inquiries about
the industry.—A. D., New Jersey.

A HUSBAND WAITS FOR THIS YOUNG
WOMAN. November, 1902, I bought twelve
pairs of your Homers; now I’m sorry to say
I musi give up the idea of the squab business,
and wish to know if you care to buy them and
what you will pay. I have ninety birds, and
sold some last summer. I think your birds
have done very well. I would not have any-
thing but your Plymouth Rock Homers.— Miss
E. J. D., New. York.

A TEXAS WOMAN FINDS THEM EASY
TO RAISE. I have now (January 7, 1904),
raised one hundred from those I bought of you
(six pairs Extra sold December 11, 1902.)—
Mrs. R. M. H., Texas.

ONE HUNDRED PAIRS IN MONTANA’S
COLD WEATHER. The squab breeders
arrived here all safe and well in spite of the
cold snap Monday noon. We are much
pleased with the flock. Number is correct
208 birds (only two casualties). They cer-
tainly are having a fine initiation to Montana
weather. The mercury stood thirty-two
degrees below zero last night and has been
below since their arrival—W. H., Montana.

DEALERS ADVISE HIM TO BUY OF US.
About a year ago I bought your Manual and
plans forasquab house. I have been study-
ing the book thoroughly and find it very
complete in every detail and ‘‘out of sight”? as
compared with others I have seen. I am
compelled to move to Southern California and
will try Squab raising. What discount do
you give on 300 pairs of your best birds? I
have been somewhat used to stock raising,
including poultry. I am advised by dealers in
Los Angeles to get my stock from Boston, even
at the expense necessary. ile no names
Were mentioned, I presume they referred to

136

you.—W. W. D., Minnesota. (Correct. We
have shipped to California within the past few
years thousands of pairs of Homers and at all
places in California where squabs are sold and
eaten, the product of our Homers is wanted
because they are the best in the market there.)

USES THE HEALTH GRIT. Please send
me by American express one hundred pounds
Health Grit, for which find $2 enclosed. My
pigeons are "doing finely and I now have 75 in
addition to my original lot, and the young
ones are hatching out squabs. S{hi%5 IY. Ter
Maine.

HE IS PLEASED WITH US AND OUR
BIRDS. Iamso much pleased with the birds
I got from you and the bright prospects of the
squab industry, that | feel interested in getting
some of my friends started in squab raising.
The last shipment of squab breeders reached
me in splendid condition and are very fine
birds. lam very much pleased with the selec-
tion and your good judgment. All your stock,
birds, supplies and dealings with me in the past
have been so satisfactory that you may expect
more orders from me and my friends in the
future. I have raised and sold. pigeons and
pet stock for years, so of course am capable of
judging good stock when I see it, and I con-
sider your squab-breeding Homers the best that
can be bred for successful market squab breed-
ing. Trusting that you may continue to have
much success in this worthy business.—L. E
Virginia.

THEY EAT OUT OF HER HAND. I en-
close money order for more nappies. I like
my pigeons better every day. They are so
tame now they will eat out of my hand.—Miss
L. V. P., New York.

THREE MONTHS’ WORK. We are going
to move this week to California. The six
pairs I bought of you in March, three months
ago, have all nested and done fine, and IJ have
raised 24 young birds from them.—Mrs. H. B.
S., Massachusetts.

ALL THE WAY TO VANCOUVER. I
received my birds on June 8, and all of them
were in fine condition except one hen, which
seems to be a little stupid. My express
charges were all right. Thank you for the
free birds. Hoping that I will be able to send
for a few more soon.—G. A. L., Vancouver.

HAS SEEN HOW OUR BIRDS WORK IN
HIS TOWN. I am sending you herewith
money order for $31.50, for which please send
me 12 pairs of your Extra Plymouth Rock
Homers, and two of your drinkers, same as you
sent me before. I have seen two ‘different lots
of your Homers in this city, and although I
have some good ones eat are rapid breeders
and raise large squabs, I am so much im-

ressed with the work that Me Barrett’s Homers
purchased of you) are doing, that I have gone

NA EON ATES SCARING Asie

SQUAB BOOK

to work and fitted up two more breeding pens
to accommodate some of your stock.—W. H.
M., Massachusetts.

ALL AT WORK IN SIX WEEKS. Who-
ever took the pair of pigeons from the basket
must have been an expert in determining the
sex and mates, as every one of them, that is,
twelve females, have eggs and are setting,
Don’t you think this is strong evidence that
two pigeons never were taken from the basket
during transit? I will make no claim against
the express company. I feel very positive
they are not at fault. The shipment reached
me six weeks ago.—C. S., Ohio.

INCREASING HIS FLOCK. The twelve
pairs of breeders that I bought from you last
fall are beginning to lav very nicely and I am
very much pleased with them. Please send
me six more pairs, in payment for which you
will find money order enclosed.—H. W., New

York.

A LARGE SHIPMENT TO CALIFORNIA.
I received all the birds (312 pairs) without one
being dead, and the lot seems to be in splendid
condition, on the whole, after such a long
journey. It seems wonderful to me that none
were dead with all the rough handling they
must have received on such a long journey.
The birds are beauties and attract a great deal
of attention.—P. W.., California.

QUICK WORK HATCHING. The Homers
I got of you are doing finely; received May 1,
five weeks ago, and I have a dozen or more
squabs from the dozen pairs.——J. F., New
Jersey.

FINEST HE EVER SAW. The Extra
Homers arrived today in first-class shape, and
are the finest I ever saw.—L. C. Y., Maryland.

UNABLE TO FILL ORDERS FOR HOM-
ERS. The writer has been engaged in selling
Homer pigeons for squab breeders for the past
several months, but my stock is now almost
completely exhausted and I am unable to fill
my orders. Have just received an order from
Hot Springs, Arkansas, but as I make it a rule
not to attempt to fill orders for birds which I
do not have in my own lofts, have declined
the order and referred the customer to your
company. He wants fifty pairs, and would
suggest that you get into correspondence with
him. Trusting that a may be able to get
the business.—G. C. S., Ohio.

OUR PIGEONS AT THIS LARGE SHOW
IN 1906 MADE A CLEAN SWEEP OF THE
PRIZES. Plymouth Rock Squab Co., Boston,
Mass. Gentlemen: Pardon the delay i in not
answering about the safe arrival of the birds.

he show was a big success and over nine
hundred entries were registered. I had a
nice coop fixed up and brought the entire
flock of fourteen birds. They behaved fine

SUPPLEMENT 37

and did not mind the close confinement after
the first day. One of the pairs laid two eggs.
My flock took first, second, third and fourth
prizes, also one for the largest flock of one
exhibitor (which was $3), and the white birds
took first prize over three other pairs. The
judge was high in praise of the birds and their
markings. 1 understand you have sold some
birds to Mr. Marsh, who has heard about my
success and is to start with one hundred pairs.
The pigeons sold several months ago to a
doctor of Warren were through my recom-
mendation. Thanking you again for past
favors, I remain, etc.—Mrs. R. C., Pennsyl-
vania. (The pigeon exhibition to which she
refers was held in February, 1906.)

OFFERED FIVE DOLLARS A PAIR FOR
THE BIRDS. Pigeons arrived August 29
in good condition and I thank you. I am
well pleased with the birds; they are the finest
flock I have ever seen. The teamster who
brought them out from Seattle informs me a
man on the way offered him five dollars a peir
for the birds. Had I been with him, I surely
would have taken him up, and made nearly
$100 by the bargain. You may expect
another order from me in a month or six
weeks for one hundred pairs, and then I shall
have enough breeders to commence with.—
C. C., State of Washington.

(We have had quite a number of letters
similar to this one, and from other informa-
tion which we have in regard to the Western
market for breeders, we know it to be a
remarkable one. Any one who buys our fine
birds can find a purchaser who is willing to
pay in many cases much more than the dif-
ference in express charges. We _ receive
numerous requests from wholesalers who wish
to sell our birds in their territory, but we sell
all the birds we wish to at retail, to the extent
of our capacity, at one price to all, and do not
supply such dealers. We are shipping at
least one order a day the year round to Cali-
fornia or the State of Washington.)

OUR HOMERS ARE PRIZED BY FAN-
CIERS AS WELL AS SQUAB BREEDERS.
Our Homers sell on their merits as squab
breeders, but they are first-class flyers, able
to win in any company. At the New York
and Chicago National Fizeon Shows in Janu-
ary, 1904, in competition with the whole
country, Homers sold by us and exhibited by
our customers were the best birds there. In
awarding the first prize, New York show, class
of Blue Homer Cocks, the judge said: ‘‘ Grand
one; the best bird in the ring today to my way
of thinking. He isa large, fine-colored Homer
with almost perfect head, broad shoulders ard
wedge-shaped body, nice eye and fine dark
cere. This cock also won the cup for best
Homer shown, and this honor was not new to
him, as he did the same trick at Lawrence
earlier in the season.”’

The class of Blue Checker Cocks at the New
York show was the largest. “A finer class of

Blue Checker Homers we have never seen,”
said the judge. ‘The first prize in this large
class was awarded a Homer trom our coops
exhibited by one of our customers with the
following comment by the judge: “Grand-
bodied, up-standing bird, elegant head and eye,
with the most perfect checkering I ever saw on
a Homer, but for being a trifle light (in color)
on rump he would be hard to find fault with.”

In awarding the first prize in the New York
show, class of Blue Hens, to a hen sold by us
and exhibited by one of our customers, the
judge said: ‘‘This class outside of the winner
was not bang-up. Good blue hens are scarce,
but the first bird is an exception, and probably
one of the best hens going. She is extra large
for a hen, almost over the limit in this respect,
but she is built on the correct lines, very good
color and smooth type of head. She would
make a great mate for the first cock.”

In the fall of 1903, one of our customers,
with a Homer cock bought of us, won first
prize every time exhibited, also special prize
for best Homer in the show, every time ex-
hibited at_the pigeon and poultry shows at
Taunton, Brockton and Hartford.

THIS COMMISSION FIRM IN NEW YORK
CITY WANTS ONE THOUSAND DOZEN
SQUABS DAILY, PAYING FROM $4 TO $6
A DOZEN FOR SQUABS BRED FROM OUR
BIRDS. The large commission houses handle
squabs by hundreds of dozens daily and firms
which are known to furnish squabs of first-
class size and weight, such as our birds breed,
get more orders than they can fill. We re-
ceived the following letter in January, 1904,
from a well-known commission firm in New
York City (whose name and address we give
to customers who buy breeding stock of us):

Plymouth Rock Squab Co., Boston, Mass.:

Gentlemen: I am receiving quite a few
letters from time to time from the different
customers of yours that are starting in the
squab trade. I wish if you see or write
them, that you would advise them as I
have done, to put themselves in a position
to ship from 5 to 10 dozen squabs at a time,
and if they intend to make a business of it,
they might as well buy enough breeders in
the start, so as to be able to ship a quantity
at a time, as these little shipments of one or
two dozen hardly pay one to handle, the
expense eating up the commission. I have
stated to them before, and you can also tell
them, that the squab trade is in its infancy,
and will certainly increase from time to
time, and we are in a position to handle
daily any part of 1000 dozen squabs, as we
have a big outlet to place them promptly at
top prices, with check to balance same day
goods are received and sold. For the pres-
ent, and until further notice, we quote you
market as follows: Squabs weighing ten
pounds to the dozen, $5.50 per dozen; nine
pounds, $5.25 per dozen; eicht pounds,
$5 per dozen; seven pounds, $4 per dozen;
six and one-half pounds, $2.75 per dozen;

1358

dark, $2.10 per dozen. Would like to have
all the squabs you can get. In case you
have any good customers that are starting
in, I wish you would send me a complete
list of that trade, so that I can write to them
occasionally, and post them on the condition
of the market.

To our answer we received the following
letter from the above firm:

Plymouth Rock Squab Co., Boston, Mass.:

Gentlemen: Your letter of the Ist duly
received, and I am glad to hear from you so
promptly. I have received quite a number
of letters from small shippers who, judging
by the way they write, must be beginners,
and know but very little of the business.
have tried to make things as plain as possible
to them, and encouraged them all to start
in and increase the size of their purchases
from you to such an extent that it will pay
them to ship. Of course we are obliged to
take these small shipments, and encourage
them along as much as possible, but very
often after we have got a man started, he
would have mace a pretty fair shipper, but
some one gets hold of him in the meantime
and makes him believe that he can do
better than we can, which is one reason that
I object to helping these small shippers along.
As above stated, as soon as they get started
they begin switching around, and the man
who starts them has very little for his trouble
and pains of putting them in the way of mak-
ing money.

I wish if you have any shippers’ addresses
in the West or in Wisconsin (which seems
to be quite a squab country) and also in
either Illinois or Minnesota, that you would
send them to me. They seem to be dcing
pretty well in that section, and are satisfied
with the fair prices they get from our market,

NATIONAL STANDARD SOULE iC Oud

on account of the poor prices they get in
Chicago, or elsewhere neaver home.

At the present time, squabs are very scarce
and very high. We are even returning more
money than the last quotations I sent you,
in order to get enough birds to supply our
trade. So if you can put me in the way of
increasing our squab supply, I would greatly
appreciate it, and try in some way to recip-
rocate for same. Thank you for the infor-
mation you have given me thus far in regard
to shippers.

Under date of January 30, 1904, we have
the foilowing letter from a commission
in St. Louis, showing that the demand in
that section is becoming extraordinary:
Plymouth Rock Squab Co., Boston, Mass.:

Gentlemen: We are in the market for
squabs and if you have any customers in
this vicinity who are seeking a market for
their squabs, we would be glad to be rlaced
in correspondence with them. We will pay
the highest market price for them, and feel
confident that the service we will render
your patrons will prove advantageous to
you, to them and ourselves. Please let us
hear from you.

We do not give the addresses of these
firms, and other good squab buyers, until
we have sold breeding stock to the cus-
tomer. Commission men in all the cities
are getting letters from curiosity seekers
who are merely ‘‘iooking up’’ squabs and
to such letters the commission men pay
scant attention, for lack of time, and as

there is no money in it for them. Any one
who doubts the genuineness of the letters
we print should come or send a friend te
our Boston office to see the originals.

APPENDIX A

(Copyright,

CALIFORNIA MARKET. The California
market for squabs is excellent, especially at
the invalid resorts. In San Francisco it is
not so good as at the Southern Coast places
frequented by rich travelers. We print the
following letter: /

Poultrymen’s Union of California, 413
Front Street, San Francisco (January 28,
1903) : “Your valued favor just received
and in reply would say that usually the
quotations in the papers are close to being
correct, but if you desire to call and see us at
any time, we will give you exact quotations.
There is always a good market here for large,
fat squabs. They are readily selling today at
$3 per dozen.”

SUMMER RESORT MARKETS, The
pleasure and vacation resorts all over the
country are good squab markets. Maine
squab breeders ship to Boston in the winter
but in the summer they get better prices at
Bar Harbor and elsewhere along the coast.
The White Mountain resorts in New Hamp-
shire are a fine Summer market, also the re-
sorts along the eastern coast of Massachu-
setts. Newport, in Rhode Island, is a good
summer squab market. Two or three of our
customers in the vicinity of Lenox, Mass.,
and in North Carolina and Florida, are quite
enthusiastic over the splendid market at
their doors. Wherever the good eaters go,
winter or summer, there is the demand for
squabs.

HOSPITAL TRADE. A woman in the
State of Washington wrote us that two big
hospitals in a city near her had offered to
take all the squabs she could supply. She
moved out, bought a farm and in January,
1903, we shipped her four baskets. Under
date of February 7, she replied: ‘‘ Please
pardon my delay in acknowledging the re-
ceipt of the shipment of fifty pairs Extra
Mated Homers I ordered from you. I have
been so busy with them that I have not
really had time to write. Out of the whole
lot there was only one dead one, which sur-
prised us."’ (As we had shipped two pairs
more than the order called for, or 52 pairs
altogether, the customer had no complaint.)
“The birds are perfect beauties and we are

atly pleased with them. They seem to
ike their new home. Thanking you for
your kindness and with best wishes.”’

The hospital trade in squabs is worth cater-
ing to, for they are such a delicacy that they
are greatly esteemed by physicians. There
may be a suggestion in this for you if you
de not care to deal with commission men.

BRANCHING OUT. We have put some of
our best birds, in largest orders, for 300 to 1000
pairs, right into the heart of the squab country

1903, by Elmer C.

Rice.)

around Philadelphia, showi1.g that our ideas
and our birds are all right. On February 9,
1903, we received the following letter from
Heacock & Hokanson, architects, of Phila-
delphia:

“Enclosed please find 25 cents for a plan of
your style of squab house. Our client in-
forms us that you have prints showing the
details of house, nests, self-feeders, etc. We
have two clients who have been making some-
what of a success at this work and are now
ready to build houses with every essential and
practical feature necessary to make a success
on a somewhat larger scale.”’

SQUABS IN UTAH. The following letter
comes to us from James A. Hepburn, Utah,
dated January 24, 1903:

“Enclosed find check for $1.70 for which
please send me postage paid your leg-band
outfit. I recently received your book on
pigeons and although I have been breeding
Homers for flying for a long time, I learned
many things of interest to me from the book.
I intend now to increase my flock and raise
squabs for the market also. I find I can sell
all I can supply here to the local markets.”

SQUABS NOT GAME. A correspondent’
writes us that she does not think she can
market squabs in her State because the game
laws are so strict. In reply we wish to state
that squabs are not game, but are a domestic
product same as chickens, and can be mar-
keted in any State or Territory at any time of
the year in any quantity without violating the
game laws.

CHICAGO MARKET. The Chicago market
for squabs is fairly good, but nowhere near
so good as the markets of New York, Phila-
delphia and Boston, because the only squabs
obtainable there in large quantities are the
inferior squabs of common pigeons. We have
customers in Illinois who have written us
that their fat Homer squabs from our birds
are salable at prices from $1 to $2 in excess of
the prices quoted by the Chicago commission
men. The Chicago market is an eager one,
and the dealers are imploring squab raisers to
sell, saying they will take all offered. We
advise our customers in the Middle West to
sell their squabs to the private trade direct
over the heads of the Chicago commission men
until the latter advance prices. We print
herewith some letters from Chicago commis-
sion houses, showing that they want them
both with the feathers on and off, depending

on the dealer:

C. B. Hayden, Jr., & Co., 214 and 216 South
Water Street, Chicago, Illinois (Jan. 26,
1903): “‘Your favor of the 24th inst. at hand

and in reply will say, fat dressed squabs bring

139

MATING COOPS IN MATING HOUSE.

We have a thousand mating coops in our plant. This illustration shows how
they are arranged in a house, several tiers high.

140

APPENDIX: A

$2 to $2.25 per dozen. We handle them in
any quantities.”

Gallagher Bros., 191 South Water Street,
Chicago, Ill. (Jan. 26, 1903): “We have

our favor of the 24th to hand and noted.

n regard to handling squabs will say, we are
in a position to handle any quantity to good
advantage. Weare now getting fancy squabs
from Wisconsin, which are selling at $2.50
per dozen, about seven pounds to the dozen.”

C. H. Weaver & Co., 129 South Water
Street, Chicago, Ill. (Jan. 29, 1903): ‘Your
favor of the 27th received. The market on
squabs is $2.25 per dozen for the weights you
speak of. We can handle all that you will be
able to ship us, but would advise making a
small shipment at first, so that we will get
an idea of your stock and dressing.”

Theodore C. H. Wegeforth Co., 133 South
Water Street, Chicago, Ill. (Jan. 28, 1903):
“Tn reply to your favor requesting us to quote
you prices on squabs will say that there is a
very good demand for them on this market at
present and when fine they will bring from
$2 to $2.25 per dozen but in order to bring
these prices, the squabs must be fat and weigh
on an averaze about three-quarters of a

ound each, and for such there is a ready sale.

f you have any, or receiving, you can safely
ship all you can get.”’

. R. Waszko, 213 South Water Street,
Chicago, Ill. (Jan. 29, 1903): ‘In reply to
your letter of January 27, we wish to say that
we can handle your squabs, in fact we can
place any amount at the extreme top market
price, for we are heavy receivers of dressed
squabs, especially from South Dakota and
Wisconsin. Squabs should weigh not less
than six or seven pounds per dozen. S!ould
be dry-picked as the trade that can pay fancy
prices want them No. 1, and we quote them
firm at $2.50 per dozen, but they must be
fancy. We think we can get you still higher
prices but we can tell from your first shipment
to us just where we can place them and what
we can do. See that they are well cooled off
before shipping. Trusting that you will favor
us with a good shipment as soon as possible
and also give us an idea of how many you can
ship us daily or weekly.”

Peter Britten & Sons, 2 and 4 Fulton Street,
Chicago, Ill. (Jan. 30, 1903): ‘‘There is no
limit to the amount of squabs we can handle,
as we have inquiries for the same at all times.
We assure you, and you can rely on us to
obtain the hizhest possible price for your
stock at all times.”

Cougle Brothers, 178 South Water Street,
Chicago, Ill. (Jan. 29, 1903): ‘‘Replying to
your favor of January 27 will say that good
fat squabs are worth from $2 to $2.50 per
dozen. We can handle all of that kind you
can get. The best way to ship them is just to
pinch their necks, cool thoroughly and pack
in a box. Do not bleed them nor take the
feathers off. We hope you can ship us some
of this kind of squabs as we need them.”

F, W. Melges & Co., 100 South Water

141

Street, Chicago, Ill, (Jan. 28, 1903): ‘‘Re-
plying to your favor of the 27th in regard to
squabs we beg to say that there is a wide range
of prices according to quality. If they are
fine fat birds we can handle advantageously all
youcanship us. We shall do all in our power
to obtain the very top price for same at all
times.”

A. Booth & Co., 63-65 Lake Street, Chicago,
Ill. (Jan. 25, 1903): “If squabs are well
dressed and weigh eight to nine pounds to
the dozen, we can use them at $2.25 per dozen
f.0.b. Chicago.”

H. G. Lane, buyer for the Wellington Hotel,
Wabash Avenue and Jackson Boulevard,
Caicago, Ill, (Feb. 2, 1903): ‘In reply to
yours of January 26 about squabs would say
that we are buying the large white squab you
speak of. We have them shipped with the
feathers on and market price for the best
squab is $2.75 to $3.00 per dozen.”

William H. Taylor Co., 156 and 158 South
Water Street, Chicago, Ill. (Feb. 4, 1903):
“Your letter at hand in regard to squabs.
Would say we could use all your squabs you
can ship. We would just as soon have them
with the feathers on as off. We can offer you
$2.50 now for good stock. Should at any
time market do better, we should certainly
give it to you. Please let us know how soon
you can ship and how many each week. We
have the trade for them and can do as well as
any one for you.”

Herman Weber Co., Inc., Union Hotel and
Restaurant, 111-117 Randolph Street, Chicago,
Ill. (Feb. 3, 1903): “Your favor of the Ist
to hand. IT am buying squabs fresh in the
market all the time and am paying $3 per
dozen forsame. You can bring in two dozen
of your squabs and if satisfactory will buy
same of you rizht along.”

The letter last quoted above, that from
Herman Weber, is an indication of what the
consumer in Chicago is paying for inferior
squabs. It rests with you whether you will be
satisfied with breeding a product which com-
mands a price of $2 to$3adozen,o $3 to $6.
If you put squabs weighing ten pounds a dozen
and over into the Chicago market, you can get
from $3 to $6 a dozen.

NEW YORK MARKET. In the first part
of January, 1903, we received the following
letter from the manager of the squab depart-
ment. of a commission house in Washington
Market, New York city:

“Your name and address as raisers -of
fancy squabs was given me by Mr. Howes of
Detroit, Michigan, who was over to your
place a few days ago. As I have heard of
your plant before and have tried to get your
address so as to write to you for squabs, I
hope this letter will mean some business for
us both. If you have any squabs to ship, I
would like to get your output, and can use all
you can ship at full market, and make vou
prompt returns day received and sold. This
week I am returning the following prices:

INTERIOR OF MATING HOUSE.

This shows mating coops in use in one of our mating houses. This house is
heated by hot water.

142

APPENDIX A 145

Squabs weighing ten pounds to dozen and
up, $4.50 per dozen; eight pounds and up,
$4; seven pounds and up, $3.50; six and one-
half pounds and up, $2.60; dark, $1.80 per
dozen. If you will prepay charges, account
of sales will be sent you same day goods are
received, less five per cent commission.”

Letters like the above come to us from all
parts of the country, and squab breeders
whom we have supplied get similar communi-
cations. The poultry and game dealers in all
sections are after squabs all the time and
could sell a great many more than they are
now able to get hold of. The above letter is
written notwithstanding the fact that in New
Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania alone are
today four or five thousand squab breeders,
many of them with large flocks of over one
thousand pairs of birds each. In the town
of Moorestown, New Jersey, to take only one
case, are from 200 to 300 squab breeders. As
we say in our Manual, people in these sec-
tions keep hens for their own use, but not for
market, for they know that squabs pay bet-
ter than hens. Poultrymen in other sections
of the United States are fast finding this out
and are putting in squabs along with poultry,
or giving up poultry altogether. In spite of
the large output of squabs from the 4,000 to
5,000 breeders in New Jersey and Eastern
Pennsylvania, which go into the Philadel-
hia and New York and Boston markets
for the squab raisers in New England sup-
ply only about one-tenth of the Boston de-
mand), there is all the time a scarcity of
squabs, as the above letter proves. This
letter comes to us because we have the repu-
tation for dealing in a fancy product. There
are breeders of squabs who send to market an
inferior product from small and cheap Hom-
ers, and such squabs are not the kind which
dealers are anxious to get. Be sure you are
able to brecd a fancy squab by getting your
breeding stock of us. Some beginners are
anxious as to express rates, not compre-
hending that they can ship squabs long dis-
tances at a trifling cost. The express rate
from Boston to New York is $1 per 100
pounds. This means that an express team
will call at our door, get a box of squabs
weizhing 100 pounds, transport it to New
York, and in that city deliver it by team to
the commission dealer for $i. In the case
of a box of our squabs weighing twelve
pounds to the dozen, about eight dozen and
the box would weizh 100 pounds. If we de-
livered them in New York at the price quoted,
$4.50 per dozen (or $36 gross), we would net,
deducting his five per cent commission and
the $1 express charges, $33.20. The com-
mission man would resell the squabs to his
trade for $5 to $8 per dozen. By a dozen
squabs we mean in this case and in all cases
where prices are quoted, twelve squabs. We
do not mean one dozen pairs of squabs. We
mean six pairs of squabs. Squabs are always
quoted at so much per dozen, not so much
per dozen pairs.

On January 8, 1903, the New York squab
buyer above quoted offered the following
prices for squabs: For squabs weighing ten
pounds to the dozen and up, $4./5; eight
pounds and up, $4.50; seven pounds and up,
$3.60; six and one-half pounds, $2.75; dark
and No. 2 squabs, $2.

On January 25th, 1903, he offered the fol-
lowing prices: Ten pounds and up, $5.50 per
dozen; eight pounds and up, $5.00 per dozen;
seven pounds and up, $4; six and one-half
pounds, $3; dark and No. 2 squabs, $2.10.

On February 6, 1903, he offered us the
same prices as last quoted, adding that he
would pay $3 to $3.75 per dozen for squabs
of average weight and grade. In this letter
he said: ‘‘ As I have been getting quite a
few letters from some of your squab customers
of late, I want to thank you for same, and
hope to get some of their birds and prove to
their satisfaction by the prices large, fine
birds will sell at, that squab raising if prop-
erly carried on is a very profitable and pay-
ing industry. The demand for squabs is on
the increase and will be from now on, as the
xame laws of all the States are such as to
prevent much small game from reaching
the several markets, where there has been a
big supply of such at low prices that squabs
will now take their place, so that new be-
ginners have nothing to fear from a glut by
over-production of good-sized squabs. This
we have proven to our own satisfaction when
We introduced the large or royal squab to our
best hotel and cafe trade in this market, dur-
ing the past season, and it now looks as
though our demand will be greater this com-
ing season. The buyers of these large birds
see they are worth the difference in price,
that they have a better call for them once
they introduce them to the consumer. En-
courage all your buyers to invest in birds
that produce large, plump squabs. It will!
pay them best in the end and make a better
demand for their grade of birds.’’

On February 16, 1903, he offered us the
following prices: Squabs weighing ten pounds
to the dozen and up, $6 per dozen; nine pounds,
$5.50 per dozen; eight pounds, $5 per dozen;
seven pounds, $4 per dozen; six and one-half
pounds, $3 per dozen; dark, $2.10 per dozen.

The above quotations are a good indica-
tion of what the New York market for squabs
is.

One of the practical ways we have of help-
ing our customers is to refer them to such
first-class buyers of squabs as the firm above
quoted. We will give the address of the
above New York firm to you when you buy
breeding stock of us.

SCRANTON MARKET. The following let-
ter is from Chandler and Short, commission
merchants, 15 Lackawanna Avenue, Scran-
ton, Penn., dated February 15, 1903: ‘‘ We
have yours in regard to squabs. They are
worth from $2.75 to $3 per dozen, dressed,
on our market. Whatever you ship, we will

endeavor to get the very highest market
prices for. All you have to do is to have the
feathers picked off.’’

CLEVELAND MARKET. The _ steward’s
department of the Union Club, 158 Euclid
Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio, sends the following
letter under date of February 13, 1903: ‘J
am in receipt of your letter of yesterday and
beg to say regarding your questions about
squabs, that they are worth to us from $3 to
$3.50 per dozen for the best and largest
squabs either dressed or in the feather.’’

W. H. Bennett, proprietor of Oyster Ocean
Cafe, 368 Superior Street, Cleveland, Ohio
(February 12, 1903): “I use about one and
one-half dozen squabs a week. Price averages
$3 per dozen the vear through.”

W. H. Seager, Sheriff Street Market, Cleve-
land, Ohio (Feb. 12, 1903): ‘‘I purchase
squabs when offered in this market and ha‘:
sent to California for them on special occa-
sions. The market price varies from $2.40
to $4 per dozen.”

Gibson Pinkett Company, Fulton Market,
21-25 Prospect Street, Cleveland, Ohio (Feb.
12, 1903): ‘‘ We buy squabs and pay what
they are worth. Price runs from $2.50 to $4
per dozen. We could use fifty dozen or more
today.”

KANSAS CITY MARKET. The market for
squabs here is steadily improving. Here are
some letters bearing on the subject:

From James R. Peden & Co., 404 Walnut
Street, Kansas City, Mo. (Jan. 26, 1903):
‘Send your squabs to me. I have good,
steady demand for them and will take all
you can offer. Top prices paid, or handled
on commission.’’ (Mr. Peden ships squabs
to New York City and other points east.)

W. M. Woods, Produce Company, stalls 12
and 13 west side, City Market, Kansas City,
Mo. (Jan. 26, 1903): ‘* The market for squabs
is good. Prices range from $1 to $1.50 for
common stock and from $1.80 to $2 and $2.25
for fancy. I am sure you will find a market
for your squabs and if they come up to the
mark you have set for them, will command
a much better price. Kansas City market
for squabs is growing. I will take your
squabs at market price day received.”

C. T. Wiggins, East entrance City Market,
Kansas City, Mo. (Jan. 26, 1903): “It is
only a question of how many you can supply.
I can handle all the squabs you will offer and
will pay you good prices for them. The
demand is strong and increasing. Hope you
will soon make a start with me.”’

George O. Relf, steward, Midland Hotel,
Kansas City, Mo. (Jan. 27, 1903): ‘‘We can
use squabs almost any time at $2.75 per dozen.
If you have some now we will take one or two
dozen and if O. K. will very likely use them
right along.”’

Ewins-Dean Hotel Co., proprietors Hotel
Metropole (St. Joseph, Mo.) and Hotel Balti-
more (Kansas City, Mo.) (Jan. 30, 1903):

NATIONAL STANDARD SOU Aa EO One

‘Kindly quote me prices on squabs by the
dozen. Ihave been using about two hundred
per month and expect to use more. If your
prices are right you will hear from me in a few
days.”’ (Signed) E. G. Venable, steward.

E. Klidey, the New Coates House, Kansas
City, Mo. (Jan. 29, 1903): “‘We are using a
few squabs which we buy from the commis-
sion men here at $2.50 per dozen. Let me
know what price you want for yours and we
may be able to use eight or ten dozen a week.”

D. P. Ritchie, steward Hotel Baltimore,
Kansas City, Mo. (Feb. 6, 1903): ‘Your
favor of January 27 received. We pay $2.75
per dozen for fancy squabs delivered, with
feathers on.”

OUR PIGEONS GOING AROUND CAPE
HORN. We have sent our breeding stock
about everywhere, but one of the most curious
orders we ever had is from Captain Lane of the
ship Kennebec, which arrived in Boston in
November, 1902, from Seattle, with a cargo of
lumber. At this writing (Feb. 18, 1903),
Captain Lane is making arrangements with us
to supply him with a breeding outfit of our
Homers, which he will instal on his ship so
that on his long return voyage to San Fran-
cisco (or Seattle) he will have fresh squab meat
regularly. Captain Lane is part owner of his
big ship and is accompanied by his wife and
young son. He has visited our place and

knows about our birds and our methods.
¢

SQUABS IN NEW MEXICO. Here in the
East we would not look upon New Mexico as
a fancy market for squabs, but here is a letter
from a customer in Albemarle, New Mexico,
which proves that he is getting interested
(Jan. 29, 1903): “‘The pigeons you sent me on
the 20th were received yesterday in excellent
condition, and am well pleased with them.
Please find enclosed a money order for thirty
dollars, for which send me twelve more pairs
of your Extra mated thoroughbred adult
pigeons. Ship as before by Wells-Fargo
express.”

SOUTHERN MARKET. Our breeding
stock has gone to every State in the South.
If you live in any part of the South, you can
market squabs as readily as poultry is mar-
keted. One of our Southern customers, who
lives in Citronelle, Alabama, has been to Bos-
ton to see us. Under date of January 30,
1903, he writes: “I have received Homers
from two others, but they do not compare with
yours. I will build my second house very soon
as the first one is filling up fast.’’

LONG DISTANCE SHIPMENTS. To all
inquirers we wish to state again emphatically
that we certainly do guarantee the safe arrival
of every bird, no matter in what part of the
world you live. We are learning all the time
how to handle the long distance shipments
best and experience has taught us little
wrinkles about the baskets and the arrange-

AGP PEIN DLX A.

ments of the feed and water dishes, which are
valuable. The express messengers get their
instructions not from guesswork or from
written notices or tags, but from a board a
foot square on which is printed in bold type
the necessary directions. This winter (1903)
we have shipped every week to California.
One order of 200 pairs for Santa Ana, Cali-
fornia, filled seventeen baskets. Of the 400
birds, only one turned up dead, but as we had
sent along four more pairs than the order
called for, we were seven birds ahead on the
count. Another large shipment to San Rafael,
California, in January, 1903, brought back by
return mail the following letter, which we
print exactly as we got it, word for word, and
altogether it is one of the best recommenda-
tions for us to people who live at a distance
that we ever received:

“Yesterday a.m. (January 20) at 8.30 we
received your letter advising us of the ship-
ment of 100 pairs of Extra Mated Homers, on
January 14; advising also that the pigeons
would reach us before the letter. Well, they
did not arrive until 4.30 today, January 21 (7)
seven days ontheroad. We notice that seven
days are also required to get your shipments to
Los Angeles; and when you assume that they
will reach here at or before the receipt of no-
tice of shipment we think you are mistaken.
Nevertheless, be this as it may, the birds
reached us tonizht at 5.30, every bird in first-
class shape—cvcry individual one being in first-
class shape; giving evidence of being shipped
in perfect condition and having plenty of feed
and water en route. Your feed ran short, as
evidenced by charges of 40 cents made by
express company for feed provided by them,
which we are only too glad to pay, and at
same time shows care and attention of express
company messengers—a good fault. Every
bird in the lot is bright and active, and they
come into a first-class home, a fine house and
flyine pen, plenty of feed anda galvanized iron
pan 6 inches deep with water 4 inches deep
running constantly. Dimensions of pan, 4
feet 6 inches by 2 feet 10 inches, guarantee-
ing plenty of bathing facilities. They were
liberated after dark, but the early morning
will afford all the bathing facilities they will
’ need, and we prophesy they will embrace the
Steere es afforded at first opportunity.

e wish to compliment you on your prompt
methods of doing business, and on the superior-
ity of the birds shipped us. They were indeed
high-class birds, in fact, Mr. Rice, they are
better stock than we expected to receive. Your
sendinz us four extra pairs above order was a
graceful act on your part, one which we fully
appreciate, and thank you right here for it.
Your shipment was nearly a week before we
expected it ~ xt by extra exertion we got all
ready in time and they have a fine home.
Express charges at $14 per hundred Boston
to San Rafael, 270 pounds weight of shipment,
amounted to $37.80 plus 40 cents for feed,
$38.20 total, at merchandise rate. Still at
rate given in your circular $4 for 24 birds (12

145

pairs), this is too much by a margin. | $4 rate
to San Francisco per 12 pairs is not just cor-
rect, still we are not kicking, for the difference
is not very much. Note this, 201 birds came
out of those baskets. Now wearesure, abso-
lutely sure of the count. Two people kept
count as each bird was liberated and 201 birds
came out of the crates. If 100 pairs are
mated, what will we do for that poor lone
bird? We wait for suggestions; pretty
tough on that lone bird, 3500 miles from home,
but he or she is here sure. In conclusion we
thank you for your promptness, your honesty
and your fair, square dealing and will keep
you posted as to our progress as per your sug-

gestion. We thank you for the crates; they
are fine. We wrote you yesterday and look
for reply in accordance with your usual

promptness.”’

We sent the above letter to Mr. R. H.
Dwight, agent_for the Wells-Fargo Express
Company in Boston, and he was quite as
pleased as we were. Through Mr. Dwight’s
co-operation our through western shipments
by the Wells-Fargo have been a remarkable
success. The only difficulty we have ever
had on account of long-distance trade came
when we were shipping in crates, not baskets.
We sent a large order into San Francisco and
on the way four of the crates were broken into
by rough handling and forty-two birds got
away. The Wells-Fargo Express Company
settled with us for the loss of those birds and
we made good to the customer, sending the
missing birds on, and the customer was out
not a cent for further express charges, for the
Wells-Fargo people carried the birds dead-
head.

The baskets in which we now ship cannot
be broken open except with the aid of an axe
and they can be thrown ten feet across a
depot platform without being injured.

There is a minor criticism in the above
letter in the ma’ er of express charges. Ac-
cording to the figures which we give in the
circular headed ‘‘ Express Rates,’’ the cus-
tomer should have been asked to pay about
$33, instead of $37, as he did pay. We be-
lieve the figures which we give to be correct
in every case—the slight variation which
may come as it came in this case is due to
the fact that no two persons will weigh up
the same lot of goods exactly the same, and
that, of course, the birds vary in weight.
The weight when the shipment starts is less
than when it finishes, because at the end
the bottoms of the baskets are covered with
manure. (The grain which we send for feed
is not weighed in and charged for transpor-
tation.) If the waybill is lost or delayed,
and the agent at destination weighs the
shipment, he will get a greater weight, and
consequently a higher rate, than the express
employee who weighed the shipment here in
Boston.

We wish to say further that if you think
we have figured the express rates to you too
low, send us money which we claim to be

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146

APPENDIX 7

correct and we will prepay all charges, thus
utting on ourselves and not on vou the dif-
erence, if there is any.

COMMON PIGEONS AGAIN. We have
had some of the old-time raisers of squabs
from common pigeons on the ranches in the
Middle West write us for more proofs that
Homers are ahead of common pigeons.

In reply we will print here, the letter
which we received in January, 1903, from a
customer as follows:

“T have for sale between four and five
hundred pen-fed common pigeons. Can you
use them, and at what price? Should you
not be in a position to use them yourself
probably you can refer me to some one that
is in the market for some fine pen-fed birds.
The Homers which I purchased of you some
time last summer are doing very nicely, and
have to make more room for them is the
reason of wanting to dispose of my common
birds. Thanking you in advance for favor
asked.”

We asked him to tell us if he had not
found our Homers more profitable than com-
mon pigeons. He replied as follows:

““In reply to yours will say that your state-
ment of the Homers being more profitable
than the common birds is true, as the fact
has been demonstrated to me in the past
five or six months, by my experience of hav-
ing the two lots side by side in separate pens.
My common birds referred to are fine birds
and will sell them f.o. b. at $2.50 per dozen,
which, taking the plumpness of the bird in
consideration, is very reasonable.”

The above breeder lives in Missouri and
we expect to sell a good many of our Hom-
ers to him and to those in his State who
know of his experience. His letters are at
our Boston office, where they may be seen.
We will not give his name by mail because
he is a customer, but if you think the above
letters are made up by us, you write to the
Boston office of Dun’s or Bradstreet’s com-
mercial agencies and ask for one of their
men to be sent to our office to investigate.

PIGEON MANURE. Our advice in the
Manual as to pizeon manure has interested
pizeon breeders all over the country, nearly
all of whom say that they never have taken
pains to save it, and when it got too thick
they have scraped it up as best they could
and used it for fertilizer. They want to know
how we keep it pure, and all about the
market, etc.

The pigeon breeder who does not make
provision for the purity of the manure and
the steady sale of it is just throwing bank-
bills straight into the fire. We have erected
two buildings at our place for the manure,
and take every precaution to keep the ma-
nure free from straw, sawdust, sand, etc.
The first building stands at the back of one
of the long houses, and about halfway in the
whole plant, so that we can reach it easily

147

with a wheelbarrow from the houses. There
is a slide cut in the north wall of what we
call No. 2 squab house, and through this
slide the manure is shovelled from the wheel-
barrow (standing in the passageway) directly
into the manure house, where it stays until
there is from $50 to $100 worth of it, when
we bag it up and send it off. In the other
building, which is larger, we dry and store a
larger quantity of the manure.

We take the wheelbarrow empty down
a passageway and stop at. a unit pen, then
go into the unit pen with a bushel basket
and scrapers. We use a trowel to clean off
the nest-bowls, a tree scraper to clean out
the nest-boxes and a hoe or a floor chisel
(same as is used to clean off snow and ice
from city sidewalks), six inches wide at the
blade and with a long handle so that it can
be easily used while the operator is standing.
In scrapinz the floor, the manure rolls up
with little exertion off the blade of the chisel.
It is shovelled into the bushel basket and
the basket taken out into the passageway
and dumped into the wheelbarrow. It
takes one man not over thirty minutes to
clean a pen thoroughly and the product of
each pen is between two and three bushels,
or from $1.20 to $1.80 for half an_hour’s
work, which is pretty good pay, (We have
been getting in the winter of 1903 sixty
cents a bushel from the American Hide and
Leather Company of Lowell, Mass.) We
ship:the manure by freight in bags. We buy
these bags when we can from farmers
who have large herds of cows and who use
considerable grain, and they let the bags go
for one and two cents apiece. Second-hand
bags in the Boston junkshops cost from four
to nine cents apiece. The leather people let
the bags pile up and then send them back
to us ina bunch. We are particular to save
not only the manure in the unit pens, but
in the sorting and mating cazes and coops.
We cover the floors of these cages with bur-
lap, not tacking the burlap down, but stretch-
ing it over three finish nails tacked at the
backs of the cages and two nails tacked at
the front of the cages. The manure cakes
and dries on the burlap as it would on the
floor. When there is a layer about half an
inch thick, all tramped hard, dry and odor-
less by the constant hammering of the feet
of the birds, we take the burlap off the nails
and stretch it outside, bottom up, then
sprinkle water on the back and the manure
drops off in large cakes. The burlap then is
dried and replaced. This method saves an
immense amount of time which otherwise
would be consumed in scraping the floors of
the cages. We have 108 of these cages at
the farm and in our Boston shipping room,
each capable of holding from 12 to 20 pairs
of birds, and we have burlap carpets on all
of them. We use a large amount of burlap
not only for this purpose but for small grain
bags to go with orders for breeders to dis-
tant points, and also for the floors of our

148

shipping baskets, We buy this burlap in
larze roils weighing 150 pounds and contain-
ing from 300 to 320 square yaids. We do
not hem it or sew it in any way for the cages,
simply cut it and in stretching it over the
nails fold the raw edges under.

Having read che Manual, you know that
we do not use sand or sawdust in our squab
houses, so we are able to deliver manure
which is absolutely pure. The tanneries do
not like to get lots of impure manure and of
course pay more for the unadulterated arti-
cle. It is just as easy and more business-
like to keep this by-product pure. Feathers
and grain in the manure do not injure it for
tanneries.

The manure in the houses has no odor,
but when we have got it scraped up and
banked in the manure house, it gives forth
a pungent, ammonia-like smell. As the
manure house is entirely cut off from the
squab houses by the slide in the passage-
way, this pungency does not trouble any-
one, It is not a nasty smell, anyway.

We have had customers from as far off as
Illinois write that they were quite charmed
with our story about the manure, and that
they were saving up bags of it to ship by
freight to the American Hide and Leather
Company at Lowell, Mass. This tannery
is a branch of the Leather Trust, which has
other tanneries, so use your wits and find
out which tannery is nearest you, and ship
to that one. If you can find a tannery not
in the trust, sell to that, if you wish to. If
you sell to a trust tannery, the check which
pays you will come from the New York of-
fice of the trust, same as ours do. We rec-
ommend our New England customers to
ship to Lowell. We have always found the
leather people square in measuring the
manure, in fact they have given us credit on
two or three occasions for more than we
thought we had. They pay after you have
sent your bill of lading and the report of
the measurer has gone to the New York of-
fice. You need not be afraid of swamping
the leather trust with pigeon manure. They
will take all you can scrape up. Chemicals
which are used as substitutes when pigeon
manure cannot be had are said to be injur-
ious to the hide.

We write the above to help you sell the
manure from your squab houses. Do not ask
us to advise you further on this point, for we
cannot. If you cannot find a tannery within
shipping distance, try the florists or market
gardeners. We are informed that the florists’
exchange in New York City is a good place to
sell pigeon manure, and customers near that
city have told us that they are selling there.

SQUABS IN THE POULTRY PRESS. The
magazines devoted to poultry are beginning
to take up squabs on account of the increasing
interest shown by poultrymen in the subject.
In the Poultry Keever for November 15, 1902,
appeared a contribution by A, P. Spiller.

NATIONAL STANDARD SOUAB EO Ors

After giving the general arrangements for
caring for the birds, he says: ‘‘At about four
weeks of age the squabs are ready for market.
Some markets require them dressed, others
only killed. Good breeding pigeons will
hatch and rear from six to eleven pair of young
a year. The cost to keep a pair of breeders,
including the raising of the young, at the pres-
ent time is about eighty cents a year, this, of
course, varying some with location and cost of
feeding stuff. Wild game birds are becoming
more scarce each year. The properly raised
cquab pigeon comes nearer taking the place of
these wild birds than anything else. That
they make fine eating, those who have eaten
them cannot deny. There is always a ready
sale for good plump squabs at hotels, restau-
rants, markets and private families, prices
ranging from $2.50 to $4.50 per dozen, de-
pending upon quality and season. When one
begins to raise pigeons it is better to try to
secure strains from some reliable breeder who
has stock bred along profitable lines. There
is a difference in regard to breeding and feed-
ing qualities and results obtained which war-
rants the paying of a little more at the start in
obtaining more profitable stock. The writer
is in favor of the straight Homer, carefully
selected as to size, shape, breeding and feeding
qualities, as it is well known that the Homer
pigeon is one of the best feeders and breeders
of any variety, and the numbers they will pro-
duce in a year more than balance any slizht
advantage that may be obtained in size.
“The breeding of pigeons is fascinating to
most people. It is true there are some losses,
but with care and some experience in manage-
ment the few losses that occur to the beginner
may be reduced to a very small percentage.
The work is light and not as exacting as in
some other lines, affording a lucrative employ-
ment almost from the start to those who are
not strong, as well as to the most robust. A
flock once mated will give but little concern to
their owner, as they remain constant for life
regardless of the numbers contained in the
flock, and for years will amply repay in profit
and pleasure for the feed and care given them.”

We wish to call the special attention of
our readers to that portion of the above
article by Mr. Spiller where he says that the
cost of a pair of breeders is eigity cents a year.
We say the cost is sixty cents a year at the
present prices for grain (1903). In his article
Mr. Spiller says nothing about keeping the
pigeon manure free from dirt and selling it to
tanneries. This must be done in order to hold
the feed bill down to its lowest notch. Wesay
that the manure will pay one-third of the
grain bill, and taking Mr. Spiller’s figure of
eighty cents, and deducting one-third from it,
we have as the net cost fifty-three cents.

We asked one of our friends living in West
Newton, Mass., to ask Mr. Spiller if his esti-
mate of cost was made when he was saving the
manure and selling it to tanneries. Mr.
Spiller replied by letter as follows under date
of February 16, 1903: ‘‘No, the manure was

APPENDIX A

not taken into consideration at all. 1 do not
know what the tanneries pay for it.”

The owners of large flocks of common pig-
eons in the West who are breeding squabs for
market do not sell the manure and for this
reason they lose an important source of rev-
enue. It is remarkable to us that pigeons pay
with them at all. Certainly the manure is a
very important by-product, and you should
figure on selling it just as you figure on selling
the squabs.

NEWSPAPER MARKET QUOTATIONS.
Only a few of the daily newspapers of the
country are in the habit of printing regularly
market quotations on squabs. The Boston
Globe has an article about once a week for
the information of the household and in this
article squabs are regularly quoted. At
Thanksgiving time, 1902, the Globe quoted
squabs at from $4 to $5 per dozen. In the
Globe of February 14, 1903, squabs were
quoted at $4.50 and $5 perdozen. If our New
England customers will buy a copy of the
Friday or Saturday Globe each week, they will
probably find this household article containing
the quotations for squabs on one of those days.

SQUABS IN THE STATE OF WASHING-
TON. The squab raisers in New Jersey, New
York and Pennsylvania are very well satis-
fied with the New York and Philadelphia mar-
kets for squabs, and we have done consider-
able talking about the New York market our-
selves, but let us tell you that the market for
squabs on the Pacific Coast is a fine one, too.
Here in the East we think Seattle is a long way
from home and you may find some city chaps
’ around us who think that city is but just on
the edge of the tall timber. If you live out in
Michigan, Illinois, Minnesota, Indiana, Ohio,
Kentucky, or any State in that section, you
ought to feel pretty sure that the markets for
squabs around you are good, after you have
read what we are going to tell you here about
the market for squabs in Seattle and its vicin-
ity.

These letters were obtained for us by a
customer who lives near Seattle:

Fulton Market, corner Second Avenue and
Columbia Street, Seattle, Wash. (Feb. 11,
1903): ‘“‘Yours at hand and will say that if
your birds are as you say, we cam use on an
average of twenty dozen per week at $2.50 per
dozen, feathers on.”’

A. D. Blowers & Co., 817-819 Western
Avenue, Seattle, Wash. (Feb. 12, 1903):
“Your valued favor to hand regarding squabs.
In reply-will say that most of the squabs used
in this city are brought from the East and
held in cold storage, so that native birds will
no doubt sell much better than this article.
We have made some inquiry about them and
find that there will be no trouble in selling four
to six dozen a week, and no doubt many more,
as the trade would open up. We do not think
there is any one in this part of the country who

149

raises them for sale, and think if you can pro-
duce a good article that you will have no
trouble whatever in selling them here. The
price for eastern squabs is $2.25 to $2.50 per
dozen. Some of the customers prefer to have
them plucked, others alive. We think it
would be better, perhaps, in the first ship-
ment to send them alive until a regular trade
is established. Our commission for selling
them will be ten per cent of the gross sales. If
you have any nice ones, it would be well for
you to send two to four dozen alone and see
what we can do with them for you.’’

(It is better to ship squabs killed and prop-
erly cooled. Do not send them alive to your
market. Few butchers in the commission
men’s employ understand how to kill and
cool a squab right. Do your own killing and
cooling and packing as we have given you
precise directions and you will know, not
guess, that your product is reaching the con-
sumer in perfect condition.)

Palace Market Co., Second Avenue, Seattle,
Wash. (Feb. 11, 1903): ‘‘ Squabs such as you
speak of would be worth 20 to 25 cents each.
Would prefer the feathers on. We can use
all you have.’”’

California Commission Company, 923
Western Avenue, Seattle, Wash. (Feb. 11,
1903):‘‘ Your favor to hand and contents
noted. In reply we beg to state that squabs
are selling from $2.50 to $3.50 per dozen,
according to the quality of the birds. We
want them with the feathers on and not
drawn. You may ship us two or three dozen
for a trial and then we will be better able to
tell what we can do for you and see how manv
we can handle at a time. Our commission
is ten per cent. on all goods. We are certain
that we can give you entire satisfaction and
know that our business methods will please
you. We make prompt returns and keep
shippers well posted on the market conditions.
Trusting to be favored with your further
valued orders.”

C. W. Chamberlain & Co., 905-907 Western
Avenue, Seattle, Wash. (Feb. 13, 1903):
“Yours of the 9th at hand and contents fully
noted. Squabs, such as you mentioned,
would sell here for about $3 per dozen. Our
selling charge is ten per cent. Twelve to
fifteen dozen per week could be disposed of
from present information at hand. They
should be shipped alive.” ‘

J. F. Gayton, steward Ranier Club (this
club is composed of the richest men of Se-
attle), Seattie, Wash. (Feb. 13, 1903): ‘I
am in receipt of your letter with regard to
squabs. Yes, want some squabs at any
time. Will be elad to have them. I will
take a dozen at 25 cents each, either dressed
or undressed, three dollars per dozen. After
I see the first birds I can tell whether I can
take them recularly.”’

Williams Bros., Gilt Edge Cafe, Everett,
Wash. (Feb. 12, 1903): ‘In reply to yours
will say, I cannot say at present how many

VIEW FROM PASSAGEWAY.

VIEW FROM INTERIOR OF SQUAB HOUSE.

Above are two views of a model made to illustrate what we call the dowel
system of feeding and watering. It is a great time-saver in a long house. Between
the floor of squab house and the lowest tier of nest boxes is one foot space. Fill
this space with three-eighths inch doweling set one and one-half inches apart, as
pictured. (This doweling comes in any length from a carpenter and is very cheap.)
Set galvanized drinker and feed trough as shown. The trough has a three-quarter
inch slot in its bottom so that the grains will fall into position ready for eating on
the back side of the bottom strip into which the dowels are driven. The birds
stick their heads through the dowels to eat and drink, and cannot foul either grain
or water. Push a wheelbarrow with grain along the passageway and a house one
hundred feet long can be attended to in fifteen minutes. Without this arrangement
if you go into each unit pen to feed and water, you will use up at least an hour, and
it will be harder work. By this method you need enter the breeding pens only when
killing or cleaning times come.

150

APPENDIX A

squabs I can use, but will start with two
dozen a week, picked, at $2.50 per dozen.
Ship as soon as you please and will look the
market up for you in the meantime.”’

Gordon & Co., commission merchants, 811
Western Avenue, Seattle, Wash. (Feb. 13,
1903): ‘‘ Replying to your letter will say that
we have telephoned to several of the hotels
and restaurants here that would be apt to
use squabs and we find that there are some
places that make a specialty of using them
and we do not believe we would have any
trouble in disposing of them nicely. We
would suggest that you send down a small
box of them and let us show the customers
just what they are and find out just what
they will be willing to pay for them. They
have been selling recently for 25 cents each.
If you care to make this shipment, we will
be glad to get it.”

Seattle Market, Cor. First Avenue South
and Washington Street, Seattle, Wash. (Feb.
10, 1903): ‘‘In reply to yours would say, it
would be a good idea for you to ship us in
two or three dozen squabs forsample. I could
get the hotel and restaurant people’s opin-
ion on price and quality and be able to talk
to you on quantity. Eastern frozen squabs
are selling on this market for $2 to $2.25 per
dozen. If your stock is as you say, I think
it would be a better seller than frozen goods.”

Maison Barberis, restaurant and dining
arlors, 204-210 Jarnes Street, Seattle, Wash.
Feb. 11, 1.03): ‘‘ We will take thirty dozen

squabs every month; have them plucked, and
will pay you $3 per dozen. Please answer
and say about what day of the month you
will send them in.”’

E. C. Klyce & Co., commission merchants,
906 Western Avenue, Seattle, Wash. (Feb. 13,
1903): ‘‘ Yours regarding squabs to hand.
We have investigated the market here and
find a good many of the first-class hotels and
cafes will take them at very fair figures.
There seems to be a variance of opinion as to
what they will pay, but we presume that the
supply has been very limited, and they
would pay just about whatever the seller
would ask in order to get them. We think
the average price would be about $2.50 to
$2.75 per dozen. Of course there would be
some bidding among the different buyers in
case they were scarce, and we might get more
for them. We have immediate access by
*phone and salesmen with all our customers
who serve squabs for short orders or other-
wise. By this means you would be in close
touch with the people most in need of them
and would always try to get you top notch
prices. We believe this is a good investment
for you to grow them for this market. Of
course you would have to start in and grad-
uate up to find how large the volume of trade
will be that we can command you on them.
Anything in the way of game, fowls or meats
are staple sellers at good prices.”

Hamm & Schmitz, Hotel Butler, Seattle,

151

Wash. (Feb. 12, 1903): ‘‘ In reply to yours,
will say that we could use three dozen a
week of the squabs and will pay three dollars
per dozen for plucked birds, laid down here.”

The above letters indicate to us that peo-
ple in the State of Washing sn who eat squabs
have to pay from $3 to $4 a dozen for the
cold storage, frozen kind, Poor as_ these
are (they are the lizhtweight squabs of com-
mon pigeons) they are in active demand.
Of course the consumers would pay as much,
and no doubt more, for fresh-killed squabs
bred from our fine Homers. The commis-
sion men are certainly eager to get squabs.
They are willing to pay from $2 to $3.50 per
dozen. They resell them at a profit.

The above letter from E. C. Klyce & Co.
is sensible and could well be written by any
commission firm in any State in the Union,
or by any commission firm anywhere that
sells poultry, eggs and butter. Wherever
there is a sale for hens and chickens, dressed
or with feathers on, there is a sale for squabs
at higher prices not only because they are
a greater delicacy, but also because good
eaters everywhere know they are a greater
delicacy, and expect to pay, and do pay, more
for squabs, pound for pound, than they pay
for hens and chickens, geese and turkeys.

We ship to Seattle by the fastest express
trains. The birds go from Boston to St.
Paul (Minnesota) by the Wells-Fargo Express
Company. At St. Paul the birds are taken
by the Northern Pacific Express Company,
which has charge of them to destination.
Every express messenger in the employ of
these two companies of this long route has
handled our shipments and made a fine
record, and is trained to the work of feeding
and watering all sizes of shipments. Our
Seattle trade can be sure that their ship-
ments will be treated right and will reach
them in perfect condition. That is what we
guarantee.

MORE LETTERS. Here are more letters
from squab buyers, unclassified, as they came
to us in the first part of February, 1903:

Allyn House, Hartford, Conn. (February,
1903): ‘‘ In answer to yours will say we are
continually using squabs. We buy them
plucked in all cases. We pay all prices, ac-
cording to size, age, and condition when re-
ceived. They run from $2.25 to $3.25 per
dozen. Sometimes the market is a little
higher.”

Russell House, Detroit, Michigan (Feb-
ruary, 1903): ‘‘ In reply to your letter would
say that we use quite a few squabs here. Am
paying at present $2.50 per dozen for splen-
did stock. If you care to send me any at
that, you have to pay the express, I should
be glad to have same.”

Duquesne Club, Pittsburg, Penn. (Feb. 11,
1903): ‘Wish to know, if you have squabs
of first quality. Should you have about three
dozen on hand, I would pay you per dozen,

152

squabs plucked and delivered from $3.59 to
$3.75 per dozen. If price suits you please let
me know.” Signed by E. Max Heinrich,
superintendent.

Lincoln Hotel, Lincoln, Nebraska (Feb.
16, 1903): ‘‘Replying to your letter. Wecan
use about two dozen squabs per week in our
cafe at present. Will pay $2.50 per dozen
delivered here, feathers on.”

Hotel Victoria, Pittsburg, Penn. (Feb. 18,
1903): In regard to your letter, will say, we
use about one dozen or one and one-half
dozen per week, just depends on the business,
and will pay $3.50 per dozen delivered here
at the hotel.”

Fred Harvey, general office, Union Depot
Annex, Kansas City, Missouri; Chicago office,
corner 17th Street and Wentworth Avenue
(Feb. 14, 1903): We can use 15 to 20 dozen
squabs per week if the birds are very nice
and the price reasonable. Can use them with
feathers on. Do not know what we can afford
to pay, it depends entirely on the birds. If
you will please send three dozen squabs by
Santa Fe baggage car to Kansas City, charging
them at such a price that you can afford to
furnish them, I will use them asasample. If
the birds are not of the right quality and the
price is too high, we will not need any more,
but if the birds and price are right, we can use
quantity given above. I enclose baggage car
shipping bill; be careful to fill it out correctly.
This bill is made in duplicate: you hold one
copy as your receipt and the other goes with
the birds. Please put the squabs in a small
box with a little ice.”

Hotel Savoy, Ewins-Childs Hotel Co., pro-
prietors, Kansas City, Missouri (Feb. 16,
1903): “What is your lowest price on best
squabs in five-dozen lots? We are not in the
habit of sending out of town for our supplies,
but if you have something better than we can
get here, it is possible that we can do business
with you.’’ (Siged by George Thompson,
steward).

Frank E. Miller, superintendent Dining
Service, Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway
System, No. 707 Chestnut Street, St. Louis,
Missouri (Feb. 16, 1903): ‘‘I have your
favor relative tosquabs. It is proper for you
to state the price per dozen. We occupy eight
or ten large dining stations and require a large
number.”

Hollenden Hotel, Cleveland, Ohio (Feb.
19, 1903): ‘In reply to your letter making
inquiry regarding squabs I will state that we
are paying $3.00 per dozen for nice dressed
squabs. We do not buy any unless they are
fully dressed, no feathers on.”

Louis A. Fisher, Manager Century Club,
Cleveland, Ohio (Feb. 17, 1903): “We buy
all our squabs in New York as the prices of
three and four dollars per dozen prevailing in
this city are too high—that is, we buy cheaper
in New York than here.’’

A. S. Barnett, steward Morton House, Grand
Rapids, Michigan (Feb. 11, 1903): “In

NATIONAL. STANDARD SQUABEOOKW;

reply to your inquiry in regard to what we
would pay for squabs such as you have, we are
paying $2.25 per dozen. Should you consider
our price an object, would be pleased to learn
how many you could furnish a week.”’

Hotel Schenlen, Pittsburg, Penn. (Feb. 10,
1903): ‘“‘Your squabs must be according to
the weight and you should find a ready market
for such stock. Nice white squabs are bring-
ing $3.50 today.”

Hotel Rider, Cambridge Springs, Penn.
(Feb. 11, 1903): ‘‘We can pay you $2.25 per
dozen for genuine squabs (no pigeons) de-
livered here. Can use six or eight dozen at a
pee, but we do not want anything but young

irds.

E. A. Goodrich & Co., commission mer-
chants, 103 South Water Street, Chicago,
Illinois (Feb.13, 1903): ‘‘Your favor at
hand. If you mean fat young pigeons that
have left the nest and can fly, they are worth
75 cents to $1 per dozen, and the trade wants
them alive. (This is the way the trade in
Boston wants them, but they pay more.) If
you mean nestlings, or very young pigeons
which have not left the nest and are unable to
fly, we can get you $2 to $2.25 per dozen,
dressed neatly. Either kind is good sale at
prices named and can handle for you any
quantity from five dozen to one hundrny
dozen. If nestlings, tie in one-half dozen
bunches packed in ice and ship by express.”’

A FINAL WORD. Our object in printing
the letters from marketmen and other squab
buyers, in this appendix, is to convince any
intelligent man or woman that there is a mar-
ket for him, provided he goes to raising
squabs, no matter where he lives. We have
hundreds of similar letters on hand, but we
have not room to print all, and we think we
have printed enough. If you are not con-
vinced by what we have printed that there
is a paying market for squabs within five
hundred miles of you, do not write to us and
ask us to tell you the names and addresses
of squab buyers in your town or city, or
your county, for that we may not be able to
do, but sit down at your writing desk, or go
out in person, and find out for yourself.

It is unnecessary to argue the squab mar-
ket with any one of common sense who
lives east of the Mississippi and Missouri
rivers, and on the Pacific Coast, and within
shipping distance of Denver. If you live in
a barren territory or a foreign country, and
wish to take up this subject with us, we will
reply to the best of our ability, but remember
that you are on the ground, and can find out
such facts for yourself better than we can tell
you.

This Manual is intended to be a book of
facts, backed up by evidence. If anybody has
any additional facts as to squabs which will
improve this Manual, we will be glad to con-
sider same, and will pay for them if accepted

APPENDIX B

Many interesting points with regard to squab raising, the management
of a plant, and so forth, are disclosed by the letters which we receive from
customers, and the following pages will repay reading as showing the practical
side of the business.

The stories of success, letters from customers, which appear in this Appen-
dix B, were received by us in 1905, along with hundreds of others of similar
character. These show results duplicated over and over again by our cus-
tomers, and they came to us in the ordinary run of business, day by day.

We do not print the names and addresses of these customers. Many of
them are regular buyers of our birds. We would advertise them as breeders
to our loss. We guarantee the genuineness of the letters here printed, and will
prove it in any way desired. The originals are on file at our office at Boston
and may be seen there.

Here are stories which tell of hardy, vigorous parent stock; of one-pound
squabs; of quick results from a small purchase; of flocks from us bred for
years without a single death; of remarkable breeding qualities; of handsome
Homers which attract admiration wherever they go; of prizes won at fairs; of
excellence demonstrated over Homers of any breeding in every State; of many
women who are making success with our birds; of customers who started with

small flocks and later bought of us by the hundred pairs; etc.

See page 153 for the difference between sand and grit.

conditions in Florida.

Same page also for

See page 155 for points about moulting.

On page 157 read what a correspondent says about inbreeding, and the
author’s reply; also causes of failure in squab raising.

More about the excellent market for squabs in the State of Washington is

given on page 159.

Breeding without having any sickness or deaths is told on pages 159 and

160.

The experience of a squab breeder with five hundred common pigeons

is told on page 164.

OUR PLYMOUTH ROCK HOMERS ARE
STRONG IN AND AROUND BRIDGETON,
ERSEY, WHERE THERE ARE
RITICAL BUYERS AND BREEDERS
—READ THIS LETTER FROM A CUSTOMER
IN SOUTH VINELAND. Will you kindly let
me know when is the best time for me to buy
more pigeons, as those I bought of you three
years ago are doing finely, and I am perfectly
satisfied with them and [| tell people where
I got them, and several persons told me they
were going to send for some from you. There
are lots of people come to see them, as they
are fine birds, and when I send for more I
want them mated like the ones I got before;
but I will not send until I hear from you.
got twenty-four pairs the last time. There
were two that died a little while after I got
them, but that was all I lost —O. W., New
Jersey. (This customer lives in South Vine-
land, New Jersey, a few miles from Bridge-
ton, New Jersey, and in this territory are a

great many pigeon fanciers. We have sold
more Plymouth Rock Homers in this [Cum-
berland] county, around Bridgeton, than any
breeder or set of breeders in that county,
and the reason for it is just what our cus-
tomer in South Vineland states above.)

SAND IS NOT GRIT—CONDITIONS IN
FLORIDA, AND SOMETHING ABOUT THE
GREAT MARKET THERE. I have plenty
of beach sand and would like to know if you
really need to ship me the grit, for I am going
to cover the ground of the flying pen with
the sand.—J. S., Florida.

Answer: Gravel is grit, but sand is not
grit. It is all right to cover the ground of the
flying pen with sand and use sand generally
about the squab house. In Florida there is
nothing but sand, and this is true of other
localities also. I wish everybody who has
Pigeons or poultry would read and remem-
ber what I say about sand and grit. Sand

LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY
153

STORIES OF SUCCESS WITH PLYMOUTH ROCK HOMERS

is the product of the washing of the ocean’s
waters. This incessant beating and washing
have worn off all the sharp corners. As a
matter of fact (as skillful breeders of poultry
in Florida know), if the birds can get no grit
and are forced to eat sand, then the sand
which they eat packs tight within them, and
if you cut open one which has died from
some inexplicable cause, you will find the
bunch of sand. It is not grit at all, and does
not cut and grind the grain as grit does.
This is the cause for many failures with
poultry in Florida.—lack of grit. The
breeder thinks he has grit all around him,
when he has none. It is all right to cover
the flying pen with sand; it is clean stuff and
the pigeons will not eat it unless they are
forced to by their owner’s failure to provide
grit. Make no mistake, pigeons can tell grit
from sand. For further remarks on grit see
Supplement to Manual. It is fully as im-
portant as grain and grain is not good for
anything without it. Just a word about the
Florida squab outlook while I am answering
this Florida query. I spent four months in
the winter of 1905, in Dade County, three
hundred miles south of Jacksonville, to get
rid of acough. I found three of my custom-
ers in and around Palm Beach. One lived
in Jupiter and was raising them all right
but the market was not to his liking, and he
was a good man, too. Another at Man-
gonia, two miles from Palm Beach, was an
experienced poultry man, and he was a good
business man. Although well-to-do, he gets
on his bicycle every day during the winter
season and sells his poultry and eggs to the
rich cottagers at first hand. You would not
believe me if I told you what prices he gets.
As for squabs, I state here with full knowledge
of the facts, that any number of squabs may
be sold in Palm Beach from January 1 to
April 1, for $1 apiece, $12 a dozen provided
they are good squabs, such as Plymouth Rock
Homers breed. The Hotel Royal Ponciana
at Palm Beach (called the largest in the world)
the winter I was there had fifty-two thousand
separate names on iis register in its three
months’ season. These were the _ richest
people, in Florida for amusement, and ac-
customed to the choicest table delicacies.
This is only one hotel; there are many others,
including the chain of great Flagler hotels
from St. Augustine to Miami and Nassau.
Who also in Florida has the business sense
to see an opportunity and follow it up by
providing these tens of thousands of rich
northern people every winter with squabs?
I always considered California the ideal
climate for breeding squabs, but Florida is
just as good; it is perpetual summer there
and the winter market beats anything I have
ever seen or heard of. As for the summer
and fall market, it is not good for much. If
you must sell squabs and poultry then to keep
a-going, you will have to ship North by the

Clyde line, or else sell your goods to native
folks at about half the price you get
from northern sojourners in the winter.

WOMAN HAS RAISED ONE HUNDRED
PAIRS. Two years ago we bought some
pigeons of you. We have some fine ones
now, about two hundred, or one hundred
pairs.—Mrs. W. B., Pennsylvania,

BRED SATISFACTORILY ALL WINTER.
Enclosed find money order for supplies,
etc. I have some stock whose parents came
from you and can say they are certainly all
you claim for them. They have bred satis-
torily all winter and bid fair to continue.—
R. A. S., Massachusetts.

SYSTEM AND DIRECTIONS PERFECT.
Your system and directions for handling
birds are about perfect, and your Manual is
almost ind: p nsable for any one who is in the
pigeon business. The drinking fountain,
bath pan and nest bowls reached me. They
are just what I have been looking for for a
long time.—Mrs. H. J. S., Pennsylvania.

VIRGINIA WOMAN ORDERS A SECOND
LOT. My pigeons came safely Saturday
morning and are exceedingly fine birds.
like them so much that I enclose remittance
for another lot.—Miss A. M. D., Virginia.

THEY PLEASE EVERYBODY. The one
dozen pairs of Extra Plymouth Rock Homers
I received from you on November 9 are all
doing well. Quite a number of persons have
seen the birds and all seem to think them
fine —W. B. R., New York.

RUGGED STOCK. HE HAS LOST BUT
FEW EGGS AND BIRDS IN HIS EXPERI-
ENCE. I now have in my flock about two
hundred birds which are producing squabs
rapidly and seem to be doing well. Have
lost but few egzs or birds durinz my experi-
ence. I have two parties figuring to buy
me out. I have been enlarging my plant
and will divide the flock unless I sell. I will
send for more nest bowls in case I do not sell
out.—H. H. K., Missouri.

STRENGTH AND VIGOR OF OUR STOCK
SHOWN BY AN EXCELLENT JOURNEY
TO CALIFORNIA. The pigeons you shipped
me on the 2d reached me the 9th in excellent
condition. The first thing they had after
being put in the squab house was a bath,
and I never saw anything more grateful
than they seemed to be. I am glad you
sent the extra pair of birds. I think the way
the birds stood the long. trying trip speaks
volumes for the strength and vigor of the
flock. Thank you for the promptness_ with
which the order was filled—Mrs. J. F. P.,
California.

pitted a i erin maida, sate. T eens oO Niet SRT aR) Lee es
LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY

154

STORIES OF SUCCESS WITH PLYMOUTH ROCK HOMERS

SOON TO SEND FOR MORE BIRDS.
Enclosed find money order for $2.88, for
which please send to my address three dozen
nest bowls for pigeons. My birds that I got
of you last fall are doing well. Thanking
you for past favors, and that soon I am send-

ing for more birds.—Mrs. M. P., Con-
necticut.
PIGEONS WERE MOULTINGS. Can you

explain to me why my birds start in and make
their nests and then stop? ‘hey have done
very little since October (it is now December).
They are looking fine. They are all mated
Their house is cleaned twice a week. They
are frez from lice. ‘hey have shell, salt and
codfish in front of them all the time, no rats
or mice to trouble them. I have about sixty.
The house is twelve by thirty. The house is
not cold. The; have plenty of nest material.
Not a sick or dumpish bird in the lot. If you
can tell me what else I can do, you will con-
fer a great favor. I bought my birds of you
in May, twelve pairs. I have over sixty; do
you think they have done well?—F. E. G.,
New York.

Answer: If you had applied to one of the
know-it-alls (who know nothing about pig-
eons), he would ha-e told you that your
trouble came from the fact that you did not
orizinally buy your birds from him, but the
simple truth is that your birds were moult-
ing late, and would not lay until through
shedding their feathers and getting their
new coats.

GOOD GRAIN NEEDED FOR GOOD
BIRDS. Enclosed find remittance for one
hundred pounds best red wheat and one
hundred pounds hempseed. Ihave had hard
work to get good red wheat lately, and I find
it poor practice to feed the inferior grain, as
the birds scatter it all over the house, so
thourtht I would try and get some from you.
I think my birds are doing first class, and
I inteid to put in two or three more lots as
soon as I can arrange for them.—C. E. B.,
New Hampshire .

CONVINCED HIM THAT THEY ARE
PROFITABLE. About a year ago I bought
from you half a dozen pairs of Homer pigeons,
and at present time they number over fifty
birds. The way they have increased and the
little, but necessary, care they need convinces
me that they must be profitable. I enclose
twenty-five cents for the working plans for
enlarzed house, which I intend to build as soon
as the weather permits, with the idea of stock-
ing it in the early spring.—H. B. R., New York

MORE THAN PLEASED IN ARKANSAS.
The pigeons that you shipped arrived here
O. K.—twenty-six in all. Many thanks for
the extra pair. They are doing fine, and Iam
more than pleased with them, and hope to
send for more soon.—A. H., Arkansas.

SATISFIED WITH SQUAB HOUSE AND
BIRDS. The pigeons and also the letter
stating they were shipped arrived yesterday
morninz at nine o’clock. This certainly was
fast time froin Boston as the stamp of your
letter showed 5.30 p.m., forty-eight hours
previois. fo say that we are pleased with the
birds do2s not exodress it. ‘hey are certainly
fine birds, and we will try to do our part to
make a success of the business. We built our
houses after the plans given in your squab
book, and are well pleased with them. As
soon as we get them painted we will send you
photozraphs of them so you can see where we
keep our birds and how we care for them.
The birds were all in good shape and seem to
have received good care from the express
company.—H. A. B., Illinois.

DOING NICELY. Enclosed find stamps
for which please send me some aluminum tub-
ing for leg bands. The birds we bought from
you are doing nicely—A. H. W., Pennsyl-
vania.

GOING TO SELL HIS COMMON PIGEONS
—EXTRA PLYMOUTH ROCKS THE BEST
BREEDERS TO BEAAD. Ihave had pigeons
only about a year. At present I have about
seventy, half Homer and half common pig-
eons. Iam going to sell the common pigeons,
and in the fall you shall have my order for
breeders. I think your Extra Plymouth Rock
Homers are the best breeders that are to be had.
Mrs. Street, who lives here has some of your
Homers, and I think they are all you claim for
them.—W. W. P., Arizona.

FINE AND HEALTHY. Enclosed find
$1.70 in two-cent stamps, for which please
send me the leg-band outfit. My birds are
doing very nicely. They look fine and are
very healthy.—C. C. R., Pennsylvania.

FIRST SHIPMENT DOING WELL, SO HE
ORDERS ANOLHER. Enclosed find money
order for which send eighteen pairs and four
dozen nest-bowls. The first order of mine
was received O. K. The birds are doing fine.
—N.S.R., Lowa.

FAST WORK—HAS NOT HAD HIS BIRDS
A MONTH, BUT HAS PLENIY OF NESTS,
AND SQUABS ARE DUE. I am very agree-
ably surprised with the pigeons which you
sent me. I received them on May 18. They
were so quiet and seemed so much at home
that I let them into the fly on the 22d and had
no trouble with them. They went in and out
and did not have to bother with them. On
May 24 I received the nest-bowls and put
them in the house the same afternoon. The
next day one of them commenced to make a
nest and lay. She is setting now and should
hatch about the 16th of June; so I think I will
have some squabs before I have had the nig-
eons a month. I think this is pretty fast

ee
LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY

155

OUR PLYMOUTH ROCK HOMERS ARE BOUGHT AND BRED
BY THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT AT WASHINGTON

The Plymouth Rock Homers are being bred by the United States Govern-
ment at Washington successfully and satisfactorily, exactly according to our
Manual and the directions which we give our thousands of customers. The
Government buys our birds because they are the best.

The first lot of our Extra Homers which we shipped Uncle Sam brought us
back a letter from the superintendent saying: ‘‘ The birds were in perfect
condition with the exception of a single individual whose eye had been
injured. Iam very much pleased with the pigeons, which are certainly a fine
lot.”

The birds did well and a return order for more birds came to us later from
the Government, the order stating: ‘‘ Referring to my letter of March 24,
I have the pleasure to inform you that the pigeons received from you have
now become satisfactorily established in their new quarters, and it seems that
we can advantageously increase our stock.”’

To fulfil the United States Government specifications, breeding stock
shipped as per orders given us had to be not only the best of its kind, but
absolutely healthy. One pigeon in the first shipment died after a time and
the remains were turned over to the biological department of the Department
of Agriculture, for a microscopical examination to discover germs of con-
tagion. None was found, and the flock continued in rugged health.

It is a compliment to us and a good advertisement for us, for the United
States Government to buy our breeding stock.

THE STATE OF WISCONSIN

is another of our customers, having bought an outfit of both birds and sup-
plies for its Northern Hospital for the Insane.

We have supplied many well-known American families with squab-
breeding flocks and outfits, including the Rockefellers, Carnegies, Goulds, etc.
These very rich people, accustomed to the best table delicacies, breed their
own squabs from our birds, because in this way only can they be assured of a
steady supply of unvarying excellence, the markets and the breeders of
ordinary squabs not being dependable. Some of our customers have exclu-
sive contracts with rich families who take all they breed. One customer, a
woman, supplies the Brandegees, multi-millionaires of Boston. The Carne-
gies have a large estate in Florida. Three years ago we received a trial order
for twelve pairs of our best birds from one of the ladies of this household.
She did so well breeding squabs and was so well pleased with our birds, that
the manager of the farm visited us in the summer of 1907 and gave us a large
order for Plymouth Rock Homers and supplies which later we shipped to

Florida.
156

STORIES OF SUCCESS WITH PLYMOUTH ROCK HOMERS

work. Several more are making nests and
laying. I thank you very much for sending
me the fine stock which you did. One of my
friends told me the other day that he had
written to you last fall about your pigeons
but had never received an answer from you.
I told him his letter must have miscarried.
He is starting in the squab business with com-
mon pigeons, and they will be likely to fail.
My birds have been greatly admired by all that
have seen them, and I hope to interest some
of my friends in your Homers. Thank you
for fair treatment.—E,. W. T., New Jersey.

BETTER HOMERS THAN THIS ILLINOIS
CUSTOMER EXPECTED TO GET. My
fifty pairs of pigeons arrived safe and sound
yesterday. They are fine birds, better than I
expected. The express was $5.05, which was
reasonable enough. If these birds do well will
order fifty pairs more in December. Thank
you for your prompt and square way of doing
business.—C. D., P., Illinois.

HIS EXPERIENCE WITH RUNTS A
FAILURE. I have been raising squabs from
runt pigeons and have lost so much on them
that I cannot afford to risk any more money
on stock which may turn out to be as bad as
some that has been passed off on me. _ Please
give me your prices on your Extra Homers
and nest-bowls.—G, W. M., Pennsylvania.

PRETTY BIRDS IN TEXAS, ALWAYS
HEALTHY, NEVER SICK. You will remem-
ber that I bought six pairs of birds from you
last July. I have now about twenty pairs on
hand as nice and pretty birds as you ever saw,
well marked. They are perfectly healthy,
never sick,—Mrs. L. C., Texas.

PLYMOUTH ROCK HOMERS HAVE
MORE THAN COME UP TO HIS EXPECTA-
TIONS. My intentions are at present to give
fifty pairs of your birds a thorough trial for one
year, and if it proves successful I intend to
move my place near New York City and then
increase it to one thousand pairs to start with.
The birds I received from you have more than
come up to my expectations, and if the business
moves along as it has I do not think I will
hesitate one moment next spring to increase
my flock to the amount stated. Thank you
for past favors,—J. D., New York.

BREEDING WELL IN FLORIDA. En-
closed find money order for $1.70 for which
Tee send to me by mail your leg-band outfit.

y birds are doing finely. I wish I had twice
as many, but must be contented with these at
present. The young squabs are leaving the
nests every day or so.—G. A. G., Florida.

LOUISIANA CUSTOMER BRED THEM.
Enclosed herewith find money order for fifty
cents, for which please send me your squab
book also quote me your best prices on birds,
drinking fountains, etc. You sold me twelve
pairs of your pigeons and shipped them to
Wilson, Louisiana, and ! like them very much,
and they did all you claim for them.—T. J. C.,
Louisiana.

QUICK WORK IN OHIO. The birds ar-
rived Saturday, May 6, and on Saturday tne
13th three had laid and were setting. Today,
May 16, five are setting and one odd egg is in
another nest without the nesting material.—
C.G. A., Iowa.

NO AILMENTS AND BREEDING SATIS-
FACTORILY. The birds ordered of you on
the 13th were received on the 16th, and find
them the same as the other order—satis-
factory in every respect. I also wish to thank
you for the extra pair. My first order of
birds, which I received from you five weeks
ago, are doing finely—no pizeon ailments. I
have squabs, and the majority of them are
hatching.—D. & S., New York.

SOMETHING ABOUT INBREEDING, TO-
GETHER WITH REMARKS ON WHY SOME
PEOPLE FAIL AT SQUAB BREEDING.
Enclosed find draft for $40 for which please
ship per Adams or Southern Express, to above
address, twenty-four pairs Plymouth Rock
Homer pigeons. Will want four times as
many more if these prove satisfactory. I was
quite interested in your National Standard
Squab Book, but am a little inclined to criti-
cise some statements. On page 41, it seems to
me it would be well to substitute gizzard, for
crop, when describing the necessity for grit in
the digestive process, and in your comments
on inbreeding, you evidently lose sight of the
fact that in all doves and pigeons, in the wild
or natural state, the young hatch in pairs,
male and female, almost invariably, and
that they almost invariably mate, and have
done so for centuries without deterioration.
The Gentry swine, which took about all of the
high prizes at St. Louis, have been inces-
tuously inbred for twenty-five years. The
Hart herd of Jerseys, finest in the State of
Ohio, have been bred sire to daughter, son to
mother, brother to sister for ten generations,
and have constantly improved in size, vigor
and productiveness. The Bishop merinos
started with three animals and never had a
drop of outside blood in forty years, and were
then the finest in the world. So there is
nothing to be feared from inbreeding if stock
is well cared for and ordinary intelligence is
used.—H. R. C., Ohio.

Answer: Good; I am glad to get that kind
of a letter because it shows that the writer is

LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY

157

STORIES OF SUCCESS WITH PLYMOUTH ROCK HOMERS

able to think for himself. However, I do not
inbreed pigeons, and I do not think you have
authority for making the sweeping statement
that in a wild state the pigeons almost in-
variably mate in pairs as they were hatched.
I will prove that to you right now by asking
you, Have you not seen male pigeons, both in
a wild state and domesticated, fighting for the
possession of a female? Certainly, we all
have; it is an every-day occurrence among
pigeons, depending on a hundred different
notions which may form in the minds of the
pigeons. This domination of the strongest
and handsomest over the weakest and ugliest
is the law of life among human beings as well
as animals. This survival of the fittest would
not be true if it was the law and the rule and
the custom, call it what you will, for nest-
mates to mate for the reason of propinquity
alone. Now, as a matter of fact I know that
there are a great many Homer fanciers in this
country, mostly Englishmen, who have bred
pigeons all their lives, who win prizes with
Homers as well as other kinds of pigeons,
which are the product of inbreeding. There
are a dozen fanciers within fifty miles of my
plant in Massachusetts who come to my place
regularly and there pick out young birds which
we band with seamless bands for them and
sell them when weaned, and I know for a fact
because some have told me so, that they take
these birds and inbreed them. However,
as a matter of business, it would not do for me
or for anybody selling pigeons in the open
market to inbreed them, because there is a
sort of horror, a repugnance, among people
generally, especially women, against that sort
of thing. Nearly half my trade is among
women, and I think that as a rule they master
pigeons better than men, and I don’t think I
would sell to many women if I advocated
and practised inbreeding. If you are a
follower of poultry, you will read advice from
many theorists and impractical men, who
work eight hours a day at something else, but
who will sit at a desk in their evening hours
and with a pen direct breeding operations for
anybody offhand, and one of the stock re-
marks of these folks, unable to follow their own
ideas in breeding successfully is, when some
one writes them that his or her pigeons are not
raising young satisfactorily: ‘“‘Your pigeons
are probably inbred, and are worthless, being
weak.’’. It is a foolish and senseless remark,
because it is a guess, and nothing more. In
my Manual I decry inbreeding and, as I say,
do not practise it, because I do not think it is
nature’s way. An animal wants a handsome
and attractive, or otherwise satisfactory mate,
and is willing to fight for it—this is nature’s
way. While I am on this subject, I will tell
why people fail, as some do, with pigeons.
There are generally men and women who have
failed with poultry, and with everything. It
is their fault not the fault of the pigeons. If
they start with pigeons, strong and rugged

birds, it is up to them to get results. I have
seen people start with pigeons who absolutely
could not get an egg or a squab to amount
to anything for montas, and then sell out to
somebody of sense and gumption who inside
of a month would be doing so well with the
birds that he would buy more. Is this sur-
prising? Not if you have had much expe-
rience with people and their habits. There is
a large percentaze of folks who cannot man-
age their own eating and drinking right; their
bowels are always out of order; they are dos-
ing with patent medicines; they seldom or
never bathe. Others who look after them-
selves perhaps better cannot do the simplest
things of life successfully; cannot write their
names legibly; cannot compose a letter and
address the envelope correctly; cannot man-
age their children so as to hold their respect;
cannot keep friends with their neighbors; can-
not earn money, or cannot save it; and so on,
Yet many of these people (and there are
hundreds of them who turn to a new thing like
squabs for the lonzg-sought touchstone) will
take hold of animal breeding, requiring at the
outset, and all the time, the sterling qualities
of patience and common sense, not to speak
of some degree of skill which must be acquired,
and then wonder why they fail. From squabs
they go to bees, or vice versa, or to ginseng
or pecan nuts, or truck gardening, or poultry,
but never back again to something at which
they have failed. The Creator put these
things into the world, and the devil has put
many temptations along too, to winnow out
people, to separate by their own acts the wise
from the foolish, the skilful from the unskilful,
the good from the bad, etc. The acquisition
of a flock of pigeons, or anything else, will not
turn a poor tool into a good one.

SPEAKS OF US IN HIGHEST TERMS.
Enclosed find draft on New York in $10.25,
for which please ship me four hundred pounds
mixed pigeon grain. My Homers are doing
nicely. Ihave only lost one more bird, two in
all. Quite a number are laying, a few setting,
It affords me pleasure to speak in the highest
terms of the Plymouth Rock Squab Company.
—W.B. W., Arkansas.

ONE BIRD SICK, THE ONLY ONE IN A
YEAR AND A HALF OF BREEDING. You
no doubt remember me as one who purchased
two lots of Homers from you a year ago last
January. I am now prepared to sell squabs
as my enclosed card will show you. I send
you this card to show you that I have not been
asleep in the business, and that I have given
constant care to the flock ever since the first
day I asked you, What is a squab? Ha,ha.
It makes me laugh to think that I was so
green. I now have one good customer here
who gives me $3 a dozen for them, but he says
they are not selling very fast this time of
year (May). Others said, when I presented

LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY

158

STORIES OF SUCCESS WITH PLYMOUTH ROCK HOMERS

my card, that they would think it over and let
me know. One fellow wanted to give me
$2.10 per dozen: what do you think of that?
He did not get them, assure you. I have no
other birds except those I received from you,
and I have not had a sick one among them in
the year and a half, with the exception of one
that had a large lump on its wing. I painted
this with iodine. It moped around for six
weeks or more but now it and its faithful mate
are building a nest. Here is a strange freak
of nature which puzzles me. I have a pair of
young birds that always lay four eggs. The
first four did not hatch. Out of the next four
they hatched one bird. The third, also four
eggs and one bird. I have separated them as
I found them to be nest mates. My object in
writing this letter to you, besides informing
you of my success thus far, is to ask for the
address of some one, not too far from me, to
whom I can sell my squabs at ihis time of the
year. One man wrote to me and said he
would buy all I raised ‘‘if I bought the breed-
ers from him.’ But my first thoughts were,
of course, to see you first.—F. B., Ohio.
(We told this customer where to ship in New
York City, and he shipped accordingly and
received satisfactory prices).

STARTED WITH 24 OF OUR BIRDS IN
1902, AND NOW HAS 700 OF FHE FINEST
EVER SEEN. In July of 1902 I bought
twenty-four birds, Homer pigeons for breed-
ers, from you. I now have seven hundred of
as fine-looking birds as any one ever saw and
all full blooded for which I thank you for the
good stock sent me.—C. E. L., Michigan.

FIRST ORDER FOLLOWED BY A SECOND.
The six pairs of pigeons were received O. K.
Enclosed please find New York draft for
$21.92, for which please send me twelve pairs
Homers and two dozen nest-bowls.—D. C. S.,
Minnesota. (A third order followed inside of
a month from this customer.)

SQUABS SURPASSING ALL EXPECTA-
TIONS AND BRINGING $5.50 PER DOZEN.
Could you furnish me with a price-list of breed-
ing stock and supplies as I have misplaced the
one you sent me last spring with my National
Standard Squab Book. I desire to state that
the Homers are surpassing all expectations
alons the line of sauabs and I have been
getting as high as $5.50 for them in New York.
Wishing you continued success in your honest

dealings —A. H. T., Ohio.

FIRST ORDER QUICKLY FOLLOWED
BY ANOTHER. The twenty-four pairs of
Extra Homers were received in good form as
you know, and are so satisfactory that I de-
sire to duplicate the order and enclose here-
with an Adams Express money order. Please
send us twenty-four pairs as good as the
others as soon as possible-—G. P. W., Con-
necticut.

FLOCK DOUBLED IN THREE WINTER
MONTHS. I bought some pizeons from you
about Christmas. I am pleased more than
I expected to be with them. They are doing
nicely. I have doubled my lot with squabs
from them. I want to ask you if it would
be safe to let them out into the flying pen
now. You see I have had them about three
months now.—A. S., Virginia.

THE STATE OF WASHINGTON IS CER-
TAINLY ALL RIGHT FOR SQUAB BREED-
ING—WE ARE SHIPPING THERE STEAD-
ILY. Enclosed you will find a Great North-
ern Express money order for $80, for which I
want you to ship me forty-eight pairs of your
thoroughbred Homers as soon as possible for
you to do so. I sent some time ago to you
for a free book on squab raising and since
then have read up your National Standard
Squab Book on squabs and looked up the
markets in Seattle and Everett. I find that
there is a better market for squabs than any-
thing else I know of at present, and I am going
to devote all my time to raising them. I have
a building almost completed for the first
forty-eight pairs. Just as soon as I get them
settled to business I will send for forty-eight
pairs more. I have seen two or three flocks
of your birds near Seattle and must say they
look like business if given half a chance. The
owners seemed well satisfied with them, but
I think they would be more so if the birds
were given the right attention, which they
did not look to have.—G. T., State of Wash-
ington.

BEST LOOKING BIRDS THE EXPRESS-
MAN HAD EVER SEEN. The birds arrived
here yesterday in good order. They are
beauties. The expressman said that they
had lots of birds pass through here, but these
were the best he had ever seen. Thank you
for the extra two pairs which you sent, and
for such fine birds. I shall build a fifteen or
twenty unit house jus#* as soon as it gets a
little warmer, and I shall want a lot of your
best Extras to fill it; none but the best for
me.—H. A. D., Massachusetts.

WANTS THE PURE STOCK. You will
soon get another order from me, because I
want the pure stock and the Plymouth Rock
Squab Company is the only place to get them.

—A. C. F., Oregon.

MANUAL GOOD, SANE AND PRACTICAL
—MODEL OF GOOD ENGLISH—GOOD
WORK APPRECIATED. I have your favor
of the 19th inst., also the Manual, and beg to
thank you for both. I have read your book
very carefully. It is not one of my habits
to go out of the ordinary course in matters
of business; but I think I know good, sane,
practical work of almost any kind when I
see it. If you will allow me to say so, your

LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY
159

STORIES OF SUCCESS WITH PLYMOUTH ROCK HOMEKS

Manual is, from every point of view, that is,
as a business book, a model of the rare thing
called “ good’? English, and almost as a
Nacuralist’s standard work—the best thing
IT ever saw. This letter does not call for re-
ply, but it does no harm to anyone to know
that a good piece of his work is recognized
and appreciated by some one else who believes
in and strives to do good work himself. I
wish you continued success.—F. G. A., San
Francisco,

HIS NEIGHBOR HAS DONE WELL FOR

NINE MONTHS AND WILL NOT SELL ANY..-

The pigeons came two hours ahead of your
letter informing me of the shipment. They
arrived in fine condition, had plenty of feed
and water, and were delivered promptly,
and I am pleased with them. They are
beauties. My neighbor, Mr. Cole, bought six
pairs from you last June and now, nine
months later, has nearly fifty pigeons, and
will not sell one of them at any price.
tried all over this city of sixty thousand peo-
ple to buy six pairs of pigeons and could find
only one pair for sale. I return basket today.
Please accept thanks for your prompt de-
livery.—R. M. T., Ohio.

TREATED IN AN HONEST AND GEN-
EROUS MANNER. My pigeons arrived
yesterday morning in perfect condition and
I am delighted with them. They are beau-
ties, and I want to say you have kept your
word to the letter and treated me in an hon-
est and generous manner. Return basket
today.—Mrs. A. L., Illinois.

HE IS PROUD OF HIS FIRST PUR-
CHASE. My pigeons arrived safely Satur-
day in fine shape, not even soiled. Iam very
much pleased with them and thank you for the
extra pair. They are a fine lot of birds, and
I am proud of them. You will hear from me
from time to time —V. M., Virginia.

CANADIAN CUSTOMERS PLEASED. I
take pleasure in letting you know we received
our stock in very good condition. We re-
ceived them one day before we got your let-
ter. We got them home and with much sur-
prise we counted fourteen instead of twelve.
We return many thanks to you for your
kindness and liberality. They are doing
nicely.at present. They are lovely birds.—
L. B. S., Ontario, Canada.

FIFTY PAIRS TO START—THESE DID
WELL ENOUGH TO MAKE THE CUS-
TOMER RUN HIS ORDER UP TO THREE
HUNDRED PAIRS IN THREE MONTHS.
Enclosed find check for $125, for which
please send us fifty pairs of your extra breed-
ing stock. Hoping same will be satisfactory,
and if pleased with stock will probably want
more soon. Please ship first of next week if

convenient. (Three months later.) En-
closed find check for $385, for which please
send me two hundred and fifty pairs Extra
Homer breeding pigeons. I have taken credit
of $40 on the first order as I was informed at
your office when down there, if the order was
made three hundred pairs within three months
I could have a rebate on them. Hope this is
satisfactory.—C. W. P., Rhode Island.

BEST BIRDS EVER SEEN IN NEW
JERSEY. The birds you shipped me are a
fine-looking lot, and I think are the best I
have ever seen.—H., J. F., New Jersey.

FILL REPRESENTATIONS TO THE LET-
TER. The pigeons arrived safe and sound.
They fill your representations to the letter.
I am more than pleased with them and wish
you all the success that honest dealing en-
titles you to.—C. A. V., New York.

HE EXHIBITED HIS PLYMOUTH
ROCK HOMERS AT THE FAIR AND WON
WITH THEM. I took some of my pigeons
bought of you to our Fair and got first and
second premiums. I have taken good care
of them.—W. A. C., New York.

“WHAT FINE’ BIRDS, AND HOW
LARGE THEY ARE.’ I received the pig-
eons all right. Every one whosees the birds
says, ‘‘ What fine birds, and how large they
are. I never saw such large pigeons before!”
and it is just what I think. Thank you for
sending such fine birds.—S. L., Michigan.

TO FLORIDA IN FINE CONDITION. I
received the birds shipped by you to me last
Friday, having made the trip in fine condi-
tion, and I feel proud of them. They are
certainly beauties —A. C. H., Florida.

HE HAS NOT LOST A BIRD, YOUNG OR
OLD, IN BREEDING FROM PLYMOUTH
ROCK STOCK. Will you please give me
address of parties who buy pigeon manure?
The birds purchased of you one year ago
next month have done well. I have not dis-
posed of any and have not lost one young or
old. It has caused considerable talk here-
about, for many parties have pigeons and
have lost many of them. Newcomb who
bought a few of you on my advice, told me
he wished he had bought all of you, but he
bought of several other sources and has been
dissatisfied. I have about completed my
big house and shall soon call on you for more
birds.—A,. P., Massachusetts.

THIS WOMAN IN CONNECTICUT OUT-
GREW ONE HOUSE AND BUILT UP INTO A
FINE PLANT. It is some time since you
heard from me and so I will write a few lines to
show how I am getting along with my pig-
eons. They are doing fine. I have squabs all
ages. I have about thirty-five pairs of old

——
LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY

160

STORIES OF SUCCESS WITH PLYMOUTH ROCK HOMERS

ones. I have put up a large house for them.
The other one was not large enough, so when I
get them in a large place, I think I will have a
fine plant.—Mrs. M. K., Connecticut,

ANOTHER WOMAN HAS INCREASED
HER FLOCK FROM 25 PAIRS TO 275 BIRDS
INA YEAR, You will recall that I purchased
twenty-five pairs of breeding stock from you
about one year ago. They are all doing
nicely now and I have about two hundred and
seventy-five birds, all in fine condition.—Mrs.
J. F., Connecticut,

GOING TO BRANCH OUT. My birds
bought of you are doing fine and I am going to
branch out into the business. I will move
from New Hampshire to Bridgewater, Mass.,
in the spring and build a large house and put
in all your birds.—H. G., New Hampshire.

LARGE FLOCK RAISED FROM A START
WITH SIX PAIRS EXTRA. I would like one
hundred bands from you, as I need them now
for young birds. The six pairs Extra I
bought of you March 23, 1903, have done fine,
and I have a large flock raised from them.—
L. B. R. B., Massachusetts.

BREEDING ALL THE TIME IN MAINE. I
have got about one hundred birds now, all
raised from those I bought from you last
spring. They are all right, healthy and breed-
ing all the time.—J. W.S., Maine.

GONE TO WORK IN A NEW HOME IN
DEAD EARNEST. The nappies arrived all
right, and we are well pleased with them.
Our birds have gone to work in their new
forty-foot house in dead earnest. Enclosed
please find Pacific Express money order, for
which please ship us by express No. 1 Ply-
mouth Rock Homers and Extra Plymouth
Rock Homers as specified. Kindly rush this
order.—J. A. P., Missouri.

WORKING RIGHT ALONG IN ALABAMA.
Enclosed you will find a post-office order
amounting to $15 for which please send me
six pairs of Extra Homers. This is my second
order and I will expect some extra fine birds.
The birds purchased of you last February are
working right along.—B. W., Alabama.

THIS MAN HAD SOME FINE HOMERS,
BUT WHEN HE SAW THE PLYMOUTH
ROCKS HE HAD TO WILT. Our birds are
doing fine and breeding rapidly. There is a
man about one and a half miles from our place
who thought he could not be beat with his
crowd of pigeons, but I invited him to my
place and showed him my birds. He gave in
right away; he was not in it alongside of my
birds. The size of my squabs at three or four
weeks set him a-guessing. He wanted to buy

of me right away, but no, I told him he should
purchase from Boston, for I did not have
enouzh myself yet. I have a pair I do not
think four months old yet, and they set and
have a pair of splendid squabs out just burst-
ing with flesh. A person would be surprised
to see the flock that I have out of the small
number of birds that I bought last fall in
September.—J. B., New York.

FOLLOWED DIRECTIONS AND THE
BIRDS WERE QUICKLY NEST BUILDING.
Please pardon my delay in not announcing the
safe arrival of the thirteen pairs of fine Homer
pizeons. I followed your directions as near
as I could, and I am glad to say the birds are
already laying and building nests. I returned
the basket today.. I understand that my
brother ordered twelve pairs of birds for me,
but thirteen came. Please accept thanks for
the extra pair.—Mrs. D. W.S., Georgia.

STARTED IN 1902 WITH OUR BIRDS AND
HAS A FINE FLOCK NOW. In October,
1902, you sent me at Oak Park, Illinois, forty-
eight pairs. I came to this place two years
ago and now have my lofts filled and am ready
tosell. I have three hundred pairs mated and
at work. They are as nice birds as you sent
me.—H, W. C., Michigan.

BIRDS PROVING THEMSELVES VERY
SUCCESSFUL. Being pleased with the
Homers you sent us and finding we have room
in our building for another dozen birds, we
forward you an express money order for
$16.92, for which forward six pairs of Extra
Plymouth Rock Homers and two dozen nest-
bowls. The birds are proving themselves
very successful. Already we have five pairs
on nests.—I. D., New York.

INSTRUCTIONS CLEAR—AND PEOPLE
WHO FOLLOW THEM ARE SUCCESSFUL.
I have your instruction book, the National
Standard Squab Book. It is the clearest
thing in the way of a guide book that I have
ever seen.—C. F. W., Oregon.

STARTED WITH EIGHT PAIRS EXTRA
AND NOW HAS FORTY-FOUR. Enclosed
find fifty cents for which please send me at
once that much leg-banding material. I need
the lez-banding material badly. My birds are
just simply doing fine. I have eighty-eight
fine birds now. I think that is doing finely
for the time I have had them, and had such a
few to start on. I started with eight pairs.
—Miss S.S. G., Louisiana.

THE VERY FINEST. The pigeons arrived
on time and in good shape. We had some
very fine birds but no better than these.
Thank you for your prompt attention.—A, E.
B., Pennsylvania.

LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY
161

OUR PIGEONS SHIPPED NINE THOUSAND MILES, ALL ARRIVING
ALIVE; ONLY TWO OUT OF CONDITION

Elmer C. Rice, Esq., Treasurer,
Plymouth Rock Squab Co., Boston, Mass., U.S. A.

Dear Sir; On the 20th of this month I had the pleasure of receiving the
fourteen pairs of Plymouth Rock Homer pigeons. They were in fine condi-
tion and had been well looked after on the voyage, which lasted fifty-five
days, from New York to Colombo. There had been some wars amongst the
pigeons on the voyage; and two were more or less mauled, but they had been
kept separate and will, no doubt, do quite well. Iam very much pleased with

them and thank you again for your kindness.
Yours truly,

(Mrs.) F. I. SINCLAIR:
Colombo, Ceylon, September 28, 1907.

Note by E. C. Rice: With regard to the distance covered by the above
shipment, the agents of the steamship company write me as follows: ‘‘ The
actual nautical miles from New York to Colombo are about 8600, and the SS.
Swazi before arriving at Colombo stopped at Algiers, Port Said, Aden, Tuti-
corin and other ports, which brings the total nautical miles up to about 9000.”

The following is from the Philadelphia Saturday Evening Post:

MONEY IN SQUABS—The Government gives a practical demonstration of
what they can be made to pay.

It has long been known by practical breeders of poultry that there is
money in raising squabs. Now the United States Government has given to
this fact official confirmation, based on scientific tests.

The record of profit reveals the great opportunity awaiting those who
engage in this industry. In the practical experiments conducted the diet of
the birds consisted of wheat at eighty centsa bushel, sifted cracked corn at $1
a hundred weight, Kaffir corn at ninety cents a bushel, millet at ninety cents,
hemp at $1.30 and peas at $1.10 the bushel. At these rates the cost of feeding
was one-seventh of a cent a day for each bird, or about fifty-two cents a year.

On that basis the net annual return was $1.50 a pair. There were four
hundred and twenty-five pairs of pigeons in the flock and they reared four
thousand four hundred marketable squabs in twelve months.

This is a practical, conservative record, bearing the government’s bona
fides, and may be duplicated by any one who will carefully attend to the
requirements of the birds.

162

STORIES OF SUCCESS WITH PLYMOUTH ROCK HOMERS

PLEASED, AND ORDERS MORE SUP-
PLIks. I herewith enclose $2.46 in express
money order for which send me by Adams
Express two drinking fountains and one dozen
wood fibre nest-bowls. The birds which I
received from you last fall are doing fine.
am well pleased with them.—A, E. B., Penn-
sylvania.

SQUABS ARE HEAVY. I write you enclos-
ing $1.50, for which please send me your
Manual and one dollar’s worth of the best
kind of leg bands for pigeons. I have about
four hundred pigeons. The stock came
directly from the Plymouth Rock Squab Com-
pany by Mr. Hulet. He sold out and went
East and I bought his entire stock. They are
fine. The squabs get like stones. When
people ask me about my stock I tell them they
are from the Plymouth Rock Squab Company.
Am I right? If I am not, tell me and I will
quit it.—J. A. M., State of Washington.

SIX WEEKS’ WORK. In taking account
of stock today I find I have sixty-eight nests
containing sixty-two squabs, the oldest just
two weeks old, and fifty-six eggs. Do you
consider this a fair showing for the one hun-
dred and thirty-seven pairs of birds I received
from you about six weeks ago? One female
bird died. I wish to thank you for the extra
birds sent along to cover this emergency.—
E. E. T., New Jersey.

Answer: Yes, we consider this a fair showing
for six weeks. Do not believe any stories you
hear or see printed that the dealer or writer
can sell pigeons which will go to work at once
as soon as they reach their new home. Some
may and some may not, but this is a matter
which is settled by the pigeons themselves,
and anybody attempting to control the mat-
ter is a pretender.

PLEASED WITH SECOND ORDER. The
second order of pigeons came in good shape
and the crate will be sent back today. We
are very much pleased with the birds.—G. P.
W., Connecticut.

SMALL SHIPMENT DOES WELL; HE
ACCORDINGLY ORDERS 300 PAIRS OF
EXTRA PLYMOUTH ROCK HOMERS.
The pigeons you shipped me arrived in good
condition with one exception, that is, one
bird seems a little inactive or dumpy. Will
advise you later if the bird does not pick up.
(Later). Herewith please find check for
$67.17 for which you will send me by freight
at once the following bird supplies: Six
hundred and twenty-four wood fibre bowls,
thirty bath pans, nine drinking fountains,
one spraver. You may expect an order
from me July 15 for the three hundred Extra
Homers as per yours of May 15.—J. R., Ohio.

HANDSOMEST LOT OF PIGEONS THIS

PENNSYLVANIA BREEDER HAS EVER
SEEN. My flock consists of in the neighbor-
hood of one hundred and fifty pairs, and in-
cludes twenty-four pairs of the best Homers,
which I purchased of you in August, 1902
for $60. The balance of the flock is bred
from these birds, and they are the handsomest
lot of pigeons I have ever seen.—C, L., Penn-
sylvania.

A LONG AND SUCCESSFUL RAIL
JOURNEY TO NORTHWEsf TERRITORY,
CANADA. The thirteen pairs of Homers
and one dozen nesting bowls you shipped
May 27 arrived in condition June 2, being
six days en route. They have a good home
and I wil send you another order soon. The
barrel of freizht shipped May 16 has not ar-
rived yet. Thank you for prompt and court-
eous treatment.—E,. L, B., Northwest Ter-
ritory, Canada.

WHITE WHEAT AND RED WHEAT.
Would it be all right to feed my birds white
wheat ? have much trouble getting red
wheat. I wish you would tell me, as I do
not wish to run any chances, as my birds are
doing fine. I have twelve youngsters. The
first hatch is setting again, also the second
and third hatch. If I would run any risk
in feedinz white wheat let me know.—W.
G.S., Michigan.

Answer: White wheat is all right, and is
fed by most of our customers. If there is
any tendency to looseness caused by feeding
white wheat instead of red wheat use it spar-
ingly, or feed rice to offset.

CUSTOMER OF THREE YEARS’
STANDING HAS RAISED THEM RAP-
IDLY. The original birds which I bought of
you nearly three years ago have increased so
rapidly that it has been quite a task to care
for them and to dispose of the squabs. I
have always spoken a good word for the busi-
ness and your company in particular, and
without dou t have made business for you.
—H. C., Michigan.

HAS THE ADVANTAGE OF HIS
FRIENDS. The five pigeons you sent to
replace the four I returned and the one that
died were received today in good con.ition,
and I take pleasure in reporting that they
are entirely satisfactory, unless one shuuld
prove to be a cock; but even if that is the
case I shall enter no complaint, as you have
been so entirely fair. Jam very much pleased
with the birds and expect good results from
them. My, friends who were not pleased
with the first lot I ordered and received some
white Homers from a dealer in your State,
but are far from pleased with them. They
now think that I have the advantage of them,
and have been well treated by you. I shall

LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY
163

STORIES OF SUCCESS WITH PLYMOUTH ROCK HOMERS

certainly have a good word for you when an
occasion offers.—R. H. S., Kentucky.

STARTED WITH EIGHTY PAIRS EX-
TRA, BRED THEM TO FIVE HUNDRED
PAIRS. What will you give me for my en-
tire stock of Homer pigeons? I have from
one thousand to twelve hundred birds, all
strong and healthy, and from your best stock
of birds. I am compelled to sell for the
reason that I have taken this hotel and it
takes all my time to look after it. Hope to
hear from you by rettirn mail.—H. C.
F., Missouri. (This customer started with
eighty pairs of our Extra Plymouth Rock
Homers.)

HAS 150 PAIRS OF THE FINEST HOM-
ERS IN THE STATE OF COLORADO. About
a year and one-half ago I bought fifty pairs
of your Homer pigeons. I have now one
hundred and fifty pairs of the finest Homers
in Colorado. Fifty pairs are the original
ones that I got from you; the rest I have
saved from my young ones.—D. L., Colorado.

BOTHERED BY MICE. I wrote you that
my birds were not doing well. Since writ-
ine the same two hens are setting, and from
the amount of driving going on I hope to
have them all at work in a few weeks. Since
my last letter to you I have been setting
traps and have caught seven or eight mice.
I suppose that is what has been bothering
them.—F. H. M., Tennessee.

DEATH OF AN OLD AND VALUED
CUSTOMER. My brother-in-law having died
very suddenly in New York, three weeks
ago, where he had gone a few days on busi-
ness, his squabbery is left without any one to
carry it on. The Homers he got of you two
summers ago, in 1903, two dozen pairs, have
done very well indeed, owing to the excellent
care he gave them. They were for his own
pleasure, so he has not sold any squabs, but
used them for the table and to send to friends.
I should think there are nearly two hundred
birds in the two pens at present. What
prices should I ask for them? I have writ-
ten to you knowing what confidence my
brother-in-law had in your judgment, and
that under the circumstances you could help
me dispose of the pigeons advantageously.—

Miss G. M., Maine.
TREATED FINELY— SQUARE DEAL-

ING. In reply to my inquiry I received your
answer which was very satisfactory, and
have shown it to some of my friends who
thought that I had been fooled in buying of
you. They now think that I have been
treated finely by you. I will say that I ap-
preciate your square dealing and will speak
a good word for you, as there are quite a
number here that are going into the busi-

ness, who have been watching the results of
mine.—W. W., Rhode Island.

STARTED WITH FIVE HUNDRED
COMMON PIGEONS AND MADE A FAIL-
URE. A short time ago we put up a build-
ing after the plans which I purchased of you,
and put in five hundred and twenty common
pigeons, Since then we have discovered
that we made a mistake. The flock is a
failure in more ways than one. We got one
hundred and sixty-two pairs of birds from a
party we did not know, and the birds were
sick when we got them. We received them
on a Saturday afternoon, and on Monday
they were dying. After losing quite a few,
the cause of which we were not able to ascer-
tain, we have finally decided to start over
again. We are going to put in Homers and
start on a more cautious scale. We are go-
ing to get rid of all these birds, clean out the
building and start anew. We have tried
the common pigeons and have been convinced
that they are not the right stock. As we
are new in the business we have a great deal
to learn, and will have to get our informa-
tion from those who we are sure do know.
Remember, we are willing to pay for the in-
formation. If there is any charge please
name the price and we will remit. We are
beginners and would like to make a success
of the business, and do not expect to get for
nothing information that has probably cost
some one both time and money.—J. D. C.,
Pennsylvania.

Answer: We do not think you read our
Manual before buying your common pigeons,
or if you did, what we say about common
pigeons there must have escaped your atten-
tion. Common pigeons are useless in com-
parison with Plymouth Rock Homers, and it
is unwise to experiment with them.

GEORGIA PREACHER FINDS THEM
SPLENDID. Enclosed I send you _ post-
office money order, for which please send me
one leg band outfit. The birds you sent me
are doing splendid.—Rev. L. H. H., Georgia.

SECOND SHIPMENT—FIRST LOT IS
HARD AT WORK. Enclosed find express
money order for $20. Please express to my
address twelve pairs Homer pigeons. The
first lot you expressed to me is hard at
work and making fine headway.—G. F. T.,
Alabama.

INCREASED FROM TWELVE PAIRS
TO TWO HUNDRED PAIRS IN TWENTY
MONTHS. I have somewhat about four
hundred pigeons that are most all bred from
your best stock. They are a nice lot of birds.
I started with tweive pairs of your Extra
Plymouth Rock Homers twenty months ago
—G. P., Massachusetts.

eo ee es eS
LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY
164

STORIES OF SUCCESS WITH PLYMOUTH ROCK HOMERS

THREE HUNDRED PAIRS SHIPPED TO
THIS CUSTOMER, EVERY BIRD IN THE
BEST OF CONDITION. Your favor of the
11th inst. received on my return home Friday
night, and would have been answered but for
the fact that I had quite a busy time, partially
through outside business and partly on ac-
count of arrival of the birds. I wish to tender
my most hearty thanks for the manner in
which you have carried out your part of the
transaction. Every one of the 312 pairs of
birds seems to be perfect in every respect, and
they have already been admired by every one
who-has seen them. The twelve pairs Extra
which you so generously presented me for my
nephew have been forwarded to him, and I
feel sure will greatly please him. I shall see
him possibly Monday next week on my next
trip, and will thoroughly instruct him. Once
in a great while I get to Boston. Next time I
am there I shall do myself the honor of calling
on you to see your plant, so I can enlarge mine
on the same lines or at least get some ideas of
that end. Thank you again most heartily —
G. F., New York.

GOOD LUCK WITH THEM IN NEBRASKA.
I bought twelve Homer pigeons, or six pairs,
of you nearly a year ago, with which I have
had fairly good luck, and I may order more
birds of you in the future, as I intend enlarg-
ing my plant soon. But I want to ask a
favor of you today. It is this: Will you give
me, on the enclosed card, the name of the
tanning company to whom you sell your pig-
eon manure ?—L. S. M., Nebraska.

BIRDS BREEDING WELL. Please find
enclosed express money order for $5.34, for
which ship me by Wells-Fargo Express four
dozen nest-bowls and leg-band outfits. My
birds are doing very well. I have twelve
squabs.—H. H.S., New York.

SECOND ORDER TO COME BECAUSE OF
GOOD WORK IN MARYLAND. We enclose
you herewith check for $11.52. Will you
kindly send us at your earliest convenience
twelve dozen nest-bowls’? We are glad to
report that the pigeons received from you a
few months ago are doing nicely and we expect
to order more shortly.—M. P. F., Maryland.

THIRD ORDER FROM INDIANA MAN.
Please ship me at once twelve pairs. I en-
close draft f rsame. This is my third order.—
V.N., Indiana.

SECOND ORDER FROM ILLINOIS WOM-

. Please find enclosed express order for
$30. Send me twelve pairs of Extra Plymouth
Rock Homers. This is my second order.—
Mrs. J. W. G., Illinois.

A MINISTER ENCOURAGED TO GO
AHEAD. The pigeons I purchased of you

last August (nine months ago) are doing well,
but I have so far found it impossible to go into
the house for five minutes or so without all
the birds leaving the nests. Can you tell me
how to obviate this? Will you be kind
enough to inform me about how much money
it will take to build a house including heating
plant and flying pens in first-class shape for
fifteen hundred pairs of birds? You will
greatly oblige me.—Rev. L.C.H.A., New York.

SECOND ORDER; FIRST SHIPMENT
WORKING WELL. Enclosed please find
Adams Express money order for $15.96 to
pay for six pairs Extra Plymouth Rock Hom-
ers for squab raising, and one dozen bowls.
The birds first bought are doing well, and I
am well pleased with them.—L. D. P., Illinois.

SECOND ORDER WITHIN ONE MONTH.
Herewith find draft for $40.75, for which
please send me two crates of your Homer
pigeons and one drinking fountain, by Ameri-
ean Express, to my address. This is my
second order within one month. I am well
pleased with the first shipment.—L. D., Iowa.

GOOD SHOWING MADE BY OUR BIRDS
IN ONE MONTH AFTER ARRIVAL. I am
having such good luck I thought I would
write you about it. Just one month ago to-
day the 9th of May, I received my thirteen
pairs of birds from you. I now have eight
squabs from four pairs, and six more pairs
setting. The two hens that were in bad shape
upon arrival are getting better, but have not
nested yet, and the thirteenth hen I think is
going light from too hard driving by the cock.
He drove her all the time and pulled out half
her feathers, but he has mated with another
hen now and doesn’t bother any. What do
you think of this for so short a time’? I have
as fine a home for them as can be built—built
just as you say with a fly ten by ten by twenty
feet, with a big load of lake sand for the floor,
and keep the squab house cleaner than lots of
kitchens I know of.—C. G. A., lowa.

EXCELLENT BIRDS AND EXCELLENT
CARE FROM MELROSE TO NEW MEXICO.
The pigeons arrived safely last Saturday even-
ing; each and every one of them was in perfect.
trim and must have had excellent care on the
way, as not one seemed in the least discom-
posed by the six days’ journey. Your kind-
ness in sending us the extra pair I do assure
you is most highly appreciated. We are
delighted with the bi-ds and as soon asI return
from my summer and fall trip, will send you a
large order.—Mrs. T. H., New Mexico.

IN THE STATE OF WASHINGTON. You
will find stamps to the amount of $2 for which
kindly mail me one hundred aluminum V-
shaped leg bands for pigeons. I am glad to
tell you that the pigeons are doing nicely. —
G. A. T., Washington.

a
LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY

165

STORIES OF SUCCESS WITH PLYMOUTH ROCK HOMERS

THIS WOMAN IS POSTMASTER IN HER
TOWN—SHE sLARTED LN 1903 WITH OUR
BIRDS AND THis {5s WHAL SHE HAS
DONE. In July, 1903, I purchased a few
biras from you. Ihave bought no others but
have now got over a hundred and would like
some advice relative to shipping squabs.
Will it pay to ship one or two dozen at a time
to Boston, and will you tell me who would be
reliable parties to ship to? As I told you in
my first letter, this is a somewhat isolated
place; however, there are quite a number
watching my experiment, as I have the only
store here and have recently been appointed
postmaster. Every one notices the birds and
my success will probably bring you orders. I
have lost only one bird and that one by acci-
dent; no sickness or lice in my flock at any
time.—Miss L. K., New Hampshire.

PLEASED WITH FIRST LOT, WILL OR-
DER ANOTHER. I am so well pleased with
the coop of birds shipped me that as soon as I
get my house built and nappies in, will order
another coop of your highest-priced birds.—
R. H. N., Georgia.

AN IMPORTANT STORY TOLD IN FEW
WORDS—THIS CUSTOMER IN PENNSYL-
VANIA FOUND A LARGE FLOCK OF
PLYMOUTH ROCK HOMERS BY HIS
EXPERIENCE BEYOND REPROACH.
Please ship balance of my order of Extra
Homers (one hundred pairs due me) at earliest
moment. Kindly telegraph night of ship-
ment. The first lot (two hundred pairs) are
beyond reproach.—C. K., Pennsylvania.

REACHED TEXAS IN GOOD SHAPE—
CUSTOMER SATISFIED. I beg to advise
you that the pigeons reached here yesterday
all in good shape. So far I am very mich
pleased with them and with your prompt
shipment and good treatment. I hope to send
you another order soon for a dozen pairs.—
A. G. M., Texas.

ALL AND MORE THAN EXPECTED. On
Saturday I went out to my country place and
found the pigeons. They are all and more
than I expected and are in every way satis-
factory. I presume my man will return the
empty pigeon crates this week.—H. A. K.,
Illinois.

SQUABS FROM OUR EXTRA PLYMOUTH
ROCK HOMERS WEIGHING 10%, 10%
AND 11'% POUNDS TO THE DOZEN. My
first shipment of squabs will be made Ap il
ll. So far my squaos have averaged ten
and one-quarter, ten and one-half and eleven
and one-half pounds to tae dozen. If you can
give me any data necessary for spring and
summer it will be appreciated—C. M.,
Michigan. (This customer started with four
hundred pairs of our Extra Homers.)

INCREASED FROM A DOZEN PAIRS TO
250. I bought a dozen pairs of birds from
you two years ago, and now have two hundred
and fifty. Is that doing well? Will you
kindly inform me by return mail how you
separate the pigeon dung from the other
matter it gets mixed with, and I will be greatly
obliged.—F. M. F., Iowa.

INSIDE TWO MONTHS HAS YOUNG
BIRDS BEING RAISED IN A SEPARATE
PEN. I bought a dozen pairs of Homers of
you and received them March 1, two months
ago. They have mated and produced quite a
number of squabs. I have the squabs in a
separate house, as I intend to raise them for a
year or so until I increase my tlock. 1 have
been advised to pull out the tail feathers of the
squabs when they are old enough to put intoa
house by themselves, as it would decrease the
death rate among them, as all their vitality
can go to the bird and not into the tail feath-
ers. Is there anything in this advice ?—J. W.
W., Rhode Island.

Answer: We believe it is best not to pull the
tail feathers out of the young. We have never
done it ourselves. Certainly the Creator does
not pull out the tail feathers from these young
birds when they are weaned.

RECREATION FOR AN IOWA MINISTER.
The twenty-six birds came in good shape,
apparently no worse for the journey. Most
of them are active. I am well pleased with
the birds. We are making friends rapidly,
some of them eating almost at once out of my
hand. I wish them to do well, and as soon as
I get accustomed to their ways it is my inten-
tion to put in enough stock to make their care
worth while. I wish to show my appreciation
of the way in which the order was filled.— Rev.
N. F. D., Iowa.

IOWA LADY GREATLY PLEASED. I
am greatly pleased with my flock and expect
to send another order sometime later.—Miss
A. A., Iowa.

PLYMOUTH ROCK HOMERS THE BEST
IN COMPARISON WITH ALL OTHERS. I
received the birds in good shape and the grain
and gravel. The birds are doing well. I
have got two sets of squabs and five more
pairs oneggs. The reason I did not write you
before is, I went around to different people
that have had pigeons from other places and
the same people have seen your stock; and
they all say yours is the best. I shall give you
more orders when my pocketbook will permit
me. I think you do your best and I thank
you again for the nice big birds you sent me.—
J. H. H., Michigan.

MADE THEMSELVES AT HOME IN KEN-
TUCKY. I received from you in March two
dozen birds. They have been layinz for over
a month and I have now (May) four pairs of

LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOULH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY

166

STORIES OF

SUCCESS WITH PLYMOUTH ROCK HOMERS

young birds. I am very much pleased with
them and the way they have taken to their
new conditions.—R. F. W., Kentucky.

GOT AGOOD START. The birds are doing
fine now. I have seven pairs young and two
os eggs since March first—L. C. M., New

ork.

REMARKABLY WELL IN SHORT TIME.
Several weeks ago I received one dozen of
your Homer pigeons from you for which I paid
$10. These are all mated up and doing fine,
except two. Four of them are setting and
another one will be setting in two or three
days. I think this is doing remarkably well
for the short time I have had them, as | did
not expect them to lay until at least three
weeks after they had been here.—B. W.,
North Carolina.

SELLING SQUABS AS FAST AS THEY
COME AND GETTING ORDERS FOR
MORE—ANOTHER SMART WOMAN. Find
enclosed post-office money order and send
me eighteen pairs. The last lot I got were
$15 for six pairs; also want two extra hens
for two extra cocks which I have. I have
been saving up some of my young during the
fall and winter months and have two extra
cocks. Am selling everything as fast as they
come and even engaging ahead most of the
time. The Country Club manager spoke to
me a day or two ago to try and have squabs
for their little dinner parties, which will begin
to be popular about June, and as I have two
standing orders at present for all I have to
spare I must put in some more breeders. I
have about sixty birds now. Of the six pairs
ordered last fall, one hen died within a week
with diarrhcea.—Miss J. M., Illinois.

BIRDS BREED SO FAST THAT HE
HAS NO MORE ROOM FOR THEM. I have
about seventy pigeons. They are six months
to one year old. What can you allow me on
them toward more breeders? These birds
are all raised from stock I bought of you.
The reason I want to exchange them is be-
cause my house is too small for them and I
have no more room. I am going to put up
a large building in the spring and then I can
take care of more. I am satisfied there is
money in the business if any one can get
started right—H. A. M., Massachusetts.

A BRACE OF SQUABS BRED FROM
PLYMOUTH ROCK HOMERS WEIGHED
OVER TWO POUNDS. I weighed two
squabs from your birds and they weighed
just two pounds, two ounces.—J. A. O., New
Hampshire.

BEST HOMERS IN HIS FLOCK—
THEIR SQUABS BRING HIM THIRTY-
FIVE CENTS APIECE FROM BOSTON

HOTELS ALL THE YEAR ROUND. The
birds I purchased from you are the cream of
the flock. I have been selling the squabs
at the Boston hotels for thirty-five cents
apiece the year round, and Nathan Robbins,
at the Quincy Market, was glad to take
them at $3.50 per dozen. I have saved a
few young birds, some of the very finest.—
C. L. P., Massachusetts.

KANSAS MARKET IS LOOKING UP.
[he birds arrived in good order and I am
today well pleased with them. I think
some of them have as fine plumage as I ever
saw on a pizeon. There is a party here in
town that has a flock but they are not first-
class birds, yet he gets $2.50 per dozen for
the squabs and could sell five times as many
if he had them in Kansas City. We are
favorably located here, sixty-five miles to
Kansas City, forty miles to St. Jo., Missouri,
and twenty-five miles to Topeka, and we
ought to do well. If I can get hold of a place
just out of town I will increase my flock next
spring or possibly this fall—C. H. K., Kansas.

RATS TROUBLED HIM. I have not
bought a bird since you sent me one hundred
pairs of Homers. At first they did not do
much. The very hard winter we had and
I being away in New York most of the winter,
and the birds not having the proper care, of
course they did not do much; but now they
are raising ‘‘Cain,’” and they are chasing
each other to the nests. I now have about
two hundred young ones that escaped the
rats, and two hundred and twenty-two eggs
hatching. I am satisfied with them and they
must have been strong and hardy birds to
have lived. I have lost as many as one hun-
dred birds by rats. I have tried everything,
and am now laying cement floors on three
barns, but guess I will have to build new
buildings. I will mail you. a- photograph. of
the place in a week or so. I have not sold
a bird as yet, but have had plenty of chances.
—C. M. S., New York.

ATTRACTED MANY ADMIRERS _ IN
THIS EXPRESS OFFICE IN THE STATE
OF WASHINGTON. In acknowledging re-
ceipt of the six pairs Extra Homers I wish to
thank you for the additional pair, and to
say that they reached me in the pink of con-
dition. My delivery man told me that many
persons copied your address from the basket
at the front of the express office, where they
attracted considerable attention. The re-
markably beautiful black bird I have named
Black Champion and his consort Queen.
She will hatch next week. At present I have
five squabs, one egg failing to hatch. If
beauty counts for anything, the birds are
worth the price.—Mrs. P. M. V., State of
Washington.

ee ee ——— —E———————— EE ESS
LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY

167

STORIES OF SUCCESS WITH PLYMOUTH ROCK HOMERS

MANUAL PRACTICAL AND BEST. Your
Manual came to hand and can see that it is
a book everybody should have who may be
interested in pizeons. I have had birds for
eight years and read all kinds of books. I
think yours is the best which can be had.—
H. E. E., Pennsylvania.

HIGHLY SPOKEN OF IN VIRGINIA.
Will you kindly send me your price list of
books and circulars giving your prices, etc.
Being very much interested in this industry
and expecting soon to go into business, I
wish to get your prices and information. I
have heard your company spoken very highly
of here in ee and wish to get acquainted
with you.—J. W. K., Virginia.

A GUARANTEE WHICH GUARANTEES.
The two sick birds are improving and are
almost as lively as the others. Your offer
to make them good in case they did not get
better shows that your guarantee means
something. A good many persons have seen
them and all agree that they are far ahead
of the ordinary run of pigeons, and any one
who understands anything at all about live-
stock of any kind can see it at a glance.—
J. G., Pennsylvania.

A CUSTOMER IN THE BERMUDA
ISLANDS GETS HIS HOMERS IN GOOD
ORDER. The pigeons arrived here all safe
on Monday, December 5. One of them is a
little dull, and we have separated it from the
others and hope that it will get all right.—
G. S., Bermuda Islands.

PLYMOUTH ROCK HOMERS’ HAVE
THE CALL IN JERSEY CITY. Enclosed
find remittance for which please send me six
pairs Plymouth Rock Homers by Adams Ex-
press. If these are satisfactory and as nice
as some of your birds I have seen in Jersey
City, I will want more shortly, as I have ac-
commodations for about one hundred pairs.

—F., E. F., New Jersey.

BIRDS DID BETTER THAN HE FIG-
URED WHEN HE STARTED. Can you
favor me with the address of some squab
buyer in the vicinity of Syracuse, New York?
The birds I got of you a year ago are doing
finely and surpassed my expectations. Am
having to enlarge again.—W. L., New York.

EXPRESS DELIVERY BEAT THE MAIL.
Pigeons came yesterday in fine condition. I
am more pleased. Thank you for filling the
order so promptly. The birds were here
three hours before your letter telling me that
you had shipped.—C. M. G., New York.

HER SECOND ORDER FROM FAR-
OFF WASHINGTON. Find enclosed $68.17,
for which please send me forty pairs Plymouth
Rock Homers and supplies as specified. This
is my second order.—Mrs. M. G., State of
Washington.

GOT A DOZEN, NOW HAS 2090. Please
send me the names and addresses of some of
the -firms in New York City and other places
which deal in squabs and pizeons. I have
now about two hundred pigeons. Tisotua
dozen pigeons from you to start with in June,
1903. . What is ne price of squabs and old
pigeons now ?—J. G. G., Pennsylvania.

SQUABS ARE A “TERRIBLE SIZE.’’
My flock is increasing rapidly and I must
provide for them. I also inform you that
my birds are doing finely and _ breeding
steadily right along and are very healthy.
Our squabs are of a terrible size. Anyjone
would be astonished to see them at four
weeks old.—A. B., New York.

PLYMOUTH ROCK HOMER USED AT
THE CHRISTENING OF A FOUR-MASTED
SCHOONER DOWN IN MAINE. I write to
say that the Homer pigeon which you sent
to Mr. E. R. Chapman a few days ago, was
uesd at the christening of the new four-
masted schooner ‘*‘ Augusta W. Snow ” which
was launched at the yard of Messrs. E. and
I. K. Stetson this forenoon, and was released
at 11.20 a.m. today, and if she turns up at
home I shall be very glad if you will inform
me of the time, etc. The following inscrip-
tion was attached to her leg, written in in-
delible ink on a piece of linen—‘‘* Bangor,
Maine, Christening Pigeon from launching
of Schooner Augusta W. Snow, May 6, 1905.’’
—W.B.S., Maine.

WELL SATISFIED AFTER A YEAR OF
BREEDING. It is one year ago last Decem-
ber that I received thirty-six pairs of your
pigeons. Iam well satisfied with the results.
They have demonstrated without doubt they
are breeders all right. I have sold a few
dozen squabs, eaten a couple of dozen and in-
creased our flock by many dozens. I have
as fine lot of pigeons as one would wish and
they are producing squabs right along. The
pigeons I raised last year are producing birds
and are an unusually fine lot of pigeons.—

H. P., New York.

A GOOD START IN THE FIRST SIX
MONTAS. The pigeons I bought of you in
July have done finely. I think I got seven
pairs and now (February) I have close to
twenty-five pairs and the young ones have
begun to lay now. I see that they will mul-
tiply very fast.—T. E. G., Alabama.

LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY

168

APPENDIX C

(Copyright, 1906, by Blmer C. Rice)

In 1907, we expect our trade to be even greater. In 1906, we sold more
birds ard supplies than in any previous year. That our trade is larger than
that of all others combined is not an idle boast, but is very much of a fact, due
to this, namely, that we sell Homers which are larger, more prolific, and which

breed larger squabs, than any others. This supremacy we intend to maintain.

We offer additional proof in the following pages. For every letter which
we print here, we have a dozen just as good, or better. The following letters,
only a part of many received in nine months of 1906, are not from customers
merely pleased by the fine appearance of the birds on arrival, but are accounts
of breeding which has won success.

There are some very strong letters here. All are worth reading for the
practical information and news they give of the squab industry up to date.
We do not print the names and addresses of these customers. Many are
regular buyers of our birds. We guarantee the genuineness of the letters,
and will prove it in any way desired. The originals are at our Boston office
and may be seen there.

We ask your trade for 1907 by deserving it. If anybody tries to make a
sale to you by “running down ”’ competitors, insist that he or them demon-
strate the worth of claims by furnishing proof in volume and character, con-
cerning birds, matings and management, equal to the letters we print here

and in our other publications.

OUR LARGEST 1906 ORDER. In looking
back over our year of business, 1906, we recall
first an order from a customer whom we
started in 1905, with 120 pairs Extra, for
which he paid $300. We sent him 125 pairs,
five pairs free. A year later we received the
following telegram from him:

“ Wire bottom prices for one thousand pairs
Extra, including two thousand nappies and
date you ship.”’

We quoted him our regular price for Extras,
the same to all, namely $1.70 per pair in large
lots of 300 pairs and over. Our customer was
a man of few words and knew what he
wanted. Three days after sending us the
above telegram he sent us the following
letter: “* Enclosed find draft for $2111.25 as
payment in full for 1150 pairs Extra and
supplies. I trust you will exert every care in
interest of shipment. You will please hold
the birds until May 10, as it will crowd me to
get my quarters ready before that time.”

We shipped 1200 pairs, giving the customer

50 pairs free. He lives in the West and the

birds had a long trip to reach him. We
expect to sell him more yet, judging from his
last letter. We will be pleased to show the
correspondence at our Boston office. The
point we wish to make is, that we are the only
firm anywhere actually filling orders this
size, or able to fill them, and that we earned
the confidence of this customer by giving him
his first lot of birds so good that he kept on
trading with us. More 1906 experiences
follow.

STARTED WITH SIX PAIRS EXTRA AND
IN TWO YEARS RAISED SIX HUNDRED
AND THIRTY-SIX SQUABS. Nearly two
years ago (in October. 1904), I purchased of
your firm six pairs of your best Extra Homer
pigeons, from which I have been breeding
since, and it may be of interest to you to have
some particulars as to results. I should pre-
mise by saying that I was, at the time, a nov-
ice pure and simple—as a matter of fact a
lawyer by profession—and knew absolutely
nothing of the care or culture of Pigeonsy

169

1906
STORIES OF SUCCESS ON

LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS
THIS PAGE ARE NEW. THEY WERE RECEIVED BY

1906

THE PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY OF BOSTON IN NINE MONTHS OF 1906

However, study of your squab book, close and
constant observation of the birds, their habits,
etc., with the resultant experience, enable me
to get along pretty well. is :

My pigeon house was not originally in-
tended or constructed for that particular pur-
pose, but had, hitherto, been used for a hen
house, It is about 40 feet by 12 feet, with
five windows. Along the whole of the wes’
front and extending across the south end I
built a fly 10 feet wide, 12 feet high and about
70 feet long. My flock has hatched, up to th2
time of writing this, six hundred and thirty-
six squabs (636), without those consumed at
my own table, but I contemplate marketing
the squabs this fall as the overcrowding stage
is rapidly approaching.

If you can find time I shall be glad to hear
whether or no, in your expert opinion and in
the above circumstances, you think that I
have been fairly successful. Although I feel
reasonably satisfied with my progress, were I
to start again, ab initio, I think that I should
do so with a complete flock of fully matured
birds rather than waste the time consumed
raising stock, by breeding, to a business
basis. Wishing you continued success.—W.
C., Massachusetts.

DOING GREAT WORK. The Homers
which you sold me two years ago are doing
great work. I am perfectly satisfied with
them.—F. S., New York.

TOOK FRIEND’S ADVICE. Enclosed find
an order for birds and supplies with remit-
tance. A friend here was much pleased with
our birds from your lofts and decided to go
into the business. We prevailed on him to
order from you because we felt your birds were
the best. He could have bought here in
Illinois at a much cheaper rate but he took
our advice. So we trust you will do well by
him and trust you will send us another order
blank like the one enclosed.—Mrs. K.., Illinois.

MULTIPLIED SIX-FOLD. About two
years ago next June, I bought of you 60 pairs
of your Extra selected Homers and they were
a very fine lot of birds, and I have raised a
very fine lotofbirdsfromthem. I haveabout
400 birds now, and they are straight bai
wing and mottle vith the exception of about
eight chocolate —A. C., New Jersey.

GETTING THREE DOLLARS A DOZEN.
Please send me your new literature on squabs.
I bought 18 pairs of you in 1903 and now have
a flock of 190 birds and am getting $3.00 for
my squabs in St. Louis. If any one in this
section writes to you for squabs you may refer
them to me.—F. L., Missouri.

These are strong letters.

Read them over.

NEIGHBOR PLEASED. Your favor of the
21st to hand, also price list of $1.7U for Extra
Homers in 300-pair lots. Mr. J. A. Westen-
dorf, of tnis city, purcnased of you on a trial
order five pairs of Extra. Why cannot yeu
make me tne $1.70 rate for 50, 100 or 200-pair
lots? In going over my buildings I find that
I cannot accommodate 300 pairs so would not
like to order that number for fear of being too
crowded.

Mr. Westendorf is pleased with his birds
and if the birds you should send would be the
equal of those I would be more than satisfied.
—A. S., Missouri.

ENTIRELY SATISFACTORY. Please send
me the feeding slip that you have published
as your daily feeding ration. ‘The birds we
got from you are entirely satisfactory.—J. D.,
Pennsylvania.

RECOMMENDED BY ANOTHER. Will
you kindly let me know how I can expect to
receive birds ordered from you to be sent to
the above address? I have been recom-
mended to try your birds by Mr. R. Warner,
of 9 DuBois Avenue, and if you can guarantee
safe shipment I will place an order with you
as soon as I hear to this effect. And if they
are as you represent them, I shall be a regular
customer of yours. If you will give me the
desired information, you will greatly oblige. —
G. S., New York.

THIS SHOWS WHAT A CUSTOMER DID
WITH TWELVE PAIRS OF OUR BIRDS.
My Extra Plymouth Rock Homers have done
finely. I sent to Boston $30 for 12 pairs.
The birds arrived before I expected them and
they all looked fine. I got my first egg March
21,1905. I raised all of my young to increase
the flock for one year and found at the end of
the year that I had 271 young birds, all seam-
less banded, and as fine a lot as I ever have
seen. This year I am selling squabs and
mated pairs, raising my best young, and have
already sold squabs and mated pairs which
have to date netted me $60. I! have sold my
squabs for $3 a dozen, and mated pairs for
$2.50 a pair.

I now (September 10, 1906), have 400 birds
that I have raised. A good lot of them are
worthy to be put in the show pen, and if they
were they would be among the winners.

When I went into the pigeon business I
bought what I thought was the best stock to
be obtained, namely, Extra Plymouth Rock
Homers, and my flock shows that I did not go
wrong, for every one that has seen my birds
pronounces them the best lot they have ever
seen together.

My birds now are in the midst of moult,
but most of them are breeding right along.

You want some assurance, when you buy

pigeons, that you will be treated right, as these customers were.

170

1906

LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS

1906

STORIES OF SUCCESS ON THIS PAGE ARE NEW. THEY WERE RECEIVED BY
THE PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY OF BOSTON IN NINE MONTHS OF 1906.

I now have 95 mated pairs at work and as soon
as the moult is over [ snall begin mating again.
By November | expect to have 50 pairs more
mated and at work.

[ feed tne best of grain, using cracked corn,
kafir corn, red wheat, buckwheat, a little
hemp, and during tne moult sunflower in the
head, letting the birds pick cff the seed as they
like.

I use the self feeder Mr. Rice describes in his
Manual and [| find with it the feed is always
clean. Inever feed on floor. IJ use automatic
water fountains and scald them out every two
or three days. I give the birds a good clean
bath every day.

I have trays to feed any dainty which I
have, removing trays when seeds are eaten.

One thing that is essential with pigeons is
cleanliness. I clean loft every Saturday,
cleaning out nests that have young, putting
in new straw, and spraying over lotts with
liquid disinfectant.

have followed the instructions of Mr.
Rice’s Manual and found it to be good solid
advice.

In the past 18 months I have been in a good
many pigeon lofts and have seen exhibits at
New York State Fair and Rochester, N. Y.,
Pizesa Saows, and never have seen any better
birds thai I have raised. from the Extra
Ply nouth Rock Homers.

Lan perfectly satisfied with what my birds
nave done and when I buy more they will
surely be Extra Plymouth Rocks.

The feed bill will not exceed eighty-five
cents a year per breeding pair. I use tobacco
stems for nesting material and like them.
I shall always try and speak a good word for
the Plymouth Rock Squab Company, for I
have found them always ready to assist at any
time.—W. R. R., New York.

THEY HAVE NOT LOSTA BIRD. I wrote
to you some time ago in regard to the squabs
we got from you in the month of May, or
rather pigeons, 50 pairs, and have yet to lose
sur first bird, which not only speaks well for
your birds but it looks as if we are giving them
the rizat attention.

There is one thing we wrote to you about,
those not working—but they are doing fine
and, counting your birds, we have 100 pairs,
besides we have sold some which were
greatly admired.

The hotel we take them: to in Washington
gives seventy-five cents a pair all the year
round dressed, the commission merchants
never higher than 60 cents a pair.—M. B.,
Maryland.

MANUAL INDISPENSABLE TO SUCCESS.
In regard to the National Squab Book which
you publish, would ask if you ever revise it.

The one I purchased of you in May 1904, is
all rigat and I could never have raised the
number and quality of squabs I do witnout its
guidance. Of course you are learning new
points about your business and if you have a
later edition than mine please let me know.

The Homers have started in on their annual
spring campaign and from all appearances
they are going to outdo their former produc-
tions. With best wishes for your continued
success.—A. T., Ohio.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED TO HIM BY
OTHER CUSTOMERS. Some time ago
wrote your company for their free book on
squab raising. Later I sent for your National
Standard Squab Book. I have read each one
from start to finish and am well pleased with
them. I have made up my mind to give the
squab business a trial as I am quite sure that
there is money in it, if properly conducted.

I realize that to make a success of any
business one must thoroughly understand it.
As I have had no experience in this line I wish
to start in with a small number and increase
them as I grow to understand the business.

My plan is to buy 12 pairs of the very best
breeders that I can obtain and keep only the
best of their increase for breeders till I get my
flock to the desired size. Now, from reading
your books and having you highly recom-
mended to me by other parties, I have made up
my mind that you can give me what I want in
this line.—H. B., Illinois.

FROM FOUR PAIRS TO THIRTY PAIRS
IN NINE MONTHS. Nine months ago I
bougnt of you four pairs of Extra Homers.
I had to move them twice to make room. I
have now 60 first-class Homers. I have had
several chances to sell some of the squabs
but I think too much of them. By studying
your manual carefully I have not lost a bird.
ae a friend of your Homers.—W. M., New

ork.

NO DISEASE. You no doubt have my
name on your books as a purchaser of 10 pairs
Extra, which I purchased of you last winter.
I am still enthusiastic over the industry. I
have all the original 11 pairs you sent me and
33 young, all the offspring of your birds, 55
birds in all. They are every one in finest
condition, disease has never touched my flock,
—J. P., Virginia.

FIVE MONTHS IN CALIFORNIA. When
1 received those birds from you in March [
turned them into a pen and have been so taken
up with other work that they have been left
to themselves until now. At present I am
taking all the working birds out and banding,
and when they have young squabs I have

Beware of anybody who tries to make a sale to you by running down the Plymouth Rock

Squab Co.

Insist that he show you letters like these in proof of his claims.

1906

LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS

1906

STORIES OF SUCCESS ON THIS PAGE ARE NEW. THEY WERE RECEIVED BY
THE PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY OF BOSTON IN NINE MONTHS OF 1906
LS

moved them also, putting them in a corres-
ponding section in the other pen, the arrange-
ment of the pens being the same. I find that
the old birds find their young and go right on
keeping house just the same as before they
were moved. At present-I have 100 young
birds, the oldest being Jess than five months
and already at work. The squabs are fully
developed and out of the nest at three weeks.
I expect to have about 80 or 90 pair of birds
at work about the first of November. Then
I shall begin to ship.—E. R. C., California.

GETTING ALONG IN VIRGINIA. Please
ship by freight to us six drinking fountains
and six bath pans. We got some birds of you
last year. They have done very well.
Thank you for the advice—P. N., Virginia.

GENEROUS TREATMENT OF CUSTOM-
ERS. Your letter of May 21 was most satis-
factory and certainly very generous. I hope I
made it very plain to you that you were not at
all to blame for the loss of one of my pigeons.
Your offer to replace it free of charge was
quite in keeping with my impression as to
your very generous treatment of your cus-
tomers. I have at last found that the lost
pigeon was a female and if you think a white
pigeon would be well received by my colony
of three checkered, I would like to have a
white female Extra Homer pigeon. My
pigeons are in fine order and doing well.—
Mrs. H. C., Georgia.

LOST ONLY ONE SQUAB IN FIVE
MONTHS. Five months since, come the 12th,
I received of you, by express, 13 pairs of your
Plymouth Rock Homers. Up to date I have
lost but one squab (and I think he was killed
by a dislocation of the neck), possibly 10 eggs,
several by frost. I have 54 squabs, most of
them able to take care of themselves, and
seven pairs of eggs. Three pairs of young
ones have hatched and begun to build their
nests. Now I wish to ask you if you think
they are doing well. I do, and lam proud of
my intelligent birds. I am now preparing
to remove all young ones from the pen except
those that are mated and then as fast as the
others mate, to do as you say, put them into
the breeding pen. I shall also build on
another unit to my breeding pen in a short
time, as I figure on 110 birds in my present
house.

I wish I was financially able to put in a good
plant as these birds have demonstrated their
fecundity. I notice you say that there is
little liability of nest-makers mating. I have
not discovered any with the few I have. I
have just gone through the nest boxes with
whitewash containing a good per cent of

Is there anybody in your town who has failed at squab raising?
as they would with a new toy, then they give them up.

172

with them and not with the pigeons.

earbolic acid and vitriol solution. I clean
out houses often and so far have not had a
sick bird. Occasionally I put ginger in the
drinking fount and I firmly believe it is by
following your plain and definite instruction
that they keep as well.

I hope I am not trespassing on your valu-
able time but cannot resist telling you how L
am getting on with your stock.—W. G. P.,
Wisconsin.

CONVINCED AFTER TRIAL. I have de-
layed in writing you as I wanted to see how
the birds were going to turn out. Can say
now, I am more than pleased with the birds.
I have now 18 squabs and five pairs of eggs.
Three squabs died and six eggs went to waste.
That is all over with now. Don’t expect that
to happen again. As far as I can see squab
raising looks to be very simple and profitable.

have a nice clean house and running water
so the time spent is nothing. Enclosed you
will find my check for 12 pair Extra more.—
J. S., Washington.

GETTING FOUR DOLLARS A DOZEN
FOR SQUABS. Please send me as speedily
as possible 25 pairs of Extra Blue Homer
Pigeons. I have now about 125 pairs of birds
bred from the original 20 pairs I bought from
you about 18 months ago and am selling
squabs at $4.00 a dozen. I am building a
coop 48 feet by 14 feet which will accom-
modate about 600 birds and if successful will
enlarge my plant shortly.

Will you kindly supply me with the name
of the large Commission house in New York
mentioned in your circular? The_ original
birds were bought from you in November
1904 and shipped to my partner in the busi-
ness.—H. B., New Jersey.

QUICK TIME. I have read a large num-
ber of your testimonials, none like this how-
ever. Now I will make an affidavit that I
received the 38 pairs Saturday morning, put
them in the pen by tena.m. I gave them a
few tobacco stems from a crock on the floor
in the corner. At) five p.m. a hen laid an
egg. She laid her second egg to-day, Monday,
and is now setting. Can any of your cus-
tomers beat this?—S. H., Illinois. :

THINKS WE ARE TRUE BLUE. I am
giving my pigeons occasionally lettuce or
some raw cabbage, which they most heartily
enjoy. Is this conduct prudent? The last
batch of birds you sent me “Extra selected”
were magnificent. You people (The Ply-
mouth Rock Squab Company) seem to be
“true blue.” I like to deal with your kind;
don’t find them all the time. Please answe:

Some play at pigeons
If they bought of us. the trouble is

1906

LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS

1906

STORIES OF SUCCESS ON THIS PAGE ARE NEW. THEY WERE RECEIVED BY
THE PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY OF BOSTON IN NINE MONTHS OF 1906.

the above and return to me. Yours. well
satisfied with your treatment.—O. J., Illinois.

SUCCESS IN TEXAS. In October 1905
I purchased from you 25 pairs of birds and
since that time I have had fair success in
raising squabs. I have about 175 young
birds on hand at present. They are all
strong and healthy, having had the best of
care, and a great many of them are mating
now.—W. B., Texas.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR LETTER. I
received the birds all O.K. The last ones
were every one all right, as were the first.
A thousand thanks for your kind, courteous,
and prompt treatment in all our business
dealings and you will be sure to hear from us
again. If our letter will help you any, you
are perfectly welcome to use it. Thank you
again.—J. C. H., Michigan.

SELLING MANURE. Some time ago I
bought 24 pairs Homer Pigeons from you.
J have had fairly good luck with them, having
increased my flock to about 200 pairs. I
want to write you in regard the manure.
You state in your National Standard Squab
Book, that the Leather Trust used it for
tanning purposes. Now I have considerable
on hand and I wrote them. They said in
reply, that they did not use it at all, which
was a Surprise to me as I have been careful
in saving it.—W. H. H., Pennsylvania.

Auswer. The trust does use pigeon manure
or did, the last we knew. We shipped to one
of the Lowell plants of the American Hide
and Leather Co. for three years. Perhaps
your letter was directed to one of the plants
of the trust which does not use pigeon manure.
We have printed so long the fact that pigeon
manure is salable to tanneries of the trust
that the New York office of the trust has been
bombarded with pigeon manure letters for
the last five years to such an extent that they
are sick of the topic there and give an in-
quirer poor satisfaction. For some time we
have been selling our pigeon manure to
leather men whose factories are within ten
miles of our Melrose plant. Their teams call
for it and take it away with very little trouble
to us. We get sixty cents a bushel for it,
same as usual. If any customer of ours
wishes to shin manure to New Jersey or New
York, we will help him to find a buyer there,
as we have letters from tanneries in both
States on file asking us to sell them ‘“‘pigeon
pure.”

HIS FLOCK GROWING. About a year
ago I bought some birds from you, some
$2.00 per pair and some $2.50. My flock is

growing and seems to be getting along pretty
good, having now 180 birds—will soon have
200 birds. I thought I would try and sell
some now. They are all good birds. I want
to try and sell what I raise now and if possible
make a business of the squabs if there is
enough in it to warrant putting up more
buildings and getting more stock.

It costs me about $1.90 per week for feed
for this amount. Am I feeding enough?—
M. N., Massachusetts.

BUILT NEW HOUSE. I have built a
new house for my pigeons. Have increased
my flock from the original six pairs to 50,
besides selling 30 pairs of squabs. Could I
have done any better than that?

Have been having some trouble bya few
going lizat and have followed your advice
and think have got the better of the difficulty.
I lay the trouble to the poor quality of wheat
they have been furnishing me. It seems to
be all shrunk up and they don’t eat half of it.
—A,. D. V., Pennsylvania.

Answer. More pigeon troubles are caused
by wheat, or too much of it, than almost any-
thing else. Squabs which are thin and dark
are caused by too much wheat in the ration.
Pigeons fed on too much wheat get thin, with
sharp breastbones, and will not lay as they
ought to. A good ration of Canada peas and
hempseed is necessary to bring eggs and keep
the flock in condition. A pigeon will not
thrive if not kept in condition by nourishing
food. The results of too much wheat are
loose droppings, stupid and non-productive
birds. Pigeons should be active and eager.

IN FINE CONDITION. My birds I bought
a little over a year azo (12 pairs) are still
doing fine; have sold several small lots of
squabs. I have been following your manual’s
instructions as close as possible. Ihave about
sixty pairs. They are in fine condition and
have lots of eggs and youngsters.—C. W. H.,
North Carolina.

SQUABS WEIGHING NEARLY A POUND
APIECE WHEN ONLY THREE WEEKS
OLD. Please send me your price list on birds
and supplies as I intend to get about ten
more pairs of Extra Homers and want to get
them of you. The birds I have now, which
I got from you, are doing fine and I -have
doubled my flock. I could sell all the squabs
I have but want them for breeders.

Would you kindly advise me if oats are
good for breedinz pigeons if fed moderately.
Also do you think it wise to sell mv squabs
when they are from two and one half to three
weeks old, as some of them will weichn about
fourteen ounces at that age.—A. P., Ohio.

Look up the standing and character of the concern with which you contemplate dealing.

Your bank will find out the facts for you.
tion are worthless.

Avoid advertisers whom you find out by investiga-
Have their ratings looked up for you.

173

1906

LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS
STORIES OF SUCCESS ON THIS PAGE ARE NEW.

1906
THEY WERE RECEIVED BY

THE PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY OF BOSTON IN NINE MON1?'HS CF 1906.
———

Answer. Pigeons do not care much for
oats. Pigeons in the street eat them, as they
eat peanuts or bread. Of course if you have
oats handy and cheap, you can feed some,
but pigeons will eat almost every other grain
in preference. When squabs weigh 14 ounces
they can be killed, no matter what their age.

MOVE THEM AS YOU PROPOSE. Ihave
pigeon breeders in unit numbers one and
three. Squabs in unit number two, from
one to three months old. I wish to put num-
ber three with number one. Number three
is breeding right along. Will it hurt to move
nest, pigeons and squabs out of number three
into unit number one? Will it damage eggs
and squabs to do so? If rot I can move
them through unit number two, as I can let
number two in flying pen while I am moving
number three.

I shall want more pigeons by fall. I got
13 pairs from you last year, and I have 100
pairs in all now, so you see I have done well
with them. I wish you would answer as soon
as possible as I do not wish to molest them
before I hear from you.—J. P. M., Michigan.

Answer. Move them as you propose,
putting the nests in the same relative posi-
tions in the new nest-boxes. You will lose
few, if any.

INCREASED STOCK. In May, 1903, you
sent C. I. Bruce forty (40) pairs of your
igeons at $2.50 a pair, and in 1904, twelve
12) females. We have sold and increased
stock since then by breeding, until, at present,
we have about three hundred (300) birds.—
Miss H. J., Connecticut.

BEST HOMERS HE EVER SAW. You
favor of the 12th June, answering my inquir °
ot the 9th June, was duly received. Thank
for the information. I had fully intended t>5
visit your plant, but, just as I am ready to
start, my wife, who was to accompany me on
a two weeks visit tc the New England coast
is taken sick. I have seen the birds which
you sent to my neighbor, Mr. P. C. Evans,
and they appear to be all you claim for them,
tie best specimens of Homers I have yet had
ithe pleasure of seeing.

If you can let me have a small lot of one-
half dozen pairs, at same price as paid by Mr.
Evans, you may enter my order for same,
with dozen bowls, for early delivery.—G. W.
G., Pennsylvania.

FLOCK WENT TO WORK QUICKLY.
Out of the seven pairs of Extra Homers you
shipped me June 2, 1906, I have already
(August 10) got twelve squabs. I am very
much pleased over having such good success,

We were the first.
widely imitated.

you our birds. We have no agents.

but I have no way of marking ther. You
will please send me an outfit for arking
them by mail. Send about what you. think
a beginner ought to have As the business
grows, will send you a larger oro2r.—L. L.,
Nebraska.

A WOMAN’S WORK. I have 50 pigeons
on hand, bred from the 26 my husband bought
of you a year ago last April.—Mis. H. C.,
Illinois.

STRICTLY ALL RIGHT. A friend cf mine
of this city recommended you to me as being
strictly all rigat. I will thank you to send
me your literature explaining the cost of
starting a squab farm of about 250 pairs,
raising and marketing same, as I contemplate
going in that business. Thank you in ad-
vance for any information that you may give
me.—W. M. A., Alabama.

RESULTS TELL THE STORY. As all of
my birds secured from you in May this year
have their second pairs of young ones and I
think will continue to multiply as fast, will
you kindly forward me a list of commission
men as stated in your letter of recent date.
Am perfectly satisfied with the results ob-
tained from your birds. If you have any
inquiries for birds in this locality I will be glad
to attend to them for you.—J. L. T., Indiana.

SIZE OF SQUABS A REVELATION. We
are pleased to advise you tnat we ate our first
squab from the lot of birds you shipped in
May last Sunday and wish to state that the
size of these squabs is a revelation to us, being
almost twice as large as any we have ever been
able to secure.

The enclosed tist will give you an idea as to
their productiveness. I also would like to
have you answer the questions contained
therein.—H. B. R. Illinois.

OUR BIRDS BETTER THAN WE CLAIM.
My birds reacned me in good order and was
glad to see them when I got home from work
safe and sound. I think the American
Express Co. is about the best there is. Every-
body that sees your birds say they are the finest
they eversaw. I think waen anybody is look-
ing for good birds they don’t need to look any
further than your place and I know they will
go ahead of an birds in this town for looks
and flying. I think we wil! stay here till we
get a good flock of birds then we will move
outside of town. The next time I send for
birds I will try and send you a bigger order.

Your birds are better than you claim for
them. Some of them have eggs before their
young ones are two weeks old. They get so

Our birds and methods revolutionized the squab industry and are
But imitators who copy or find fault with our printed matter cannot give

174

1906

STORIES OF SUCCESS ON THIS PAGE ARE NEW.

LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS

1906
THEY WERE RECEIVED BY

THE PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY OF BOSTON IN NINE MONTHS OF 1906.

big they just about can’t sit in the nest. I
think if you would put an advertisement in
some of the evening papers you would get
some more trade. I am advertising your
birds to everybody I know.—J. S., Wisconsin.

COMPLIMENTED BY AN EXPERIENCED
DGE. One of my hens made her nest and
thougat she was ready to lay but she sat all
one day and part of the next and did not, but
had her mouth open panting and seemed very
sick. I telephoned to Mr. M. to come and tell
me what to do. When he came he held her
in warm water for 15 minutes and then fast-
ened her in her nest. In ten minutes she laid
her egg and got all right.

Mr. M. holds the world’s record for three
hundred miles and has some of the most val-
uable birds in Chicago, and he said my birds
were very fine, in fact he said he could have
hardly told them from his own, they resembled
them so much.

When so good a judge will compliment
them so highly I feel very proud of them.—
A. B., Illinois.

SQUABS WEIGHING ONE POUND AT
TWO WEEKS. I thought you might like to
hear from the birds you sent us a year ago.
They have been working overtime since. We
have 54 birds now with several nesting. Every
one is a solid color the same as the old ones.

The squabs we have weighed have averaged
a pound at three weeks old. One weighed a
pound at two weeks.

There is a party here getting birds of all
kinds and colors and claims they are better
than what we got for Extras on account of the
bands.—J. W., South Dakota.

Answer. It is quite common for parties
selling poor Homers to put bands on their legs,
some of them quite ornamental, in an endeav-
or to enhance their value, same as putting
a gaudy label on cheap goods. It is the pig-
eons that count, not the bands. Bands are
useful to number the birds, that is all.

NO. 1 PLYMOUTH ROCKS ARE GOOD
HOMERS. It wiil probably be fall before I
get my house built and give you an order for
more birds. If money is not too scarce the
order will be for your best birds, for the No.
1 Plymouth Rocks are doing even better than
the Manual claims them to. Your Extra
birds must be wonderful.—W. H. W., Massa-
chusetts.

WE “ SHOW THEM ” OUT IN MISSOURI.
I received the grits and oyster shell all O. K.
My birds jump on to the grits and hemp seed
inahurry. They are doing well. I will have
abcut sixty squabs this month and quite a

number mating this week. I had an order
for 100 squabs this morning. It made me
sick to think I could not fill it, but my time
came aftera while. I will build another house
soon and I want 100 more of your birds. Mr.
Hall’s birds look well. They came through
nice. He is well pleased and I think he will
order more. There are two more people talk-
ing of going into the squab business. I will
try to get an order for you.—J. W. H., Mis-
souri.

HAS NEVER SOLD ANY SQUABS LESS
THAN NINE POUNDS TO THE DOZEN.
About three years ago I purchased of you six
pair of Homer pigeons for which I paid $2.50
per pair. My flock are all from the stock I
bought of you and I have some nice birds. I
have never sold airy squabs under nine pounds
to the dozen at four weeks old. I never sell

ny birds after they have left the nest for
squabs. Will you send me your price list for
grains, that is, Kaffir corn and red wheat.
I would like the address of Boston dealers.—
C. E. W., Rhode Island.

LETTING BIRDS FLY. I would like to
have your opinion and advice on a matter that
is very important to me. I have a beautiful
start with your birds, have followed your book
exactly and the result has been very gratifying.
Now what I want to do is to buy about three
hundred more old birds from you and pen
them. Will the young birds be as prolific,
mate and hatch as well if properly fed, watered
etc., exactly as my pens are, if I allow them to
run loose on my farm? There is no danger of
them being shot and I would much prefer
allowing them the run of the farm. I have
the buildings that I could convert into com-
fortable houses at once, and I will appreciate
your thoughtful opinion and advice in the
matter for I know you are headquarters.—

W., Tennessee.

Answer. Birds which you raise you can
let fly because they know no home but yours,
but Homers which you buy you cannot let fly
safely because they know another home (their
old home) and their instinct and desire to go
home may lead them to leave you.

NEW JERSEY NEIGHBORS ALL AGREED.
The six pairs of birds received from you the
first day of May are still doing fine (July).
One pair has her third pair of young at this
writing—less than three months. The rest
will hatch this week. Mr. Tevis (the neighbor
I spoke to you about in a former le -J2r) came
over after me to see the birds that he had
just received from you. They are fine birds
and he is very much pleased with them and
sorry that he did not take my advice and send

The squab industry is growing every year.
Prices were better and they are going to be as good or better in 1907.

before. Price _bett ;
squab eating is growing in every section.

More squabs were bred in 1906 than ever
The habit of

175

1906 LETTERS

FROM CUSTOMERS

1906

STORIES OF SUCCESS ON THIS PAGE ARE NEW. THEY WERE RECEIVED BY
THE PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY OF BOSTON IN NINE MONTHS OF 1906.

to you in the first place, but he bought about
60 pairs from a New Jersey dealer. He
showed him a letter that was supposed to have
come from a man that bought birds of you,
saying that he didn’t want any more of them.
But now he sees the difference when he has
‘hem side by side. Mr. Webster, my next
to0r neighbor, is so well pleased with the
vay mine are doing that he is going to send
cor a few pairs this fall. I would if I could,
and had the room.

ft now have 16 pairs of the Plymouth Rock
birds. My pen is open to any one that wants
to see the birds before they send to you for
breeders. I thank you for the fine birds you
sent to Mr. Tevis. It shows that I didn’t
exaggerate your ability, to send six pairs or
100 pairs of fine birds.—D. C. T., New Jersey.

FINEST FLOCK HE HAD EVER SEEN.
A year ago to-day we received eighteen pairs
of your Homers. Our flock now numbers
nearly 100 pairs and all are doing fine. We
have sold a few pairs at $1.25 per pair, and
have had any amount of inquiries after squabs.
We have had a number of fanciers up to look
at the flock, and all seem to think they are
an exceptionally fine lot of birds. One
gentleman who keeps an excellent lot of
imported birds said they were the finest flock
he had ever seen, which speaks well for your
birds.—B. B., Michigan.

BEST BIRDS IN HIS CITY. Find en-
closed $16.34 for which to send me a dozen
of your Homers, a dozen of nest bowls, and
two feet of aluminum tubing. Would have
liked to send an order sooner but had no
place to keep them.. My birds are doing
fine. We have moved into a larger place
where I can let my birds out in a wire cage.
Your birds are the best I ever saw and the
only ones I ever intend to keep. I have sold
off all my young stock so I have more room
for the others.—J. B. T., Wisconsin.

SPLENDID WORK WITH SPLENDID
BIRDS. I wish to advise you now (August,
1906) of the splendid luck I have had with
the six pairs of birds purchased from you last
May and which were received at my home
on May ve

These birds, within a week after arrival,
commenced to construct their nests and, out
of the six pairs, five began hatching within
two weeks and every egg produced a squab.
Two squabs weighed at the age of four weeks
and two days, 16 ounces, after plucking, and
the remainder weighed from eight to 12

ounces. The two squabs, weighing 16 ounces,
were the largest I ever saw and I thought you
would be interested in knowing the weights.

On account of not having room for any
more birds, I am killing the squabs as they
mature but would have liked to have mated
the two large squabs, as I believe that their
offspring would have averaged 16 ounces
each.—S. P. N., New Jersey.

DOUBLED IN THREE MONTHS. En-
closed find money order for $1.70 for which
please send leg band outfit. The birds I
bought of you in April are doing fine. They
have doubled themselves.—W. A., Missouri,

DOING WELL IN CANADA. Saw your
advertisement in R. P. Journal, “Squab book
free.’ Anything new in it? I have your
book of 1904 with two dozen your Homers.
They are doing fine. What would you sell
me one dozen more ?—P. I. B., Quebec.

ORDERS FOR A FRIEND. I enclose you
herewith a check for $30. Please ship to
enclosed address 12 pairs of your Extra
Plymouth Rock Homers. Be sure to send
him some nice ones.

Those we bought of you some time back
are doing nicely and if these show up as well
I think that I will be able to send you some
more orders soon.—S. W. T., Georgia.

HAS DEALT WITH THE FAKIRS. The
pigeons that youshipped to us have arrived
in fine condition and the best of health. We
are shipping back to you, via American
Express the wicker basket in which you sent
our pigeons. Also our many thanks for the
trouble you took in selecting the different
colored pairs.

I wish to say that the pigeons are beauti-
fully mated, because one pair have started
in business already, the hen having laid two
eggs, and all the others have showed promis-
ing signs of mating.

After having dealt with poultry fakirs and
receiving their treatment, I fully appreciate
your kind treatment which is so unlike that
of these fakirs, but your endeavors are not in
vain, as I soon expect to order some miocre
pairs. Your treatment has encouraged me.
I have provided an excellent house and pen
forthem. Thank you for your interest shown
in this matter.—L. J. H., Illinois.

IN THE BLUE GRASS STATE. Could
you kindly tell me where I could get some
white Homers? The Plymouth Rock Homers

New laws passed a year ago by the legis!atures of Massachusetts and New York forbid the

sale of quai] except in the months of November and December.
for every quail found in the bonds of any marketman or restaurant keeper.

The penalty is a heavy fine
Quail are no

longer found on bills of fare in these two states except around Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Squabs are on the bills of fare all the year everywhere.

Other states, it is said by sportsmen,

will follow Massachusetts and New York with a similar game law.

176

1906

LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS

1906

STORIES OF SUCCESS ON THIS PAGE ARE NEW. THEY WERE RECEIVED BY
THE PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY OF BOSTON IN NINE MONTHS OF 1906.

I got from you are doing fine-—R. L. J.,
Kentucky.

HIS SECOND ORDER. Enclosed please
find express money order for five dollars for
which please send me three pairs of your No. 1
Plymouth Rocks at your earliest convenience.
A previous order which I received from you
has been doing fine.—J. E. D., Pennsylvania.

PROLIFIC BIRDS. I purchased 12 pairs
Homers of you about 18 months ago and they
have done fine work for me. I have 50 pairs
mated birds, saved the best ones and sold the
second class.—J. A. D., Pennsylvania.

SENT SISTER GOOD BIRDS. I enclose a
money order for $17.88 for which please send
three dczen nappies and six pairs blue
checkers. You sent my sister such fine birds
that I would like the order duplicated.—H.
S. B., New York.

RECOMMENDS OUR BIRDS TO EVERY-
BODY. The birds arrived in good order and
lam pleased with them. I have 14 fine birds
from the first ones I bought of you and I think
the last four pairs will go to work soon. I
recommend your birds to everybody.—J. M.
M., Philadelphia.

HE KNOWS OUR TEACHINGS ARE
RIGHT. I have read your Manual carefully,
studied every point as I went, because I
wanted to impress it on my mind. I have
found in my own experience that pigeons do
just as your Manual says. Your book is
worth two or three dollars instead of 40 cents.

I want to thank you for the favor you did
at finding the weight and charges of some
things for me. Would you kindly tell me
what would be the cost of freight charges on
one hundred, two hundred and three hundred
pounds of grain?—G. A. S., Georgia.

FIVE DOLLARS A PAIR WOULD NOT
BUY HIS. Birds came Friday at noon, and
accept many thanks for the fine birds you sent
to me. My friend says $5.00 per pair would
not buy his.—J. P. B., Georgia.

PLEASANT BUSINESS FOR A WOMAN.
You will possibly remember that a year ago
last April I bought from you twenty-five pairs
of your Extra Homers.

I now have some eighty pairs in my house
and have used something like two hundred
squabs. My birds have done well and I have
lost only one of my original stock.

I am thoroughly convinced that there is
money raising squabs and it is a very pleasant
business for a woman, requiring only a little

time each day to attend to them and one soon
becomes very much attached to them—RMrs.,
M. L., Kentucky.

GENEROUS TREATMENT. The pigeon
that 1 wrote you about a few days ago has
died. I think it must have been injured in
shipping. It was a female. I think your
promise to send another a very generous one,
and I would appreciate it very much. In
about two or three months I expect to order
more birds of you. The others are doing
excellently.—A. H. B., Massachusetts.

TRADE BEGETS TRADE. I have been
instrumental in making some sales of pigeons
for you. Atleast Ihave recommended you to
several people who said they would buy of you.
Did a doctor of Fairhope buy a lot
of pigeons of you? He came over here to see
me about what I thought of the business and I
recommended you to him strongly. I just
sold 30 pair of my pigeons to Dr. O. F. Caw-
thon and E. J. Buck and I recommended them
to buy 10 or 12 pairs of you. I will continue
to advertise you all I can. Later on I want
to rearrange my house and build up a big
place and I will send to you for what I need.
—M. O., Alabama.

GOOD INCREASE IN SIX MONTHS.
Yesterday I wrote you for the Manual or
National Standard Squab Book, but I forgot
to tell you of some of your birds I have seen.
Last August or September a doctor friend of
mine in Brunswick bought of you six pairs of
Homers. In two or three weeks they began
to lay and hatch. He sold four or five pairs
at $1.00 to $2.00 a pair. He has now between
seventy and eighty total. They are beauties
and if mine are as pretty and do as well I don’t
think I will be disappointed. Please send
Manual as quick as possible.—G. S., Georgia.

GOOD RECORD FOR FIRST MONTH. I
deem it will be gratifying if you know how the
13 pair of Homers I received from you on May
3d are doing. ;

There has not been a sick one in the lot and
they are very much admired by all who see
them, and are pronounced first-class Extra
stock.

They are contented and very busy all the
time. Eight pairs are breeding now, with
three nests each having a pair of nice healthy

squabs. I think this a splendid record for the
first month in a new home,—S. H. W., Penn-
sylvania.

LOST HIS TEXT BOOK. Please find en-
closed 50 cents, and send me another Nat-
ional Standard Squab Book. I have mis-

Remember, these are stories told in 1906, by customers who are really raising squabs

with our birds and not merely talking about what they are going to do,

Satisfactory results day after day.

They are getting

1906

LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS
STORIES OF SUCCESS ON THIS PAGE ARE NEW.

1906
THEY WERE RECEIVED BY

THE PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY OF BOSTON IN NINE MONTHS OF 1906.

placed my other one and can’t find it. My
birds are doing well. I have had 15 pairs of
young birds since Ihad them. Isold one pair
of old white birds for three dollars to a bird
store.—H. K., Missouri.

ATTRACTING ATTENTION. Please to
send some literature to address of gentleman
enclosed, descriptive of the squab business,
and give him prices on same. I have been
talking with him in regard to the business and
as he has a couple of farms over in Michigan,
I have no doubt but what he will make an
investment.

The pigeons that I purchased of you last
spring are doing very nicely. Our _pen is
attracting considerable attention. We have
about 75 in it now and we are about to build
larger accommodations.—T. T., Illinois.

ENLARGING PLANT. Will you _ kindly
advise the address of party who purchases
pigeon manure?

My birds are getting along very nicely.
Intend putting up a large house for them in
the near future and will write you later regard-
ing wire for flies —B. T., New York.

SWAMPED WITH SQUAB ORDERS. It
is impossible for me to fill the orders that I
have forsquabs. Jam sending you an order.
Please get them out as soon as possible.
When I receive them, I will order another
dozen Extras. I now have about 350 pair of
breeders. They are doing fine— H. S.,
Louisiana.

SATISFIED WITH ALL. I received the
two baskets containing 36 birds on Thursday.
Pardon delay in not answering sooner, as I
was out of town. I am perfectly satisfied
with all the birds I bought of you and hope to
be able in the future to secure more. Am
shipping the two baskets this morning by
National express, homeward bound.—J. W.,
New York.

GOOD REPORT. Please find enclosed a
money order for which please ship me 12 pair
pigeons as I saw some birds which you shipped
to Mr. Walter of this town. I received a
booklet from your firm some time ago but did
not order birds until I saw Mr. Walter report
on his. I decided to give you an order if
you can send me mixed colors. Ship via
Adams express. Wishing you success.—L. D.,
Pennsylvania.

ONE YEAR’S GOOD TRIAL. Qucte me
prices on your No. 1 Homers. Those I
bought of you one year ago are doing nicely.
—C. M. R., Pennsylvania.

THIS LETTER WAS WRITTEN BY ONE
OF OUR CUSTOMERS TO HIS FRIEND IN
A NEIGHBORING TOWN. I am pleased
to know that you are getting along so nicely
with your squab house. Wish you could see
the last consignment of birds I received from
the Plymouth Rock Squab Co. of Boston.
They are beauties, and they commenced
building their nests the second day after they
arrived. I have no idea where you are going
to purchase your birds but I certainly think
you will make no mistake if you get them
from Mr. Rice, for the ones he sent me are
the finest I ever saw.

Iam confident if you buy your birds of Mr.
Rice he will use you right for he has done the
right thing by me.—F. B., New York.

WANTS 500 PAIRS IN THE SPRING. My
pigeons are doing very well but they are
shedding a great many feathers. I want to
make arrangements early in the spring for
500 pairs of your best stock, but before build-
ing my houses I want to take a trip to Melrose
and look your plant over, in order to get all
the ideas about construction, maintenance,
etc. I enclose separate slip with a few
questions that I would like to have you answer
if it is not too much trouble.—J. W., North
Carolina.

LOST ONLY ONE BIRD, AND THAT BY
ACCIDENT. I recently bought a few pairs
of birds that vou sold to a gentleman in this
city about March lst. He was moving to St.
Louis and had to dispose of the birds. With
what I got from you and the seven pairs I
bought from him I now have 65 birds. Have
never lost but one bird and that was my own
fault for I was experimenting on it and accident-
ally killedit. Ihave a market in St. Louis for
all I can ship at $4.00 per dozen. If not ask-
ing too much would you kindly give me the
address of a couple of Chicago and New York
commission men that handle squabs.—W. E.
T., Missouri.

STARTED WELL. I write you in regard
to the pigeons you will remember we bought
of you (24 pairs) about two years ago this
month. Our Homers have done very nicely.
I have about 200 pairs. We sold 40 pairs.
last year. We have quite a nice little plant
started.—A. C., Wisconsin.

DOING WELL, GOING TO BUILD. Please
send me a plan for your multiple unit house.
My pigeons are doing fine.—D. B., Lllinois.

STARTED IN TO MAKE REFORMS.
Please find enclosed check for nine dollars

Somebedy handling the small, stunted Homers may tell you that eight pounds to the
dozen is good weight for squabs and that squabs are not bred to weigh more from Homers.

That is true, from his Homers.
Plymouth Rock Homer squabs.

In these pages you will find that eight pounds is low for

178

1906

LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS
STORIES OF SUCCESS ON THIS PAGE ARE NEW.

1906
THEY WERE RECEIVED BY

THE PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY OF BOSTON IN NINE MONTHS OF 1906.

tor which kindly send us one dozen drinking
fountains. We would like you to get these
off as soon as possible.

I was very much pleased with my visit to
your plant at Melrose which I made yesterday,
esvecially with your facilities for mating
birds up. Got some new ideas along with a
lot of good advice from your superintendent,
and to-day have started in to make a few
new reforms here.—T. H. D., Connecticut.

KNOWS PLYMOUTH ROCKS BY EX-
PERIENCE. I saw your advertisement of
Homer Pigeons in a magazine. I would like
very much for your company to send me one
of your catalogues, and how much you charge
for Homers a pair. I know from experience
that a Plymouth Rock Homer is a good
breeder. A friend of mine got some from
your people a short time ago, but I did not
inquire as to the price of them. In answer
to letter from you, I will send for some, and
if they are satisfactory, I will be glad to get
more, as I am a great pigeon fancier.—W.
A., Illinois.

ONE YEAR’S SATISFACTION. Send one
bushel of Kaffir corn and one bushel of Canada
peastome. It may interest you to know that
the birds I bought from you a year ago are in
every way satisfactory. I have doubled the
number of workers in that time and have had
all I wanted for my own table, and sold quite a
number.—J. B. H., Massachusetts.

SOME WEIGH 14 OUNCES WHEN 15
DAYS OLD. I received your pigeons in May
when I was in Longueuil. They have done
well, as I have had some which weigh 14
ounces at 15 days old. What do you think
of a mirror in my squab house? I will be
very pleased to receive all your advertising
booklets.—G. C., Canada.

SUNFLOWER SEEDS ARE GOOD. Your
book doesn’t say anything about feeding
pigeons sunflower seeds. Will they eat them
or isn’t it good for them to havethem? Please
let me know. The pigeons I got from you are
doing pretty well, I think. I may get more
next year.—B. J., Vermont.

Answer. Sunflower seeds are a good pigeon
food and are used by many of our customers.
They are rich and oily and should not be fed
in excess, but as a dainty. A good way to
feed them is to throw the whole head in front
of the birds and let them pick out the seeds
themselves with their bills.

BREED WELL IN CALIFORNIA. En-
closed find money order for 40 cents for which

kindly send me two feet of your aluminum
tubing for bands. Also send one of your
price lists, as mine has been mislaid.
Twenty-four pairs of Homers purchased of
you one year ago are doing fine. Flock now
numbers 150.—W. J. M., California.

CONTINUOUS SATISFACTION. Enclosed
find check which is to cover enclosed order.
All the birds which you have sent me so far
are very satisfactory.—G. S., New York.

FINEST BIRDS AROUND. Your birds I
bought of you a year ago are going fine—the
finest birds around, so my friends say.—Mrs.
J. J. M., Massachusetts.

HOTEL KEEPER RAISING HIS TABLE
SQUABS. Am very glad to know that you
were pleased with our menus and will con-
tinue mailing them to you from time to time
if you do not object. I hope that the temp-
tation will be strong enough to cause you to
come to our city and look over our squab
farm. I have been quite successful and have
a fine lot of birds. It is more than likely,
however, that I shall want some additional
birds in the very near future. I would like a
few show Homers, Dragoons and Runts*
For squab raising purposes, I could not ask
anything better than I now have. Will mail
you an order for supplies in a few days.—W.
S., Georgia.

BEAUTIFUL, HEALTHY BIRDS. Will you
please quote me the price of your wicker
shipping baskets, size for 12 pairs, or kindly
forward me the address of the manufacturers
of same. Also state in your letter if the drop-
pings must be entirely free from straw and
feathers, or reasonably so, to satisfy the pur-
chasers at the tanneries. The six pairs I pur-
chased of you two years ago have increased to
150 or 170, besides what I have killed, and the
stock has proven entirely satisfactory in every
way. I have taken pains to follow your
instructions to the letter so now I have the
above number of beautiful, healthy birds —
W. H. Y., New York.

Answer. It is impossible to get all straw
and feathers entirely out of the manure.
Sweep out what you can with a broom before
cleaning the squab-house. The leather peo-
ple do not care if some straw and feathers get
in but they do not want gravel and tobacco
stems. The latter discolor and stain when
wet.

BIRDS THAT FLY AWAY. On about
April 20, 1905, we bought of you six Plymouth
Rock Homer pigeons. Since then they have

For six years we have had a complete monopoly of the fine trade of the United States. We

sell more Homers every year than all other firms and breeders combined.
is that our birds demonstrate their value and make friends wherever they go.

We intend to maintain.

The reason for this
This supremacy

179

1906

LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS
STORIES OF SUCCESS ON THIS PAGE ARE NEW.

1906
THEY WERE RECEIVED BY

THE PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY OF BOSTON <N NINE MONTHS OF 1906.

done exceedingly well, and we have got a
pretty good start in pigeons now, but what
{ write you to-day for is this. This morning
at 9 o'clock one of the birds we got of you got
out of the flying pen. She flew into the airand
started for Boston. This was a brown bird,
and we thought she might arrive at her
destination, so I wish you to keep a lookout
for her and see if you can tell if she gets there.
If she does arrive, would you mind letting me
know? I am anxious to know if she gets
there. This was a female bird and she left
a young bird about a week old in the nest.—
R. H., Iowa.

Answer. No Homer would fly that dis-
tance. We receive many letters like the
above. Customers should watch the doors
of squab-house and pens and not let their
birds get away.

LARGE, HEAVY AND FULL-BREASTED.
Enclosed find money order for one more
dozen pairs of your Extra Plymouth Rock
Homers.

I did not rush a letter down to you the
same afternoon I received the other birds for
the reason that I wanted to try them out
first. The dozen pair of Plymouth Rocks,
on their arrival weighed exactly 22 pounds,
while a few days later I received another
dozen pair from another company and they
weighed only 17 pounds. They were not
full-breasted like your birds.

I received first shipment on the 2nd of
March. They are now working like good
fellows. Have three nests with eggs in.

You will hear from me occasionally with
further orders.—A. P. S., Michigan.

WANTS TO BUY SOME GOOD ONES.
Kindly send your catalogue and any other
printed matter you have about pigeons. An
acquaintance wants to buy some good birds
and he is going to look at my lot that I
received last Thursday. i feel sure I can
land him as a customer for you.—H. D. C.,
Pennsylvania.

GOING SLOWLY. Please send free book,
“How to Make Money with Squabs.” The
birds bought of you are doing well now and
some of their young are hatching. Have
enough now to ship a dozen a month now.—
W. M., Maryland.

JUST THE BIRDS. I thought I would
Jet you know how my birds are getting along.
They arrived on Tuesday, May Ist, as I wrote
you. Thursday of the same week one pair
had commenced to build. At this writing
four pairs have eggs. The others are build-
ing. That is what I call going right to work.

I am very much pleased with them. There
was a party here this morning looking at
them. He talks of putting in one hundred
pair, and says they are just the birds that he
wants. He is coming up to see your plant.
Of course I showed him my birds and told
him just what they were doing and where
they came from so I think he will be a cus-
tomerfor you. Ishall advertise the Plymouth
Rock birds wherever I have a chance. Thank
you for your kindness.—J. C., New Jersey.

SQUABS WEIGHING ONE POUND APIECE
WHEN ONE MONTH OLD. I received my
pigeons from you April 20, 1905. I have one
pair that has hatched eleven (11) times up to
the 22nd day of April, 1906, so you can’ see
that they have had fairly good care. I now
have 110 birds and am getting them fast now
and will commence shipping when I get 70
or 80 pairs. I have weighed a number of
birds four weeks old that weighed 16 ounces
and I think that is very good.—L. F., Iowa.

QUICKLY AT WORK. Please pardon my
delay in acknowledging the receipt (right
side up) of the pigeons you shipped to me at
Harpers Ferry, W. Va., which place I left
before the shipment arrived. My wife
informed me that they were all in good shape
and the finest specimens she ever saw. Also
thought they had returned the baskets to you.
As soon as I go home, which will be in a few
days, will send you another order. My wife’s
third letter tells me that 16 pairs out of the 18
have gone to setting. Don’t think you can
beat that athome. We have everything good
to feed them, peas, kaffir corn, wheat and
millet, and we intend to make a success of
the business.—W. S., Virginia.

SQUABS HAVE AVERAGED ONE POUND
APIECE. Enclosed please find certified
check for $173.98 for which kindly send me
birds and supplies as enclosed. Kindly send
the shipment of birds as soon as possible as
I would like to receive them before Tuesday.
All my birds are doing nicely. My squabs,
under your system of feeding, have averaged
a pound apiece and I expect from the present
outlook of things to make them average a
good deal more.—E. H. M., Pennsylvania.

THIS WOMAN IN BRITISH COLUMBIA
KNOWS WHAT A FINE HOMER IS. A
week ago I wrote you complaining of non-
acknowledgment of my remittance sent in
with my order. As I was beginning to
wonder if it had miscarried, I am pleased to
be able to inform you that I received the best
Possible answer to my letter in arrival of
the birds I ordered from you. They arrived

The equipment at o.< farm for mating birds cost $2000 and no expense was spared to

make it perfect.

A thousand mating coops are in constant use.

The principal mating house

is heated by hot water so as to get the best and quickest results in the cold months.

180

1906

LETTERS FROM

CUSTOMERS 1906

STORIES OF SUCCESS ON THIS PAGE ARE NEW. THEY WERE RECEIVED BY
THE PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY OF BOSTON IN NINE MONTHS OF 1906.

about the same time as your letter (May Ist).
All of them are in first-class condition and I
am very pleased with them, as I consider
that they are a fine lot of birds, and I think I
know what a fine Homer is when I see it, as
my father and brothers have bred and sold
trained flying Homers for years in Lancashire,
England, some of them worth twenty-five
dollars a pair. Although I never heard of
squab raising before I came to Canada three
years ago, when I first saw your book adver-
tised in Munsey’s I thought it was some kind
of game bird reared in captivity, and sent for
your book more out_of curiosity than any-
thing else. I think I shall like the business
very much and shall probably be sending
another order in a month or two when I see
how I go on with the birds I have got. Thank
vou very much for the two pairs extra you
sent, also nest bowls. They were a very
agreeable surprise to me as I did not expect
anything like that on such a small order.
The express charges were six dollars, and 25
cents duty on nest bowls. If you would
write me from time to time giving me your
prices I shall be much obliged.—Mrs A. R.,
Canada.

SQUABS WEIGHING FROM 13 TO 16
OUNCES. Please send me at your earliest
convenience the names of reliable merchants
to whom I can ship squabs, in New York.
The 80 pairs I bought of you last fall are doing
well. I sold squabs that weighed from 13
ounces to almost one pound apiece. I have
over 100 pairs of young ones that I am sav-
ing for stock.—H. J., Ohio.

WORTH THEIR PRICE. Some time ago
I sent you an order for three pairs No. 1 and
three pairs Extra Homers, stating that I
wished to compare with Homers a friend of
mine was ordering at a very much_ lower
figure. In a word, after due comparison, I
order six more pairs Extras. Please send me
fine birds.—C. J., Illinois.

SQUABS WEIGHING 16 TO 17 OUNCES
EACH. Please find enclosed remittance for
which send me 12 pairs and supplies noted.
The dozen pairs you sent me started iz to do
business last month, having been moulting up
to that time. The first two pairs squabs
hatched, at one month old, weighed one pound
each, with one that was 17 ounces. That is
very good, is it not? I am well pleased with
them. Make this dozen as good and I shall
be more pleased.—C. B. G., Connecticut.

HIS FOURTH ORDER. Enclosed you will
please find money order for which you will
please send me as soon as possible one dozen

Our whole time and energies are given to squabs. ¢
handled—promptly, courteously and thoroughly, with every detail attended to.
It is a business with us, pushed steadily every day in the year except Sun-

answered at once.

pairs Extra bred Homers (fourth order.)—L
C., Louisiana.

SUPERIOR IN LOOKS AND WORKS.
The birds (60 pairs) arrived on the late train
from St. Paul on Sunday night last, and
remained in the depot here until early on the
following morning when we took them home.
Outside of the injured ones mentioned, I wilt
say that the birds arrived in perfect condition
and are fully up to what we expected them ta
be. They are now “at home’’ and present
a beautiful appearance. The birds which you
sent me last November (nine months ago) are
entirely satisfactory. and “ out-class” any
I received from the— or those which my
friend here received from the same people.
Mine are plump, his are “ cranish,’’ long-legged
and long-necked. I would not keep that kind
of birds. My triend has not accommodations
for pigeons, and wanted to sell out. A doctor
who for several years rented offices in my law
office building here, looked them over with the
view of purchasing the outfit, and I advised
him to do so, to get a start in the business,
He visited my lofts, and saw my birds, wanted
to buy some from me, and after he saw mine,
he would not buy of my friend. I gave him
your address, but have not seen him since,
and do not know whether he has made a pur-
chase or not. I have none to sell at this time
as we are trying to increase the flock to at
least 1200, for which we have ample accommo-
dations, then we will begin to sell.

There is no mistake in saying that the birds:
which I received from you, out-class those
which the have sent here. If your
Mr. Rice should ever come to this country I
would be pleased to have him stay with me
and look over the “ greatest ” farming coun-
try on earth.

My elder boy (17 years of age) visited the
great Minnesota State Fair. Saw Dan Patch
break his record, reducing it to 1.55 flat. He
looked the pigeons over as a matter of course,
and he tells me that he could find no Homers
there which compared with ours. He intends
to exhibit some at the fair next fall—H. M.,
Minnesota.

MADE A SUCCESS AND GOING AHEAD
ON ABIG PLANT. [havea party that wants
to go into the squab business with me, and it
is possible that I will call on you during Nov-
ember for 2000 breeders. I have done very
well with the 800 I have, encouraging enough
to put in quite an extensive plant. I would
like to have your personal opinion as to
whether 2000 birds will do as well in 20 units of
100 birds each with one fly 12x48x200 as they
would in 20 units with 20 flies 10x12x48. On

We handle trade as it ought to be
Letters are

lays and holidays, and not a side issue or an amusement.

181

1906

LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS

1906

STORIES OF SUCCESS ON THIS PAGE ARE NEW. THEY WERE RECEIVED BY
THE PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY OF BOSTON IN NINE MONTHS OF 1906.

account of labor I would prefer the one large
fly, but I want no experiments and leave the
matter with you. I can get $4.00 per dozen
for a large portion of my squabs, and would
like to have an opinion as to what 5000 of
your breeders would net us yearly when we
raise our own feed on the farm.

WE SUPPLY HENS TO THOSE WHO
NEED THEM. After recommending your
firm to A. F. Kennelley of this city and he
being a purchaser from you recently, I find
that he is well pleased with treatment accord-
ed him. Enclosed please find $5.00 for five
female birds to be used as breeders. I bought
some birds from a friend of mine and he had
five odd cocks which I want to mate up.
You will forward these by first express to my
address.—H. E. W., Ohio...

BEST BIRDS HE EVER SAW. The
Homers ordered from you reached me in due
time and in excellent condition. They
certainly are the finest birds I ever saw. I[
really believe they are a finer lot than the
first consignment, if that be possible. The
second day after their arrival they commenced
building their nests, which I imagine is a
pretty good record.

Some of my friends have secured birds from
other parties and although I have not seen
their birds, I am confident they can’t tell me
that they have a finer lot than mine.

If I have an opportunity of securing you
any customers I shall be only too glad to do
so.—B. Y., New York.

BEST HOMERS IN CALIFORNIA. Birds
received in Al condition. Your birds have
stirred up quite some interest here and what I
hear from people who know is that your birds
are the best in the colony. As it is I am well
pleased with the bunch. I have a house
12x32 feet divided into four pens 8x9 feet
with a three-foot passage running the length
and everything up to date. That also has
opened their eyes in the building and arrange-
ments in an up-to-date squab house. I have
had the birds less than a week and am pretty
well advertised already. The market here
is strong at $3.00 to $3.50 and the demand
far exceeds the supply.—C. H., California.

SOLD YOUNGSTERS FOR $2 A PAIR IN
KANSAS. Enclosed find remittance for one
leg band outfit. My pigeons have been doing
fine, and are keeping busy all the time. Have
sold off the young pigeons at eight weeks old
for $2.00 per pair. What is the difference in
Canada peas and the peas we raise here?
Will the common peas do to feed to the
Ppigeons?—G, W. S., Kansas.

LATEST NEWS FROM THE NEW YORK
MARKET; HIGH PRICES WHICH ARE
GOING HIGHER BECAUSE OF THE NEW
LAW FORBIDDING ENTIRELY THE SALE
OF QUAIL EXCEPT IN NOVEMBER AND
DECEMBER. I take the liberty of asking
you for a little more advice for the birds I
bought from you last November. Of sick-
ness I have not seen any sign of it. I lost only
two of them, one of apoplexy I think, because
it fell like shot dead, the other one died of
diarrhcea. Of the young squabs, the cas-
ualties have been a little higher, but out of
50 I did not lose more than six, or 12 per 100.

Now I wish you would give me your
opinion how I have progressed, if I am on the
regular average or if I am under it.

The prices for squabs on the New York
market have been very high all winter—have
reached as high as $6.50 a dozen for squabs
of over 10 pound a dozen, and $4.50 for birds
of near eight pound or so. Of course private
trade is better and I have been able to sell
squabs for 50 cents apiece easily.

I have a set ot birds that give me three
eggs and have hatched them successfully
with three days late for the extra one. Does
that happen often?—H. G., New York.

WILL NOT BUY ANY HOMERS BUT
PLYMOUTH ROCKS. Last May I ordered
from you twelve Plymouth Rock Homers.
They arrived on the eighth of May and on the
twelfth of the same month the first egg was
laid. Five pairs of them went to work almost
immediately and have been at work ever
since. I raised the squabs during the summer.
I have now 13 pairs of mature pigeons. Twelve
pairs work constantly and I am very much
pleased with them and want to thank you
for them and as you are so kind as to offer to
answer questions and to help we people who
do not know all about raising squabs I shall
be so much obliged if you will give me a little
help. My present ambition is to increase my
plant. I want to buy some Extras from you
as soon as I can raise the capital. I can buy
Homers nearer home but yours have done so
well for me that whatever new stock I get I
would like to get from you. You say in your
book that you will give your patrons the
address of a good New York buyer. Will you
please send me the address?—C. O., New
Jersey.

BRANCHING OUT. Please quote me your
best figures on the following: Homer pigeons
in pairs ready to go to work in lots of 20, 50
and 100 pair lots. Hempseed in bushel lots.
Health grit in 100 pound lots. I have your
prices of last year but presume there are some
changes. I purchased 12 pairs of Homers
from you last spring and they raised me about

——— EEE

These are stron

letters. Read them over.

You want some assurance, when you buy

pigeons, that you will be treated right, as these customers were.

182

£906

LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS

1906

STORIES OF SUCCESS ON THIS PAGE ARE NEW. THEY WERE RECEIVED BY
THE PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY OF BOSTON IN NINE MONTHS OF 1906.
ee

60 young ones by the first of November.—
W. H., Iowa.

BLOOD AND HIGH BREEDING COUNT.
Enclosed find draft for which you will send
by Pacific express, Extra Homers, as per
memorandum, Several weeks ago I ordered
15 pairs of . When the birds came I did not
think they were much more than common
birds. A friend in our town wanted some
breeders and I got him to try your birds.
They came last night. There is a big differ-
ence between the birds. My first birds do
not show any white on bill to amount to any-
thing and they are most all white or very
light color. Yours show their high breeding.
Blood tells, when you put them together. I
sold mine at half price to-day to get shut of
them. What I want is blooded stock or
nothing. Please send me a good collection
of assorted colors, blues, reds and checkers.
I ordered one of your squab books some time
ago and I think it the best I ever read on
pigeons.—J. A., Missouri.

TRIFLING DEATH LOSSES. In January
of this year I purchased 12 pairs of your
Extras. They are now (April) in fine condi-
tion and have hatched out 24 young ones, 22
of which are living and doing fine.—W. J.,
Massachusetts.

SEVEN PAIRS WORTH $25, THIS
ARKANSAS CUSTOMER THINKS. Writing
you a few lines to let you know that I got the
pigeons all O.K. They were all well. I got
them two weeks to-day and out of the seven
pairs, four pairs of them have built and are
setting on eggs already. I would have
written you sooner but wanted to see what
they were going to do. I would not take
$25 for the seven pairs. Sending the basket
back this evening with the letter. You can
put this letter on your list. I think it is the
only one from Arkansas.—C. W., Arkansas.

GOOD SHOWING AFTER THEIR 3000-
MILE JOURNEY. Enclosed please find Wells
Fargo Express money order for $1.70 for which
please send me by mail post paid, one leg
band outfit at your very earliest convenience.
My birds received from you March 17 are
doing fine. They got right to work and one
month from the day I received them I had
three pairs of squabs hatch. Since then one
more pair has hatched and two more pairs are
setting and two pairs building. I think that
is a pretty good showing in six weeks for 10
Pairs after travelling 3000 miles. I lost one
hen. She got sick and I could not find what
was the trouble. She did not have diarrhoea,
but just seemed to droop and die. The
remainder of them are as fine as could be.

Will you please quote me prices on nine pait
Extra Homers to be delivered in June or July,
Caunot tell yet just when I will be ready for
them, but either June or July sure. Best
wishes for your continued success.—E. M.,
California.

ARKANSAS CUSTOMER IS PLEASED
WITH SQUARENESS. I received your Man-
ual a day after I wrote that letter, and J
received another one. I have sold both of
them, and find enclosed $1.00 to pay for your
extra one and another one for myself. You
people treated me so well I won’t buy any
Homers from anybody else. I was surprised
at your squareness and have told every one
about it and got them all a-going in the right
direction. I was very, very much pleased
with your Manual.—G. R., Arkansas.

HIS MONEY TALKS FOR HIM. Last
August I purchased 124 pairs of your Extras
and am now in the market for about 375 pairs
more. Iam also in need of some extra hens
of the same quality. Can you supply same?
Also let me know if you can furnish these birds
in pairs in the following colors: blues, blue
checkers and red checkers in any number I
may desire. Please state your very lowest
price on above number of pairs. Let me hear
from you by return mail, as I am in a great
rush for the birds.—S. T., Indiana.

CANNOT SAY TOO MUCH IN PRAISE OF
OUR HEALTH GRIT. Enclosed find $2.00
for 100 pounds of health grit. I find this grit
the best on the market for pigeons. I cannot
say too much for it as it keeps the pigeons in
fine health. Although the price is high I
would never be without it. I have quite a
few people that want to get this grit from me.
Can you let me have it cheaper, so that I can
make something out of it? Answer and let
me know.—R. O., New Jersey.

BIG SQUAB FARM WHOSE OWNER
BOUGHT HIS BREEDERS OF US. I visited
a squab farm last Sunday and before I left
found that the owner bought his breeders of
your company, five hundred pairs. He has
1100 pairs at present and is making a fortune.
After seeing this farm I was more than con-
vinced that the Plymouth Rock Squab Co.
isO. K. If I get as good a lot of birds as
he has I certainly will be pleased.

Tam sorry that I did not figure on handling
more birds than I did. Have built house to
accommodate 100 birds. Enciosed find stamps
for which please send plans and specifications
for squab houses. No doubt you will receive
a larger order from me in a short time. Will
notify you in a few days when to ship birds.

Beware of anybody who tries to make a sale to you by running down the Plymouth Rock

Squab Co.

Insist that he show you letters like these in proof of his claims.
183

1906

STORIES OF SUCCESS ON THIS PAGE ARE NEW.

LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS

1906

THEY WERE RECEIVED BY

THE PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY OF BOSTON IN NINE MONTHS OF 1906.

i want to have everything complete before I
have them shipped.—I. S., New York.

HAS TRIED THEM AND KNOWS. Iam
at present debating with myself and with
some of my relations in regard to starting in
the pigeon business. My folks are trying to
persuade me that it is going to cost too much
to start, and that I will not realize any great
profits very soon. As I see, and at the best
I can figure it out, it will take about $100 to
start in with fifty pairs of breeders and builda
home to accommodate them, getting the price
of building down as low as possible with lum-
ber at its present price. What I want to
know is, do you think it would pay me to start
and about how long do you think it would
take to get back the amount paid out if I
relied entirely on the birds?

I think I could get it back in four months
at the most, because I have three pairs I pur-
chased of you in January, besides the young
onesIhaveraised. I have watched and studied
their ways and know something about them.
I know how fast they breed, etc. Now am I
right in my estimation as to the time it would
take to regain my money and would you
advise me to start if possible? My birds I
have now are doing fine.—S. A., Massachusetts.

MANURE FOR SALE. Will you _ please
give me the address of some firm to which I
can sell my pigeon manure? My pigeons are
doing well this spring.—T. O., New York.

RHODE ISLAND SUCCESS. I am enclos-
ing money order for which kindly send me
enclosed supplies. If this money order does
not cover cost do not delay the grain but
send me bill for extra. My birds are all doing
finely.—B. O., Rhode Island.

THIS IS THE KIND OF PLAIN TALK ONE
LIKES TO HEAR. I am finding out for my-
self if there was money in squabs and I have
found it to be true by other squab breeders.
I was to a man’s place this afternoon and he
said he had no trouble in selling his squabs
for a good price. I guess the only trouble
is people are sleeping half the time. That’s
why they don’t know much about squab
breeding. If a fellow doesn’t believe in squab
breeding, all he has to do is to open his eyes
and look around. I’ve been to a couple of
bird shows and have seen nothing to go ahead
of your birds yet. My friend was saying what
nice birds they had at the show, and I thought
I would go down with him. We had to pay
25 cents to get in. After we looked at the
birds, he said that mine would get the first
prize if I would take them down. Then I
found out that I have some of the biggest birds

Is there anybody in your town who has failed at squab raising?
as they would with a new toy, then give them up.

184

them and not with the pigeons.

in town. I would like to get some pictures
taken and show you some of the birds I got
from yours. I found your book to be a book
anybody can read and knows what he is read-
ing about. Everything is so plain—what a
beginner wants to know about breeding birds.
I was thinking of sending you my third order.
If I do, it will be next week. Hoping you are
doing a good business. My birds are doing
fine. Your birds are the best breeders and I
won’t take any others.—S, C. H., Wisconsin.

NEST BOWLS ALL RIGHT. Please find
a money order for one dozen more of your nest
bowls. They are O. K. Put them in the
house one evening and on going in the next
found that a pair had already taken posses-
sion and started anest. Have 11 pair setting
on eggs and they are doing fine. I intend to
purchase more from you later as I am going
to build a unit to start this spring and enclose
money for your plans for squab houses.
Wishing you every success.—W. A., Massa-
chusetts.

ENLARGING. Enclosed find check for
which please send me seven pairs of your
Extra Homers and one dozen fibre nests.
Send by American express. This time I
would like to have different colored birds.
The birds and supplies you sent me in Janu-
ary came in good shape. I was well pleased
with same. Am thinking some of putting in
50 or 100 pairs more this summer if I can
arrange for another house.—H. B., Indiana.

BEST EVER SEEN IN OKLAHOMA.
Enclosed please find money order for which
send me your best Extra Homers as specified.
Send all blue-speckled birds, as shown on
right of special offer sheet. Your last ship-
ment of birds are fine ones and every one that
has seen them say they are the finest they ever
saw. Trusting these will be the same or
better and that I may receive them at your
earliest convenience.—W. H., Oklahoma.

BUYING MORE AFTER ONE YEAR’S
EXPERIENCE. A little over a year ago, I
bought 24 pairs of your pigeons. Now I wish
to buy 300 pairs of your Extra Plymouth
Rock Homers and am fixing a house for them
and will be in shape to receive 75 pairs a
month, say March 1, April 1, May 1 and June
1. I see that $1.70 per pair is your price in
lots of 300 pairs and upwards. I should
want the best birds as I believe they are the
cheapest. Now if this arrangement is all
tight, you can let me know and I will send
yeu $127.50 for the first 75 pairs. I want
your best birds.—E. F., Ohio.

Some play at pigeons
If they bought of us the trouble is with

APPENDIX D

(Copyright, 1908, by Elmer C. Rice)

Squab market prospects for 1908 and 1909 are excellent, as encouraging as they ever have
been — always a hungry demand.

To keep the subject up to date we give on the following pages a fresh lot of facts bearing
on the industry.

We have pictures mostly contributed by customers to whom we have sold breeding stock.

During the past ten years the demand for squabs has more than kept pace with the supply
and this is true today (January, 1908) although the supply has been systemized by us and
enormously increased, for in this period we have sold over half a million Homers, and we
estimate that now there are breeding on the Western Continent, from these Plymouth Rock
Homers, at least two million pairs of Homers. The squabs from these Homers bred from stock
originally sold by us are in every market on this continent where poultry is sold.

These figures show what we have done for the squab industry, and they are conservative. In
fact, before we began shipping breeding stock, the squab business was of no volume. Our
methods and our birds have created this new vast industry. Our efforts, of course, would have
been useless without the co-operation of a large and enthusiastic body of customers, whose
Joyalty is our pride and satisfaction.

Let the good work goon. More people are going to eat squabs. Squabs for dinner are now a
settled habit with hundreds of thousands of families. Our advertising constantly in the best
periodicals suggests every week to many new people that squabs are a new delicacy for their
tables, and thus the demand grows.

We print on left-hand pages immediately following letters received in December, 1907, from
three representative New York squab buyers, Messrs. Silz, McLaughlin and Heineman. We
have selected these to show the present eager market for squabs bred from our birds. They
were written by these dealers when prices for everything were temporarily set back by the
short-term panic. Prices for squabs during 1908 and 1909 will be as high or higher than in any
previous year.

We have selected these New York marketmen for reference because they have been largely
instrumental in working with us to standardize and develop the national squab market. Mr.
McLaughlin’s system of grading by weight per dozen is now in common use not only in his own
city but all over the United States. Refuse to ship your squabs to anybody who offers you a
small price based on count. Grade your squabs by weight and get what you are entitled to for
the big squabs bred from our birds. Weigh them yourself and you will know just what you will
get from the dealer.

You will see in Mr. Silz’s letter that he is pleased to get squabs from our birds because they are
so much better. Mr. McLaughlin advises our breeders, and to keep free from other kinds,
Messrs. Heineman advise the use of nothing but our best breed of birds. This is expert testi-
mony by practical business men who control the squab trade in the largest city in America.

Knapp & Van Nostrand, 208 to 243 Washington street, New York City, write us under date of
December 4, 1907, stating that they are paying the following prices for squabs. (This firm
divides with the three others above mentioned the greater part of the enormous New York
squab trade). “Ten to twelve pounds to the dozen, $4.50; nine pounds to the dozen, $4.00;
eight pounds, $3.25.” Their letter continues: “ We receive and sell hundreds of dozens every
week. Squabs from shippers mentioning your company compare favorably with general receipts,
Sales have increased in New York.”

When customers of curs wish to begin shipping squabs to the four firms above mentioned
or any other New York squab dealer, we give letters of introduction which will smooth the wae
for them.

185

1907 MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS 1908
$US

No matter in what part of the United States or Canada you live, we will put you in touch
with your nearest best squab buyer, provided of course you have not a private trade of your
own, which always pays best. In Pittsburg, for example, there is a concern which has a very
large trade and is constantly after good squabs. They write us: ‘‘For eight-pound squabs we
are paying $3.00 a dozen, nine-pound $4.25 a dozen. When communicating with your custom-
ers, kindly let them quote us price on the different sizes. We would like to get in touch with
some shippers who can supply us the year around with what squabs we want. We can use
100 pounds to 150 pounds per week. Kindly put us in touch with some good shippers.”

A correspondent living in West 36th street, New York, writes us under date of October 12,
1907, after personal investigation of the New York City markets: “I am studying up the squab
business, with the intention of going at it up at my home in Pennsylvania, when I can con-
veniently see my way to it. Your statement about the market for the product in 1902-1903
still seems to hold good here in New York. I was down at Washington Market not long ago to
inquire of commission men how the call for squabs runs. They all said that the supply hardly
equals the demand. Many of them were selling or offering for sale little bony, discolored
Carcass that would hardly tempt a starved cat. So when I am ready I shall talk business
with you.”

In the first part of our Manual we quote prices in a great many cities in force in 1903 or
thereabouts. We have not the space to follow the quotations in these cities year by year.
What is true of New York is true of Chicago, St. Louis, Philadelphia, New Orleans, San Fran-
cisco, Seattle, Portland, all the large places. The demand everywhere continues eager at high
Prices as you can readily find out for yourself if you live near a city. In your nearest city you
will aad Plymouth Rock squabs going in regularly to the dealers there and dominating the
market.

We quote as follows the prices prevailing in New York City from the summer of 1907 to the
end of the year. These quotations are not retail prices, remember, but are what a dealer paid
breeders for supplying him with squabs. The first quotation. in each case, is for squabs weigh-
ing ten pounds to the dozen. The second figure is for squabs weighing nine pounds to the
dozen. The third figure is for squabs weighing eight pounds to the dozen:

July 1 etree Catan acech ROR Pe aE eek pena ELC) $4.00 $3 .20
July DD ep ieetoe cn ees 4.40 3.40 3.15
August WD ee usphescsestee oleracea 4.20 3.50 3.00
Septemibers (2 5c ne sence eae 3.50 Zo
Septembero Omari ee tien et) S545) 3.00
October ARS ie auctions a Gosia cree eaten LO 3.85 3.25
November: 14 ot se ace cane neon OO 4.00 3.50
INoveriberp lS sano see anit eenoeece HATS 4.00 3.50
Decémiberw we Ase. eee no ee eo 3.60 3.20
Decemberg 90 o0 hte eee 4.20 3.40 3.25

The reader of all the quotations we print must be impressed that the chorus for the big
squabs grows each year larger in volume and more insistent. Dealers want the big ones and to
get them they offer the very attractive bait of substantially-increased prices. It is folly for
anybody to start breeding squabs now with inferior birds, for his squabs (weighing six or seven
pounds to the dozen) will be crowded to the back of the counter in every market and the
breeder will have to be content with a price which will pay for the grain, perhaps, but little
more. This is not unsupported talk by us, unfounded sayso, but, in the words of our ex-Presi-
dent, is a condition and not a theory. We have actually supplied the breeding stock whose
Squabs now constitute the squab markets of the country and are making the weights and
Prices. Before we introduced the Plymouth Rock Extra Homers, there were in the New York
or Philadelphia, or any markets, no squabs weighing over eight pounds to the dozen. No such
Squabs were traded in because no such squabs existed, in commercial quantity. Now they are
ia the markets every day by thousands of dozens weighing from eight to twelve pounds to the

ozen. ,

The letters which we print on the following pages are selections from a large number received
by us in 1907. These show a great many facts bearing upon all sides of the industry and we
recommend their reading for the news they contain. Many of the writers note ways of their
own showing original thinking and adaptation. We withhold the names and addresses of the
writers for the business reasons stated so many times by us, but we assure new friends as well as
old, that all are genuine, every one, written by real customers not connected with us in any
way except by the sale of our birds and supplies to them. The original letters are filed at our
office in Boston, where we will show them to anybody. If some one is holding back an order
from us thinking that any letter here is ‘‘ made up,”’ and cannot come in person to Boston to
see these letters, as many do, we will pay the fee of his representative living in or near Boston
for examining our files and reporting. Write us first, and we will convince you if given the
opportunity.

EE EE Eee
LETTERS RECEIVED FROM CUSTOMERS BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY
186

1907 MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS 1908

READ THIS STORY OF SUCCESS BY A MAN 80 YEARS OLD. HE HAS DONE SOME
ORIGINAL AND EFFECTIVE THINKING. NO BUILDINGS FOR HIM. HE USES AN ATTIC
ROOM AND GETSTHERE.” Being old (80 years), failing sizht drove me out of a mechanical
business and the prospect before me was to live and lean on my children. I had always been
a lover and keeper of pigeons from boyhood until a few years since when the telephone, etc.
came, and I killed all off. My daughter saw your advertisement in a magazine and sent for
your booklet. I saw at a glance the chance offered. I knew you were telling only what was
the exact truth about pigeons, and the pictures showed them to be the best kind for the purpose.
Had I been 20 years younger, I would have gone into it with all my means, so as it was I made
a very modest beginning.

In February, April and June you sent me three small lots, 40 in all, not your Extras. I put
them in an attic where I had birds before with nest boxes, some hung up, some on the floor,
any way to keep them apart. They soon began to work. Six pairs had eggsin a week. When
squabs began to come six, seven or eight at a time, a butcher took them, and since then we
have given him over three dozen in one week. He first paid at rate of $3 per dozen and has
risen twice since to now, $3.75, and has not been pushed. My daughter takes them in and
gets the cash as if they were gold or wheat. The butcher says it is not the size but a plump
breast that tells, so they go large and small many times, between seven and eight pounds to
the dozen, bled and dressed. Of course my stock has been increased by some getting out of
nest, or saving some peculiar color. I keep those with odd markings and know them personally.

The first year the 18 pairs averaged eight pairs each. I do not keep them to be a month old
as they would all be on the floor then and butcher looks for wool on head. Seeing none he
says: ‘‘ How long has this been flying?’’ So I send them at 24 or 25 days. The younger they
go, the faster the old ones breed, as well as saving of feed. So since May, 1905, when I began
with 18 pairs, I have sold 805 squabs and increased stock from 18 pairs to 56 pairs, and no
stint of feed. I sell no manure.

You are right on feed question. Cabbage is good. I give (when I have it) lettuce, parsley
and even marshmallow weed and sunflower seeds, but my birds avoid wheat, eating very
pte: They know me personally, come in from outside when I go in and get down under my

eet.

My attic where I breed is a queer shape, with two places for them to get outside, and feed
boxes on floor to give them’ a chance to hide from the others at times. The other 20 pairs are
in an old wagon-house with the boxes over head to be away from rats, and a cat there most
of the time. I suffer some from the makeshift pens I have. I need the arrangement you
have, though I have a third place for the young unmated. When a pair in that place gets
young, say 14 days old, I move pair (box and all) at night into one of the regular units and that
fetches them.

But here comes what few and those only that know me will believe. In the course of this
April and May seven pairs have had three eggs each. Three pairs hatched all and are gone to
butcher. Two more are hatched and doing well and of the two to come, all eggs are good.
Some have had one smaller than other two, then I take the small one and give it to another
which has younger or some of same size. I am raising them atl. The books say pigeons
often have only one, but nothing about three. Are we getting a new breed? I have none
for sale alive so this is no advertisement.

For squabs I have received in money just double what I spend for feed.—D. G. L., New York.

Note. There is a great deal of sound sense and experience in the above story of this valued

customer, written by himself. Eighty years old, and with failing sight! Not much; he is
young and keen. First, he had confidence that he was being tuld the truth by us and would
get good birds, for he had known pigeons all his life. That is half the battle. He sold his
Squabs when they were plump, even if only three weeks old, before they had a chance to walk
around and train off fat. He treated his birds so that they loved him.
_ His butcher had customers which evidently did not weigh the squabs. Asmall plump squab
is good but a big, plump squab is what 99 dealers out of 100 are after, because they get
much more money for them. The educated markets once supplied with the big ones do not
fancy the smaller ones. Our customer if he had started with our Extras would not have been
content to sell to the butcher, but would have looked up the butcher’s customers and received
also the 50 per cent profit made by the butcher. i

As to three squabs in a nest, this comes to pass, but we never knew so many cases in a flock

of this size at the same time. That was extraordinary. : ‘
_ His practice of changing the smaller squab in a nest for a squab of size equal to the one Temain-
ing is common. With two squabs in the nest, if one grows larger than the other, this means
he is stronger and is continually stealing the share of the parents’ food belonging to the little
one. Take the little one to another nest where there is a squab of its own size, bringing back
a larger squab equal in size to the one in the first nest. |

His story of success is that of a small flock. He simply makes a small lot, housed in a
crude way, pay in profits a share of the running expenses of the home.

NN
LETTERS RECEIVED FROM CUSTOMERS BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY
187

CABLE ADDRESS
Sit z NEW YORK

TELEPHONE
4900 CHELSE}

Mr. Elmer C. Rice,

Plymouth Rock Squab Co.,
Boston, Mass.
Dear Sir:-

In reply to your letter of Nov. 27th, the present
prices on Squabs you will find on the enclosed card.

There will not be any let-up in the demand for Squabs
if the prices remain normale The season for all game closes
with the end of this month so there will naturally be a better
demand for Squabs after that time to take the place of game.

We use from 175 dozen to 200 dozen squabs each day.

Your Squabs are very much better than others, and
I think you have accomplished wonders for the Squab industry,
and every Squab raiser should feel grateful for your efforts
in this line, and you could very appropriately be termed
SOIGING a" fon the Squab_ business.

Wishing to assist you in your continued efforts to
put the Squab business ahead, we are,

Very truly yours,

A. SILZ, Inc.,

M/F...

1907

MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS

1908

THIS IS THE BREEDER OF WHOM WE WRITE AT THE BOTTOM OF PAGE 56 OF OUR
MANUAL. HE FED WRONGLY AT THE START AND BLAMED US FOR NO RESULTS,

BUT HE IS A GOOD FRIEND NOW AND HAS SEEN A GREAT LIGHT. C
I think that it is up-to-date in every respect and in no way
far-fetched, nothing but sensible, hard, experienced facts.

Manual O.K. Accept my thanks.

I received the new

I notice that you speak of a California

breeder using nothing but wheat and a handful of hemp with no return for six months. I

pe it was me yourefer to.

Now, Mr. :
active; working all the time.
ing.

have any one show me that they have as good birds as I have.

Rice, money will not buy the birds. i L
Even now (September 11, 1907) they are in full force nest build-
I can point out lot of pairs which are now on their eighth lots of eggs.

Well, I deserve d it, for ‘‘a guilty conscience needs no accuser.”
did not feed them enough to keep them alive.

They are beauties, so plump, bright and

I would like to
It would be a very hard matter

to convince me that there are any birds as good as the Plymouth Rock Homers of Boston. In
short, any one who fails with those birds should not blame the birds or Mr. Rice, for it is up to

them to handle them right.

Do not think, Mr. Rice, that I am “ fishing’’ for something.

Far from it. I am only speaking as my true conscience dictates, that there are no better birds

than yours.
ounces. How is that?
the goods.

We have just weighed six squabs and they tipped the scales at five pounds, 13
Some will say that Homers cannot do as well as that but I can show
The only trouble is the best I can get is $3 a dozen and a private trade at that.

Have not had a chance to save over one dozen for breeders.

As regards more birds.

\ I certainly want more of your birds and will want only Extras, as
I will use the Extras exclusively for raising my breeding stock.
for them, as I am going to build four more houses.

I will not be ready until spring
Then I promise you a picture of my house

worthy to goin your book. All I ask of you is to wait until I have completed my plans.

Mr. Rice, I have some Maltese hen pigeons I wish to dispose of.
are mated pairs and the rest young ones ranging from two months to seven months.
could trade me your Homers for them, or find me a customer I should thank you.

omy kept them for fancy,

GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL IN CALI-
FORNIA WELL PLEASED. The four pairs
of Homers shipped to me on October 2, 1907,
arrived to-day in apparently first-class con-
dition. The birds appear to be satisfactory
in every respect. I thank: you for the extra
pair; also for the supplies included. After
the birds get to work I shall furnish vou with
a further report, and if I have occasion to
order again, shall not forget your prompt
and liberal treatment.—C. W. L., Register,
United States Land Office, Department of the
Interior, California.

BETTER AT $1.50 A PAIR THAN WHAT
HE PAID OTHERS $2.50 A PAIR. SIX
MORE ORDERS FOLLOW. I have received
your Plymouth Rock pigeons which you sent
me in perfect order. I am very much
pleased with them. They are as good as the
ones I bought of and for $2.50
per pair.—P. P., New York.

Note. The above customer has sent us
in 1907 up to date (November) six orders.

ONE HUNDRED MILES IN FIVE HOURS
IN A STORM. Please send me one of your
1907 catalogues. The birds that I received
in April, 1906, are doing finely. I broke them
in at my loft. I flew one of them 100 miles,
making the distance in five hours, in rain and
storms. I will ship him 200 miles in a few
weeks with others of my birds. I think he
will do fine in his 200-mile race.—J. M.,
Texas.

There are about 20. Three
If you
I have

Now I will close, wishing you the best of luck.—J. B. W., California.

SATISFIED AND BUYS MORE. Some
time ago I ordered a half-dozen pairs of pig-
eons from you; at the same time I ordered six
pairs from the I wish to say that I
have now received all the birds and I have
concluded that yours are the best. As soon
as I get a little more ready money I expect to
order more birds of you. It is my intention
to build up a large flock just as soon as I can.
lam perfectly satisfied in my dealing with you.
You can publish any part of the above letter
if you want to except the name of the other
company.

(Later). Enclosed find check for $18 for
eoeee pairs of your Carneaux.—L, T. P., New

ork,

FIVE PAIRS OUT OF SIX IN TWO WEEKS
AFTER ARRIVAL PROVES FAST MATINGS.
Received pigeons two weeks ago. I think
the Extras are far ahead of anything T have
ever seen. I have had mine only two weeks
and five pairs have already gone to work.

Enclosed please find stamps for 37 cents
for which send me by mail two feet of alum-
inum-tubing.—T. J. S., lowa.

BREEDING WELL IN TEXAS. I am
doing fine with my pigeons and I think they
are the best kind. I started with 14 in
November and now (June, 1907), I have
about 66. They are doing fine. I have sc
many that I will have to order some wood-
fibre nestbowls. Find enclosed $3.84 for
which send me four dozen wood-fibre nest-
bowls.—W. P. C., Texas.

LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY
189

TEL. 1288 FRANKLIN. References:—All Commercial Agencies.

Win. R. McLaughlin

COMMISSION MERCHANT

Poultry, Eggs, Game, Squabs, Calves Etc.
362 GREENWICH STREET

NEW YORK November 29, 1907
Elmer C. Rice, Esq.,
Treasurer Plymouth Rock Squab CO.,
Eoston, Mass.

Dear Sir:

Yours of the 27th duly received. I am pleased to hear from you once
more. If beginners will stick to your breeders, they will have no cause
to complain as to size, quantity and quality of squabs, and net profits
they receive from same.

The demand is still good for all the fancy white large squabs we
can get, and the market’ has kept at uniform price for a long time.

In fact, since the new season started, there has been very little change
in price.

The small and mixed lots we must sell to out of town trade where
everything looking like a squab zoes at a price; while the city trade
want the larger bird and are willing to pay for them.

Many do not buy enpugh breeders at the start so that they can ship
a fair sized lot.

I can use daily all the squabs I can get and do not look for
prices to go any lower during the winter,---if anything, quite some
advance.

I think if any two need any praising as to results brought about,
and profits to raisers, it is you and myself, as I was the first to in-
troduce selling by weight according to size, and was laughed at for trying,
even by those who would not now admit the change more than doubled their
output. The one who does not like the change is the speculator who got
the large birds for nothing, and the small birds at their actual value,
and made the extra profit when selling to consumers.

I would advise beginners to get a quantity of your breeders;
keep free from other kinds. They will have no cause to find fault with
results, and will always have a market and demand at good prices, for
they can raise and ship at any time of the year. Send me the names of:
your customers yourself and I will post them as to the market, and send
shipping cards,

Yours truly,

Lt Oinghle

190

1907 MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS 1908

STARTED WITH 12 PAIRS AND BRED THEM TO 100 PAIRS. ENLARGING BUILDINGS
STEADILY. HAS COMPARED PLYMOUTH ROCKS WITH MANY AND FOUND NONE
SUPERIOR. Your letter of October 24, 1907, received, and wish to thank you for the informa-
tion furnisned. Two years ago I built a pigeon house ten feet by 20 feet, nine feet high with
a 20-foot fly, dividing the house and fly with wire screen, making two compartments. I
purchased six pairs of your Homers in September and six pairs more of you in February. To
my surprise, three of these pairs started building their nests the day after their arrival, and,
in fact, the 12 pairs went into the business of raising squabs and have been in the business
ever since. I now have 100 pairs of the finest birds in the country; no question about that, as
I have made it a point to visit quite a number of places to compare birds. and I am satisfied
with my birds, if they are with theirs.

Last winter I built another house of the same dimensions as given above, building at the lower
end of the original fly. I took the wire screen from the end of the fly, and with it divided the
fly into four parts, thus saving the expense of building a fly for the new house, and the birds do
just as well with a ten-foot as with a 20-foot fly, I imagine. The total cost of the two houses

and birds was about $175.

It is my intention to sell squabs this winter (1907-1908) while prices are high, keeping the
squabs hatched during the summer months for breeders, and saving the squabs from my best
record birds as breeders, as I believe I wil! get even better results from them.

In my opinion the squab business is similar to other business enterprises, requiring patience
and hard work at the start, and if a man is a “ quitter” he will make no more money in the

squab business than in any other line.

I started in the business for the reason that I think there is good money in it.

My “‘ feathered

race-horses ”’ look good to me, and I am placing my money so that they come under the wire

winners.

My advice to one starting in the squab business is to secure your birds and your Manual and

then they will have started right.
uture.—F. B., New York.

MAKES HIS HOBBY PAY WITH TEN-
POUND SQUABS. My success with your
birds is the result of following the instructions
in your Manual. When I enter my squab-
house, I always whistle so as not to frighten
them too suddenly, and do not often take
strangers into the loft. Am not troubled with
lice. I disinfect about every two weeks.

My squabs will weigh one pound apiece, or
from 10 to 12 pounds to the dozen. Of
course, I do not ever expect tu be an extensive
breeder, as I have not the room, but I can
accommodate about 75 pairs, and make a
little money on the side, and enjoy taking
care of them. Pigeon keeping was always
my hobby ever since I was ten years old. I
will say a good word for you and your birds at
any time.—D. E. A.., Illinois.

SMALL ORDER JUSTIFIES A LARGER
ONE. The 13 pairs birds that you shipped
to me in May have done su well that I feel
justified in ordering four dozen more of your

xtra Homers and 17 1-3 dozen nestbowls for
which I enclose check. Your birds have
been here nine weeks last Saturday and I
now have twenty-five squabs, one having
died. —F. M. J., New York.

INTEREST SHOWN IN WELFARE OF
CUSTOMERS. I am very much obliged for
the information given me. Once again, I
cannot too highly praise you for your prompt-
ness and interest shown in the welfare of your
customers. I intend ordering some more
birds from you and would like to know the
best time to get them.—M. A. C., New York.

Will try and send you a picture of my place in the near

BETTER THAN ANY OTHER ST. LOUIS
FLOCKS. I take this means to show you
that I appreciate a fair, square deal such as
you gaveme. The birds are as you advertised
them and are far superior in some respects
to what you advertised. They are perfect
pets and to my surprise they began building
nests the second day after their arrival.

They are far superior to any flocks which I
have seen in St. Louis and as soon as I can find
a suitable site will erect some modern build-
ings according to your Manual and stock it
with your birds. It will take several months
to carry out my plans.—W. E. P., Missouri.

FOURTEEN-FOLD INCREASE IN ONE
YEAR IN NEBRASKA. About a year ago
my father, who lives in Crete, Nebraska,
purchased ten pairs Extra Plymouth Rock
pigeons from you. They have increased to
over twelve dozen pairs. I wish to get the
whole flock if it is practical to ship them here,
so I am writing to you for advice on the
subiect. Can you furnish shipping crates ?—
C. B., Vermont.

HAS KEPT PIGEONS BEFORE AND
KNOWS A GOOD LOT. The pigeons you
shipped me arrived all right on Friday morn-
ing. I notice the pairs were broken up
(from the separation, I suppose) for four days,
but they are now mating again. As I have
kept pigeons before, I know a little about
them. This is a good lot of pigeons and {
thank you for your promptness in shipping.—
J. R.S., Maryland.

LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY
191

Telephone Call, 8261 Cortlandt.

Hhumeman J Ce.,

COMMISSION MERCHANTS.

Fruits, Preduce and Poultry,

Southern Vegetables a. Specialty.
273 & 275 WASHINGTON STREET.

tS ANE & December 4, SIZ 7
Mr. Himer C. Rice,

Plymouth Rock Squab Co.,
Boston, Mass.

Dear Sir,

We wish to advise you on prices and general run of
8quabs which a goodly number of breeders of your fancy Homer pigeons ars
shipping us. They are now selling from between $3.75 to $4.50 per dozen
and, in all probability will go higher, as the winter advances. There ie
a good demand for this kind of birds and we are receiving quite a deal
of them. We can handle anvwhere from one thousand to two thousand dozen
a week ag dur trade constantly inquires for them. We can assure you that
the breed of birds we get from our shippers are very fine and we notice
a large majority of these same shippers mention your name.

The market at present wants squabs weighing between
9 and 11 lbs. to the dozen, and we would advise any beginner to use
nothing but your best breed of birds, as they are the cheapest in the
end to him.

We thank you for your kind consideration and

past favors. We are

Very truly vours,

Op oe IG

192

1907 MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS 1908

HOW TO PRESERVE, COLLECT, BAG AND SELL THE MANURE. HOW TO USE
TOBACCO DUST FOR BOTH PIGEONS AND POULTRY. I have several hundred Homer
pigeons raised entirely from stock purchased of you a little more than three years ago. _I wish
to write you to obtain information in regard to selling the manure. I have your National
Standard Squab Book in which you say you ship to tne tannery and obtain 60 cents a bushel.
I would like to know how you ship it. In bags or barrels? Tne manure has always been used
on our farm, but I have recently been deprived of my husband and need the money very much,
and as I cannot do the farming that he has done, feel obliged to sell the manure, It is free
from sand or sawdust. The most foreign substance wil! be feathers and some little nesting
material that they have scattered around, as of course I should not try to sell the old nests
that would be nearly all nesting material. The packing will have to be done by my daughter
and myself. I have been told that it is bought by the bushel, but it would be a hard task to
measure it all, as I am considerably over 60 years of age and very lame. I find the freight
wil) be 21 cents per 100 from here and if I ship by weight it will be easier to measure it all
by the bushel and they would have to take the freight agent’s figures instead of my measure.
I have quite a quantity. Have measured up one bushel and found the weight 36 pounds,
which at that rate would take only three bushels to weigh a little more than 100 pounds and

I think I have 30 bushels or more.—Mrs. M. W., Rhode Island.

Answer.

estimation of the tanners, but they like it free from gravel and from tobacco stems.
The manure varies in weight according to the amount
It should be dried and then bagged. two bushels to a bag.

Always ship in bags and get the bags back empty.

stems will discolor the hides in the vats.
of moisture in it.
measure and use it.

Feathers and common nesting material in the manure will not hurt it any in the

The

Buy a bushel
They are worth at

least five cents apiece even if second hand, as burlap has gone up.
Squab raisers who use tobacco stems for nesting material cannot sell the manure to tanneries.

The only reason for using tobacco stems is to ward off possible lice.

The same result may

be attained when straw or pine needles are used by dusting the nests now and then with tobacco

dust.

pounds of tobacco powder for $2.

SOME AGREEABLE DISAPPOINTMENTS
I have not written you since receipt of
birds, consequently will send you a word at
this time. My first agreeable disappointment

was the promptness with which you filled my
order. I live 500 miles from Boston. I
mailed my order for the pigeons at eight
o'clock Wednesday morning and at five
o’clock Friday evening the birds were waiting
for me at the express office, just about 53
hours from the time I mailed my order until
shipment was received. I had not expected
to receive the shipment before eight days.
The birds reached me in first-class condition—
except for a few broken tail feathers you would
have thought they had never been out of their
native loft. They lost very little time in
getting climated, for three days after turning
them loose they were nesting and soon all
were hatching.

In comparison with other Homers I have
seen, everything is in favor of the Plymouth
Rock breed. They are cleaner, better pro-
portioned and less shy than any others I have
seen. The squabs from these birds are
everything an epicure couid desire, big, fleshy
and meat the whitest. I have only words of
commendation for the stock of breeders you
handle. I can only wish you increased sales
of your excelle-t money makers. You are at
liberty to use this letter to interest prospective
customers or my name as a reference.—P. F.,
Pennsylvania.

We sell tobacco dust for 11 cents a pound.
than many fancy lice powders selling for two or three times that price.
In smaller quantities 11 cents a pound.
powder will not injure the manure for tanneries.

It is equally good for poultry and is better
We wi!l supply 25
The use of this

TEN PAIRS OUT OF THIRTEEN SPLEN-
DID PAIRS QUICKLY AT WORK. Our
cheese maker at Aldenville, Penn., ordered
thirteen pairs of Homers from you. We have
encouraged his going into the business for the
reason that several months of the year they
are not busy at the trade and could just as
well care for a nice flock of Homers.

The thirteen pairs received from you a few
weeks ago are splendid specimens and ten pairs
are at work at present. Not being contented,
we wanted to mix the blood and ordered thir-
teen pairs from an imitation squab company.
The birds came yesterday and we are so badly
disappointed in them that we would like yery
much to return them, and not mix with our
high-class birds received from you. We want
eventually to put in a few hundred pairs of
the party and will want from twenty to
twenty-five pairs of your selected birds in a
few weeks time. What will be the price and

can you give us a fine lot?—G. S., Penn-
sylvania.
RAPID BREEDING IN MICHIGAN. I pur:

chased of you last year three pairs Extra
Plymouth Rock Homers and at this writing J
have had them just one year-and seven days
and instead of having three pairs I now have
24 pairs that can fly besides a dozen squabs
and as many eggs. What do you think about
that? As Il am in need of nestbowls, please
send me three dozen of your wood fibre nest
bowls.—R. E. F., Michigan.

LETTERS RECEIVED FROM CUSTOMERS BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY
193

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194

HIS FRIEND PURCHASED 12 PAIRS OF US THREE YEARS AGO, IS NOW SHIPPING
SQUABS FROM 300 PAIRS AND CLEARED $1000 LAST YEAR, A HIRED MAN DOING THE

ORK. You save been recommended to me by a friend who three years ago purchased 12
pairs of Homers from you and he has to-day 300 pairs and cleared $1000 last year without any
labor on his part. He simply instructed a common laborer.

I am very much interested in squab raising. I am now attending the Iowa State College of
Agriculture and Mechanic Arts. I live in Chicago and it seems to me that would be a good
market. The first six months I intend to raise for breeding purposes, and then if J succeed
can put $200 or $300 more in squab raising. Do you consider this plan practical as I have
outlined it?—G. C., Iowa.

Answer. Remarkable successes are being made by customers of ours who started with 12
pairs to 50 pairs and raised up their own birds. It is not wise, however, to start with less than
12 pairs of birds, unless your stock of patience is large and you can stand waiting for two or
three years before getting returns for your money. The trouble with beginners who have

1907 STORIES OF SUCCESS 1908

failed is that they have tried to do too much too fast.

RATS AND DIARRHOEA. As I am sure
you are very good authority on the pigeon
question, being first in the business and
revolutionizing it, I hope you will not count it
amiss or intruding for me to appeal to you (to
use court language) for help and advice. We
have lots of mice in our pigeon house. What
could one use or do to kill or frighten them
away with perfect safety? The second
troublesome thing is what I call the shivers.
The pigeons get to shaking violently and seem
to lose nearly all interest in everything.

Your birds beat anything we have from else-
where at most every “turn,’? I might say.
Indeed, some we have from another near by
who gave us a written guarantee “‘ for health,
good workers, heavy squabs, no canker and
all mated birds,’ proved in nearly every
instance a sham, for they were not even mated
except a few pairs, out of a hundred pairs, and
died right along, and they were not mated for
over a year after they came.

Yours are tame also, they will eat out of our
hands. I think those broad-shouldered,
thick-legged blue (with black broad bars over
wings) are very good ones, We raised some
nice breeders from them. A friend of ours at
Marlton, New Jersey, spoke of getting nice
birds of you. I have made interesting visits
among the pigeon keepers in New Jersey.—
Miss M. H. B., Pennsylvania.

Answer. Rats and mice, as we have ex-
plained so many times, must be kept out by
elevating the building. If it is impossible to
do this, take one-inch mesh wire netting and
bury it completely in the dirt floor, six inches
deep. At the sides and corners bring it up
above the sills of the building and fasten it
with staples. This will give you a wire-net-
ting carpet for your squab house (buried six
inches under the ground), and through this
barrier it is impossible for rats or mice to get.
It is a hard task to exterminate them by
poison or traps after they have once got in to
an improperly-arranged place, and if _you
succeed they are bound to come again. Do it
right by elevating your building or burying
wire netting and that willend the bother. |

What this customer calls the shivers is
diarrhcea caused by feeding too much wheat.

TWO PAIRS ONLY. I am going into the
squab industry in a very small way to raise
a few birds for our own use and find a pleasur-
able occupation as an aside. I shall later
want a few pairs of your birds. I bought
some time ago ten pairs of another company,
but so far am sure of only two pairs in the lot
and they have given me no little trouble.—
Rev. G. B. L., Vermont.

NINE AND ONE-HALF POUNDS TO THE
DOZEN AND SOLD FOR FOUR DOLLARS.
Will you kindly inform me to whom to write
about disposing of pigeon droppings. I made
the first sale of squabs last week. They
weighed nine and one-half pounds to the
dozen, plucked, bled, empty crops. I received
our dollars for them. How is that?—F. H.S.,

io.

GENERAL VERDICT. Please send me
addresses of New York squab dealers. I
received the three pairs of Extra Plymouths;
all were in fine condition. My friends all say
they never saw a nicer lot of Homers. I also
thank you for the prompt shipment. I
expect to send for another lot in about a
month.—J. B. S., Pennsylvania.

SQUABS TWO WEEKS OLD WEIGHING
THREE-QUARTERS OF A POUND IN
COLORADO. Birds ordered of you some
days ago reached me in pretty fair shape,
with the exception of one male dead. Thank
you for your splendid treatment to my order.
Squabs from the first lot at two weeks
weighed three-quarters of a pound. How is
that? Will return baskets in a few days.—
J. F. B., Colorado.

BEST BOOK ON BIRDS HE EVER READ,
I received your Manual and find it just
what you say. It is the best book on birds I
ever read. I have a large plant of common
pigeons but since I read your book I have
built one of the prettiest pigeon houses and
flying pens in which to put the pigeons I am
ordering of you to-day. If your birds are
as fine as you say I will get rid of all my
common pigeons.—C. E. G., North Carolina.

—————
LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY
195

1907 MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS 1908

il, 3

u
;

Pen

A GOOD-LOOKING ILLINOIS PLANT.

These are two of the buildings of the breeder whose letter is printed on this page. Notice his handsome white
Homers.

LOST MONEY BY NOT KNCWING PLYMOUTH ROCK HOMERS. NOW HE IS ON THE
RIGHT TRACK. HE IS A TRAVELING SALESMAN AND HIS DAUGHTER DOES MOST
OF THE WORK ON THiS BIG PLANT. SQUABS WEIGH 11 POUNDS TO THE DOZEN.
I have just completed my new squab unit according to your plans. Please find enclosed
Adams Express money order for birds to fill same.

Other parties have been working on me for this order and I told them I would buy nothing
but Extra Plymouth Rocks. (A burnt child dreads the fire.) I lost enough by experimenting
with cheap birds when I began. Since I began buying of you I have had no trouble. The last
three shipments I received from you cannot be beat for size, beauty and breeding qualities.
About one-third of all the squabs I have sold in the past 12 months have averaged a little over
11 pounds to the dozen. We have quite a lot of squabs that weighed a full sixteen ounces each,

Now, Mr. Rice, as long as you continue to ship me in the future as fine stock as you have in
the past, I am with you and the Plymouth Rock Co., and “‘ the other fellow ” might just as
well save his postage stamps and breath.

I have not lost a single old bird by death or disease in 14 months. We had three or four
squabs picked badly. I found by taking the squabs away at three weeks of age and placing
them in a small feeding pen and feeding hempseed for a week that they fatten awfully fast.
What is your idea about that?

I hope you will excuse this long letter. Every time I think about my experience at the start
with all kinds of mixed up birds, I have ‘‘ brain storms ’’ and you can rest assured my talk
over the country will be for nothing but Plymouth Rock birds. As you know I am a traveling
man and ought to be a good talker. Consequently in order to repay you for favors in the
past I often tell my experiences and how I lost money by not knowing Elmer Rice.

My oldest daughter does all our feeding and taking care of our birds and she is getting to
be an expert pigeon keeper and delights in the pastime. We are figuring on increasing our
flocks just as fast as we can until we get 2000 pairs.—S. S. H., Illinois.

LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY
196

1907 MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS 1908

POOR WHEAT SET HIM BACK. HE SELLS ALL HE RAISES, THE SQUABS BEING
ENGAGED BY CUSTOMERS EVEN WHILE THEY ARE ON THE NEST. I write to you for
information concerning my flock of birds. I got my stock from you in 1904, and have been
building up my flock. I got along finely with them until the latter part of last summer when I
had the bad luck to lose about 20 or 25 of the old birds, which broke the mated pairs up. I
would like to increase my flock to the full capacity of the house built from your unit plan, 12
by 16. I lay the loss of my birds to some poor wheat I got from the mill here that must have
contained a good deal of erget that caused the females to-die. I wrote to Mr. Rice at the time
and he told me it was the wheat, at least I have had no more trouble since I commenced
feeding first quality grain. The squabs weigh 12 to 14 pounds a dozen.

I herewith send an order for 12 females to balance my flock.

My original purchase of you in 1904 was six pairs Extra Plymouth Rocks. The birds arrived
all safe and in good condition and attracted a good deal of attention at the time, for some of
my friends put on a broad smile and have been expecting me to bust up in the pigeon business,
but have been at it now for over two years and the order accompanying this don’t look much
like it for I can sell all the squabs I can raise. They are even engaged before they are fit to
take off the nest. I get 50 cents a pair just killed, and if I dress them ready for the oven I get
75 cents a pair in the local market. My squabs will weigh 12 or 14 pounds per dozen, and
think it is on account of the way I am handling and feeding, for I find you cannot make meat
unless you feed for it.

I make my own grit of glass and it has been very satisfactory. I keep a counle of bricks
of salt cat in the house, also a codfish occasionally, and tney are doing fine now, if I did have
some bad luck, but then one must expect drawbacks in any kind of business.—A. D. D.,
Pennsylvania.

Note. You will never have sickness of any kind with pigeons if you provide sound grain
and clean water. If your grain dealer needs watching, and has not vour interests at heart,
examine especially the wheat and corn, tasting both. Some grain dealers will take whole corn
which has germinated and make cracked corn of it. You can always tell sour grain by smell,
taste and sight.

It is quite true, as this customer states, that feed is a facter in the weight of the squabs. Too
much wheat keeps the old birds thin, and the saquabs dark and thin. Plenty of corn and
peas makes the squabs fat.

DISPOSING OF THE SQUABS IN SOUTH CAROLINA WHEN THEY REACH THE AGE
OF 23 DAYS. RECEIVING THREE DOLLARS A DOZEN. Our order for 17 pairs of Extra
Plymouth Rock Homers was placed with you early in March (1907) and the birds arrived and
were placed in our pen about the 20th. They were all in good shape, having stood the trans-
portation well, and made themselves entirely at home in their new quarters. The day follow-
ing their arrival one of the hens laid, and from that time until now (June 24) the flock, as a
whole, has worked splendidly, and results have far exceeded our expectations. At the present
time 15 of the 17 pairs are at work, having either eggs or young squabs. We believe that
every pair would have been at work, but two of our hens escaped, and we had to order two
more to replace these, and this accident upset our flock considerably. :

We find that the squabs will weigh from three-quarters to seven-eighths of a pound when they
are three weeks and two or three days old, and we have been disposing of them at that age.
No doubt, this fast growing is due to the equable climate which we have in South Carolina.
We have no trouble in disposing of all our birds at that age at 25 cents apiece.

The pigeons do not require much of our time, and we are so thoroughly satisfied with our
experience that we are considering ordering 20 more pairs in the next few days.—Mrs. C. B.,
South Carolina.

SQUABS WEIGHING FOURTEEN TO RECEIVES $4.20 A DOZEN. My squabs

SIXTEEN OUNCES. It is now July, 1907,
six months since we purchazed from you 44
pairs of your Extra Homers. (Ccven pairs met
with accidents, because they were disturbed
several times on account of the plant not being
finished. The remaining 37 pairs are in
every way satisfactory. We have at present
11 pairs on eggs and 21 squabs. On account
of not having too much room for the birds and
also to answer the many demands of our sick,
we are killing the squabs at three to four weeks
when we find them to weigh 14 to 16 ounces,
and at which time the mature birds are again
breeding.—S. E., Illinois.

from your birds weigh when dressed nine
pounds to the dozen and I receive at the rate

of $4.20 per dozen for them. I have fed corn,
wheat, peasa1d millet, buckwheat and bread.
I have :.ad success by letting the squabs on
the flo-r when they are four weeks old, that
is, wnen I am going to keep them for breeders.
They are not troubled by the other birds and
they feed themselves sooner and the old birds
get to work earlier. I have had no sickness or
lice. Your Manual is all right and is good for
the starter and experienced.—P. E. D., Dis-
trict of Columbia.

LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY
197

1907 MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS 1908

SHOWING CONSTRUCTION IN FLORIDA.

_ This building, part of the plant of a Florida customer, is built of only one thickness of lumber. Only the roof
is shingled. No glass windows are needed. The climate of the South is exceptionally good for squab breeding.

SUCCESSFUL FLORIDA SQUAB FARMER SAYS THE CLIMATE OF HIS STATE CANNOT
BE BEAT. LIKES THE CARNEAUX. The Carneaux arrived here yesterday. I am much
pleased with them. They show more white than the birds which my mother sent me from
France and are larger. The more I see of the Carneaux, the more I like them, and wish I had
nothing but them in my squab farm. I believe there is going to be a tremendous run on them
as breeders.

My Homers are mated and all hard at work. I was fool enough last spring of 1906 to band
the mated birds of that season with colored bands, blue for cocks, red for hens. The bands
I bought from t————, who guaranteed that they would last a lifetime. I note at least one-
third have broken and come off. I shall have to reband 300 pairs over again. No more colored
bands for me.

Enclosed find check, for which send as specified. You will be glad to hear that I am making
a success of the squab business, and now have 700 mated pairs. As soon as the fall commences
and the price of eight to nine pound squabs advances from its present low standing here, I am
thinking of starting to ship to the New York markets. In this Southern climate our birds
work better and faster, produce far better grade of squabs in the winter and spring months
than in the summer; while I understand with you the summer is your best time. I believe
our Florida climate cannot be beat for squab farming.

If I like and find out that the Carneau is all it is cracked up to be, 50 per cent of my Homers
will be replaced gradually by them.—W. B. W., Florida.

HEALTHY, RUGGED BIRDS. Enclosed HIS FATHER IN IOWA LIKES THEM.
please find draft for $11.52 for one gross of My father at Des Moines, Iowa, is breeding
your nappies. The birds I got of you last your birds and likes them very much. Please
spring are all right. I have not lost a one send me present price on 10 and 20 pairs
with sickness or any other cause.—A. M. J., Homers. I want the best that I can get
Iowa. regardless of cost.—C. H. D., Illinois.

LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY
198

1907

MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS

1908

KNOWS BY EXPERIENCE THERE IS
MONEY IN PIGEONS. MANUAL “ AWFUL
GOOD.” I trust you will pardon my tardi-
ness in answering your letter with reference
to the new National Standard Squab Book.
Of course I want this book. I do not send
for these books through any idle curiosity.
I have kept pigeons and I know there is mone
in them if they are properly looked after. if
want to get back in the pigeon business after
the first of the year, and intend to do so, and
I want to start with the best birds I can get.
I think the National | Standard Squab Book
very fine. It is ‘awful good.’’ More
peasur and satisfaction than I can express.

on’t know of any improvements you could
make, unless you went ahead and said the
same thing over again. I enclose 20 cents in
stamps for your new 1907-1908 Manual.
I also send by this mail, under separate
cover, the old Manual.

I intended to purchase some of your birds
when I sent for your book, but conditions
have been such that it has been impossible.
Can’t say exactly when, but will buy some of
your birds soon.

The main reason I haven’t bought some of
your birds is because I haven’t had any
place to keep them. I have kept pigeons all
my life, know a great deal about their habits,
and above all, Iam very fond of them. How-
ever, I had to dispose of all the birds I had
about 18 months ago, and since that time
I haven’t had the room to keep them. I
had to dispose of them on account of having
to leave Atlanta. My lease on my present
home runs out about January 10, 1908, at
which time I expect to buy me a place with
large premises, where I can keep pigeons, as
I made a good deal of money on the.n during
my school days, and believe I can do so now
as a side line if nothing more—M. R. L.,
Georgia.

PLEASED WITH YOUR BUSINESS
METHODS AND BUYING STEADILY. I
have never seen a more likely lot of pigeons,
and as I have room enough for another 10
pairs, I enclose P. O. order and I hope that
before the next batch arrives I shall be ready
for fifty more pairs. am very much
pleased with the manner in which the Ply-
mouth Rock Squab Co. does business.—
R. W. J., Virginia.

MAKING THEM PAY AS HE GOES ALONG.
I now have seventy. One year ago last
March I bought six pairs from you. I want
a better start before I sell very many, but I
make them pay for their feed. Your Manual
is ‘‘the goods.” —D. E., Illinois,

HIS HOMERS LOOK LIKE PYGMIES
ALONGSIDE PLYMOUTH ROCK EXTRAS.
I have 60 Homers, but they look like pygmies
alongside of your birds. —F, ~ 1D):

OUR HOMERS MORE THAN WE CLAIM
FOR THEM. Your Homers are more than
ou claim for them. At least mine are.
hey are models of beauty and are very large.
I was skeptical at first, but I am thoroughly
convinced that the Homer is the only bird.
Some of my Homers are as large as the white
Italian birds that I purchased from you.
The squabs are fine large fellows and I am
sure that a nice flock of Homers beats a drove
of chickens for meat, either for home or
market use. I shall take pleasure in recom-
mending your birds to my friends and
prospective buyers. Please find enclosed 50
cents for another Manual.—M. A., Kansas,

HOMER HEN SITTING ON EGGS.

PIGEONS CRAVE GREEN FOOD. I
bought of you June 20, 1906, 24 pairs of your
Homers. I have lost three birds, all of my
raising, and now have 100 pairs (April, 1907).
They all seem to crave something green to
eat. What would you advise? Shall I feed
them any green foods? I am giving them
kaffir corn, a few peas, wheat and cracked
corn.—F. M. P., Georgia.

Answer. Yes, throw some lettuce or any
green leaves on to the squab-house floor
occasionally, say twice a week, and let them
peck away at them to suit themselves.

WISHES TO GET PIGEONS OF SUPERIOR
QUALITY. You may hear from a gentleman,
Mr John Fyle. Send him some of yort
literature, as I will always recommend your
stock to all who expect to go into the squab
‘yusiness. This Mr. Fyle has pigeons, but of
an inferior quality, and having been told
about mine, wants some like I have.—R. S.,
Maryland.

LETZERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY
199

1907

MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS

LIGHTED BY ELECTRICITY AND HEATED BY STEAM.

This shows part of the up-to-date plant of the customer in New York State whose letter is printed on this
page. The birds hanging in front of the brown paper are squabs just killed to get them into the picture.

PAYING PLANT IN HANDSOME BUILD-
INGS. I enclose photograph showing my
four units and office room. The building is
made of matched lumber so that they are ab-
solutely air-tight if so desired. It is equipped
with steam heat, electric light, hot and
cold water and both telephone systems. In
the office room the grain bins are zinc-lined
and moisture proof. The top is upholstered

so that when the lid is down the room has a ~

very pleasant appearance.

I have today broken ground for two more
units, as my young birds are coming on so
fast that I must make room for them. Be-
sides supplying the Elmira market, J am sav-
ing my most promising young ones in order
to increase my flock.

I have bought from you exclusively because
I liked your business methods and believe you
are fair and square. Your birds are good
breeders and throw heavy, white-skinned
squabs. Business is good and as fast as I
make money I enlarge my plant.—L. S. W..,
New York.

SOME AT WORK AFTER LONG JOUR-
NEY. The pigeons (dozen pairs) arrived,
August 12, in good condition with the excep-
tion that two of them had each one wing hurt.
I have waited to see how badly they were
hurt before writing, but think they will pull
through all right for one of them has taken a
mate and is building on the floor of the pigeon
house. Five pairs of them are building and
three pairs are driving, while several others
are paired off.—B. V., State of Washington.

FINEST BIRDS PERFECTLY MATED.
CHANGED HIS HOUSES. I want to tell you
about my birds. I received them the Satur-
day of the week you shipped them, turned
them out on Monday and they went right to
building. I have got three setting and I see
the others are starting to build. They went
right to work without any trouble. They go
into the house every night just as if they were
raised there. They are the finest birds I ever
saw. I have just finished another large
pigeon house and flying pen and I have put
my white ones into it. Since I read your
Manual I have changed most all my pigeon
houses. I find they are so much better than
mine. If any one is going into the pigeon
business I would advise them to get one of
your books on birds. I am sorry I did not get
one longago. Just as soon as I can get rid of
my common pigeons I want to replace them
with yours. I have got to build another
pigeon house and it will be about October
before I get through with it, and I shall need
nestbowls and other supplies——C. E. G.,
North Car6lina.

SMALL ORDER FOLLOWED BY LARGER.
Enclosed you will find an express money
order, for which please ship me the following:
12 pairs Extra Homers, one dozen wood-fibre
bowls, 25 pounds hempseed, 100 pounds
Canada peas. Please ship as soon as possible.
The three pairs of Extra Homers you sent
Tuesday reached here Thursday in fine
condition. Thank you for your prompt
shipment.—G. J. A., New Jersey.

LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY
200

1907 MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS 1908

NEW JERSEY WOMAN RECEIVES $4.00 TO $7.00 A DOZEN FOR SQUABS FROM
PLYMOUTH ROCK EXTRAS. From the six pairs of birds I bought from you in 1905
and the extra pair you kindly gave me I have raised 215 birds. My squabs average 11 pounds
to the dozen, sometimes more. The birds work all the time. They breed on the average of
nine pairs every year.

I have never had to give them a drop of medicine since I have had themas they keep in
perfect health.

I have lost about five pairs of squabs from the rats getting them, but never any from sickness,

I have built my coops after your suggestions in your book, The National Standard Squab
Book, and am not troubled any more from rats. I have never seen any birds to compare with
mine in size. I have seen hundreds of pigeons but every one praises mine upand remarks how
large, full and broad they are across the breast.

So far I have been selling my squabs here in town. They bring from $4.00 to $7.00 per
dozen, according to the time of year. This price I get for them right out of the nest without
killing or picking.

I feed kaffir corn, cracked corn and wheat every morning, and every Monday, Wednesday
and Saturday I give them hemp seed and Canada peas (on trays) as much as they will eat.
They have fresh water twice a day in summer and once in winter and once every week I scald
out their drinking fountains with hot water to keep them sweet and clean.

I have one box of grit and one of oyster shells in the coop all the time and instead of putting
it on the yard floor I put it in boxes. I also have a lump of rock salt and a salt-cat in each
coop made as directed in your Manual. Once a week I clean their coops and take the white-
wash pail in with me and whitewash the boxes out and sprinkle slaked lime on the floors of the
coops and the vards. -

Your book has been a great help to me, and I have read it over many times and try to follow
its directions in every particular.

I am thoroughly satisfied with my birds and feel I have had great success with them and
would not have any other breed or kind were they to be given to me free. I am now ordering
30 pairs of Extra Plymouth Rock Homers, same as I got before in 1905, making $75.00 worth, at
the rate of $2.50 per pair. I enclose check for same, $75,00.—Mrs. S. V. F., New Jersey.

QUICK START BY A 700-PAIR FLOCK. In January and February, 1907, a customer in the
Mississippi valley bought 700 pairs of Extra Plymouth Rock Homers. On arrival of the birds he
wrote: ‘ They are as fine a lot of thoroughbreds as lever saw. You deserve the success you
enjoy for your business methods.”’

The last consignment left us February 4 and reached him February 8. Nineteen days later he
wrote us: ‘‘Our birds are doing very well. Have 400 pairs of eggs and squabs in the house, and
probably 50 pairs driving. If the market will take all of our supply next month, we will put up
another house at once and buy the birds of you, for you have always been fair and just with me.”’

On March 5 he wrote: ‘‘ Our squab house is a mass of squahs and eggs. The birds were at
work within three days after placing them in their rooms, which shows that the wood fibre bowls
and surroundings suited them, and that they were properly mated. The special lot of 50 pairs is
the most remarkable pen we have ever seen. In 30 days after their arrival, there were 40 pairs on
eggs. We feel it our duty tocompliment you on your fair, honorable and just dealings with us.”

SIX DOLLARS A DOZEN IN CANADA FOR SQUABS WEIGHING NEARLY ONE POUND
EACH. About two years ago I purchased 'from you 15 pairs of your Extra Plymouth Rock
Homers. They have given excellent satisfaction in every way. All the squabs raised in two
summers weighed 10-12 pounds to the dozen and at all times I was able to get $6.00 per dozen
for them, indeed, I could not nearly supply the demand. I had offers to supply one of the
largest hotels in Canada if I had enough stock.

I think I am as enthusiastic a squab raiser as can be found. I have always kept fancy
meron for pleasure, but never until I raised these from you have I raised squabs to sell.—A. M.,

anada.

INCREASE TWENTY-ONE FOLD IN TWO YEARS IN OKLAHOMA. Would you please
inform me where to ship the pigeon manure to a tannery? We have 200 pairs and we have
burned 15 bushels this year. As I heard that you shipped the manure, I thought that I would
write to you for my information. We are thinking of getting some more pigeons from you.
Two years ago the 15th of February we got 11 pairs from your Company and now we have 231
pairs from those 11 pairs.—C. O. L., Oklahoma.

BIG FLOCK IN KANSAS BRED FROM SMALL BEGINNING. Some two years ago I pur-
chased from you 38 Homer pigeons. I now havea pen of 500 of the nicest birds in this locality.
I am expecting to build larger pens and divide the bunch, and I wish to get all the printed
matter I can on the subject of squab breeding, also all the information you can give me by
letter regarding the mating of birds, even if I have to pay a reasonable fee. Please let me hear
from you by return mail and oblige —G. G., Kansas.

LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY
201

1908

1907 MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS

“tS WS 4 ' |

“cg lw. Wiha

ON A POLE AT TOP OF FLYING PEN.

INDIANA WOMAN WON FIRST PRIZE AT HER FAIR. QUICK INCREASE IN SMALL
FLOCK. HOW SHE FEEDS THEM AND CARES FOR THEM. In the spring of 1907 I bought
15 pairs of your Plymouth Rock Homers. In March they started to build their nests. At
present (October) I have 82 young squabs with eight pairs on eggs. When the squabs are four
weeks old they weigh 14 to 16 ounces apiece. They are very rich eating. One pair of birds
raised me from six to seven pairs of young squabs (in less than eight months). When the
squabs are two weeks old I clean their nestbowls out twice a week. Twice a week I sprinkle
slaked lime around. I use tobacco stems. Also every day I give my coop a good cleaning.
I have no kind of lice. I sprinkle a little slaked lime on the floor. have a good many
visitors. They say, how can you keep it so clean? Mr. Kline, Mr. Martin and several others
were here to look at my birds. They thought they were fine. Some of my young birds are
larger than some of the old birds. Some of the young birds have raised some young squabs
for the second time, of which the first eggs were no good. I feed my birds in the morning. I
give cracked corn, wheat, kaffir corn, buckwheat and barley, all mixed together and feed
fresh water, plenty of it. Also their morning bath. This is their morning feed. At noon
they get lettuce or cabbage leaves or Swiss chard. They are very fond of dry bread or cake.
In the evening I feed the same as the morning feed except I scald a little oats; when cold, I mix
it with the other feed. I put a teaspoonful of carbolic acid in their drinking water once a
month. I am feeding sunflower seed once a week. When my young birds are six weeks old
I pull their tail feathers out. I find out they do better. It seems to help them to shed their
feathers quicker. I band my birds when four weeks old and place them in another coop. My
coop is 16 feet long, 12 feet high, 10 feet wide, with a double floor with tar paper between, also
it is lined with tar paper and has three large windows in it. I have 132 nest boxes. They
are 12 inches square. I build them like you have them in your squab book. I would like to
send you a picture of the squab house, but I planted lima beans and spun them up the wire.

TI will send you a picture later on.

I got first prize at the fair.

I have seen several kinds of

pigeons but they don’t compare with mine in size and weight.

We eat squabs about every Sunday.
might call noodle soup.

I make pot pie, also I have soup.
They are the best stuffed with dressing made with one egg, one onion

I make what you

cut fine, little parsley, pinch of salt and pepper, a little grated nutmeg, the hearts and gizzards

of the birds and bread broken in small pieces, water enough to moisten.

three birds to dress.—Mrs. S. B.. Indiana.

MOVED HIS FLOCK, BUYING MORE.
About a year ago, I purchased 12 pairs of
Homer pigeons from you. At that time I
was located at Lowder, Ill. About February
15 this year (1907) I moved them from
Lowder to Waverly, which is about eight
miles. I now have 34 pairs. Will be in the
market for more birds at once. Also quote
me prices on supplies.—G. C. H., Illinois.

ONE-POUND SQUABS. NEVER LESS
THAN $3 AND AS HIGH AS $4.50 A DOZEN
OBTAINED IN SOUTH DAKOTA. In Sep-
tember, 1905, I bought some Homer pigeons
from you. Most all squabs that I have
raised from your Extra Homers weigh one
pound at five weeks old and I have got as high
as $4.50 per dozen for them, never less than
$3 per dozen. You may use this information
as it is correct. —J. H. K., South Dakota.

This is enough for

NO AILING PIGEONS. Well, it has been
some time since I received the 13 pairs
pigeons from you and I will say I am quite
well satisfied with them. They are all work-
ing but two pair and I have quite a bunch of
good healthy young ones in my rearing pen
and think I would have had more if I had
given them more time and care, but I have
too much other work.

I keep the house clean and have it white-
washed, and don’t believe I have an ailing
pigeon in the loft. I think I have some lice
but they are not bad. I spray my lofts once
or twice a week, being careful to choose a
bright, warm day.—C. R.., Illinois.

VERY FINE FLOCK. I purchased some
of your Plymouth Rock Homers a few years
ago. I have a very fine flock of birds now.—
J. M. W., Pennsylvania.

LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY
202

MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS

1908

CHEAPEST POSSIBLE CONSTRUCTION.

Single boarding, covered with roofing, no shingles. The long, shallow wood trough is for the birds to bathe in.
The water enters from a faucet in the foreground. After the birds have bathed, the water is emptied by pulling
a plug at the end. The trough is cleaned with a broom. The man who sends this photograph writes: “I raised
1650 young ones from March 1, 1907 to July 1, 1907 (four months) from 450 pairs of breeders in this building.”

MADE A TRIP SOUTH AS FAR AS VIRGINIA AND FOUND OUR BIRDS THE BEST ALL
ALONG THE LINE. NONE OTHERS ANYWHERE NEAR THEIR EQUAL FOR SIZE AND

UALITY. I have sold lots of squabs this summer. I average about 800 a month. Besides
that I have worked up a little side trade in selling mated birds, but only the very large ones,
such as I raise myself. Such orders bring me $3 a pair. I can’t raise them fast enough to
supply my trade, but I guarantee to do what is right by them all.

I can say the credit is yours for supplying me with the old birds, as you did, but I only wish
I had sense enough to have held on to all Lever got from you. Mr. Rice, I claim to have raised
the largest Homers that any man can raise.

1 visited a plant in Pennsylvania. While I was there I was also down to Philadelphia and
Delaware as far as Virginia and I saw your fine birds all along as I went, but none others were
anywhere near their equal as far as size and quality went.

I will take the largest Homers you have to-day and breed them in my coops and raise the
young ones myself, and the young birds will be larger than the old ones, but that is experience
that does that—L. Y., Connecticut.

WHY WE HAVE MADE A SUCCESS. I
wish to thank you very much for the nice
selection both in size and perfect marking.
I readily see why it is you have made a success
of Homer breeding. I have long since found
a satisfied customer is by far the best advertis-
ing medium in building a substantial business.
I will give you my future orders. I hope to
add frequently to my nice loft of birds. No
off-color or inferior birds can exist in my
pens. Wishing you success——W. B. T.,
Texas.

CANADA CUSTOMER FINDS PROFIT-
ABLE OCCUPATION. About six months ago
I purchased from you seven pairs of your
Extra mated adult Plymouth Rock Homer
pigeons. Have had very good success with
them. Starting with seven pairs, J have
now (June, 4, 1907) fifty-six hardy Homers. I
also got a Manual from you and find it very
helpful. On the whole, I think squab rais-
ing is one of the most profitable industries
pursued to-day. You can publish this letter
if you wish.—J. M., B. C., Canada.

LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY

204

1907 MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS 1908

CONNECTICUT WOMAN’S BIRDS BREED BETTER THAN MANUAL STATES. SHE HAS
SEEN ONLY ONE LOFT OF BIRDS AS GOOD AS HERS AND THAT MAN BOUGHT HIS
STOCK OF US. I will give you a statement of the birds I received from you the 23d of April,
1907. My birds do very much better than you state in your Manual.

They arrived in perfect condition and are very large and beautiful, have always been perfectly
healthy. There has never been only one that was sick and that was caused from moulting and
raising birds too fast. I took her away until she had recovered and her mate cared for the
young birds. These birds lay when their young are from 12 to 21 days old.

Some of them are sitting on their fifth lot of eggs. They have hatched 48 young birds in
four months and just three weeks, and expect more will hatch this week. Some of the young
ones are beautiful.

I have never had young birds remain in their nests over three- weeks.

One pair build on the floor and their birds leave their nest at 17 days old. These weigh at
three weeks 14 ounces, others at ten days weigh one-half pound each, some at three weeks
weigh one pound. ;

I have some that are very delicate from which I shall use for flying. These birds do not
weigh but 14 ounces at four weeks old.

I have seen but one loft of birds as large and handsome as these birds, and those were owned
by a Mr. Cornwell of Milford. He bought his first birds of you and claims that they raise 11
pairs of birds a year. One of my neighbors who was watching my birds said: ‘‘ In all the birds
I have ever seen these are the largest and most lovely.”

I have followed your advice in the care of them and would like to know if mine are doing
as well as the average youhear from. If I amsuccessful in flying the birds will let you know.
Enclosed you will find money order for 50 pounds of health grit—Miss A. A. W., Connecticut.

CHAIR SEATS USED FOR THE BOTTOMS OF NEST-BOXES, CHEAPER THAN LUMBER.
HOW TO CHOP UP STRAW FOR NESTING MATERIAL. I note you say use long boards
for bottoms of nests and short pieces perpendicular. I reversed this before seeing your plans
by standing up long boards 12 inches apart, toenailed to wall. These boards have three-quarter-
inch by three-quarter-inch cleats for bottoms. I use 12-inch three-plv perforated seats. These
seats are varnished, are light and strong, as your excellent bowls. They are slightly concave
in center, just fitting the nestbowl, and the perforations do not extend beyond margin of bowl.
Ifasten bowls to them with stove bolts. I can remove nut in a moment and have bowl and
base separate for cleaning, and they are cheaper than good lumber, which costs five to six
cents a*Square foot. Seats 12 inches square can be bought for three cents each. They come
10, 11: at#¢ 12 inches square.

You suggest no easy way for chopping straw in proper length for nests. I have stumbled
onto a cheap and easy plan for smal! fellows like me. Use a common mitrebox and saw.
Place mitrebox on table near end anda receptacle beneath. One or two strokes will cut through
a big handful of straws and as you move up for next cut, the short ends drop into receptacle.

I hope you do not consider all this didactic (or what not) for to tell the truth I have gotten
more pleasure and information out of your Manual than I could have gathered with endless
and expensive experimenting, and I want to help if I can in any small way.—P. O. L., New
Jersey.

HIS BATH-PANS ARE MOUNTED ON A PIPE AND HE EMPTIES ALL WITH ONE TURN
OF ACRANK. FILLS ALL BY TURNING ONE VALVE. My seli-feeder is just perfect. Two
of the ranches about here are fitting up with it. I also have all my windows raised or lowered
at the same time and with only one motion. One or as many as you like can be detached
and remain closed. I can stand in my feed room and do the whole thing without taking a step.

My bath-pans are all mounted on a one-inch pipe running through the flying pen. The
erank is just outside the end of the pen. It locks when the pans are up for bathing. The
water is turned on by a faucet outside the flying pens. Now to empty this, no going inside
the pens, frightening the birds and swashing the dirty water onto your hands. You just
unlock the crank, rock the pans to and fro two or three times, turn down your crank and
every pan dumps its dirty water onto a drip board running outside the pen. Leave your pans
down and no snow, ice, or droppings can get into them.

My drinking fountains all work from the passageway. Not a particle of filth can get into
them.

Now I have not written this in any spirit of egotism. I consider it just common sense
economy of my own construction.—J. W., New Jersey.

THIS FLORIDA CUSTOMER BEGAN WITH TWELVE PAIRS OF OUR EXTRAS IN 1903.
We now (September, 1907), have about 400 to 500 birds and during winter and spring have
killed on an average of 25 squabs per week. To be accurate in this I cannot, as no account
was kept, but must say the birds have proven very satisfactory indeed. Will give Mrs. B. your
letter upon her return and she can answer it also.— J. C. W., Florida.

LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY
205

1907

MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS

1908

SQUABS SHOULD NOT BE SOLD DRAWN.
THE COOK IS THE ONE WHO DRAWS
THEM. The six pairs of Extra Plymouth
Rock Homers have increased to about 60 since
last May 20, breeding right on all the time,
just the same now (January, 1907), as last
summer, all large youngsters, which weigh
with feet off, head off, entrails removed.
just over half a pound. Please let me know
whether commission men weigh them that
way, or if they leave the feet and head on?—
P. A. W., Pennsylvania.

Answer. Squab dealers always weigh them
with the head and feet on and undrawn.
Never draw your squabs before selling them.
They will not keep so well in the markets,
and the marketmen do not take them that
way. The heads, feet and insides are
removed by the cook.

THE START.
In this barn, the customer whose picture is printed

on this page made his start. It is still in use but the
greater part of his breeding is done in a long multiple
unit house nearby.

AFTER ONE YEAR'S SUCCESSFUL
TRIAL HE BUILDS A HOUSE FOR THREE
HUNDRED PAIRS. The pigeons I got of
you a little over a year ago have been doing
finely. Am now (April, 1907) building a
house to accommodate three hundred pairs.
Enclosed find check for $23.04 for which
please send me two gross of the fibre nest-
bowls. I will have a picture of my new
house taken a little later on and send to you.
I could not give you any definite figures as
to what your birds have dore for me, as l
had some other birds in with them. How-
ever, the ones got of you are the best and
largest. One pair especially has raised a pair
of squabs almost every month. I expect to
put some of your birds to themselves as soon
as my new house is ready, and may be able
to give you figures on them later on.—H. B.,
Indiana.

GRAIN AND SUPPLIES TO THE GULF
STATES BY STEAMSHIP. Please quote me
price on 200 pounds of mixed feed but with-
out chops. I cannot get wheat or hemp
seed, and I find my birds do better on your
mixed feed. The birds I ordered from you
some time ago are doing finely. I am very
much pleased with them.—B. E., Mississippi.
he Note. We ship a great deal of grain and
Other supplies to customers living in Gulf
States by hoat from New York to Mobile,
New Orleans, Galveston and other ports, a
quick and cheap route, much faster than rail,
and more satisfactory. The shipments get
less handling.

THIS CUSTOMER

Started with a dozen pairs of our birds and has run
them up to 800 pairs, paying a handsome profit.
This is spare time work for him, as he is regularly
employed at his trade.

WONDERFUL MATINGS. MORE SALES
PROMISED. I received the 12 pairs of
birds O. K. in fine shape April 11, 7 p.m.,
1907. They are a nice-looking lot of breeders
and all you claim them to be, as two of them
laid eggs while in transit and two more laid
to-day, April 13, so you see there is some-
thing doing. The other six pairs are doing
well. All laid but one pair, and I think they
are coming along all right. J assure you that
such fair treatment means a continuation of
sales -witi me and I shall recommend the
Plymouth Rock Squab Co. to those who are
buying breeders. Will return baskets to-day.
You can use this as a testimonial if you wish.
—wW. B. H., Massachusetts.

LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY
206

1907

MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS

1908

BEAUTIFUL PAIR OF SPLASHES.
The second bird on the left and the last bird on the right are types of oddly-marked Plymouth Rock Homers

FEEDS HIS BIRDS LOCUST LEAVES AND PEPPER GRASS.

BOSTON DEALER

ALWAYS GIVES HIM MORE THAN THE MARKET QUOTATIONS BECAUSE HIS SQUABS

ARE WORTH MORE.

I purchased 12 pairs Extra
Company, in February, 1906, the best stock I could buy.
to January 1907, when I began to ship the squabs.
and I receive from $3 to $4 per dozen for them.

omers of the Plymouth Rock Squab

Isaved all my squabs for breeders up

They average 9 pounds to the dozen,
I ship to the Boston market.

I feed my birds on wheat, cracked corn and kaffir corn in equal parts, with peas and hemp-

seed as dainties.

I feed them in wooden traps, not finding any self-feeder which I like. A

box containing grit, oyster shells and charcoal is kept before them all the time and the flying

pen outside covered with coarse sand.

I find pine needles to be the best nesting material,

the birds building a small, neat, compact nest with them.

I sell the pigeon manure to parties in town at 50 cents per bushel.
feet long by 14 wide, with a passageway three feet wide on one side.
My flying pen is 36 feet wide, 18 feet long and ten

by fountains placed in the passageway.
feet high, divided into three parts.

I find my birds to be very fond of locust leaves and pepper grass, eating it like grain.

My squab house is 36
The birds are watered

They

like peas and hempseed so well that they will fly on to my hand for them. My birds are mostly
blue checkers, with a few reds and silvers among them.
I ship nearly every week to a large commission dealer in Faneuil Hall Market, who always

gives me more than the market quotations.

among them, and are raising big, fat squabs at the present time.

Massachusetts.

MOVING, GOING INTO THE BUSINESS
ON A LARGER SCALE. Our Homers have
done fine since we have had them. We have
doubled. So far we have lost only one pair
of squabs and we think the parents smothered
them. Then one of our young birds of our
first pair got out and away and we think he
was frozen or caught by a cat, for the night
was a cold one. Now we are going to move
and take a place where we can go into the
business on a larger scale, so we will hope to
send for more birds as soon as we get coops
ready.—Miss H. L. A., New Jersey.

PLYMOUTH ROCKS BEST IN MEMPHIS.
I have lost only one bird from sickness. I
have had no trouble with lice at all. My
birds keep very clean and are also very tame.
I go to see ali the pigeons around Memphis
but find none as fine looking as yours. Your
Manual is a fine teacher, why it is wortha
dollar. I hope to have success by following
your Manual as I have done so far.—W. A.,
Tennessee.

My birds are all in fine condition, no poor ones

(June, 1907.)—E. B. K.,

SQUABS TEN POUNDS TO THE DOZEN.
GOING TO SHIP TO NEW YORK FROM
IOWA. If you remember I bought some fine
Homers of you a year ago last September.
They were the Extras. They have done well.
Must have now 150 birds, fine large ones at
that. I can send squabs to New York from
here for $1.50 per 50 pounds. That is what I
want to do eventually. I weighed 12 squabs
just as they came, one month old. They
weighed a trifle over 10 pounds. One pair
weighed two pounds exact.—J. C., Iowa.

SUPERIOR HOMERS BREEDING EX-
TREMELY LARGE SQUABS. Accept my
thanks for your fair treatment with regard
to my order_of June. The birds are breeding
extremely Jarge squabs. Since then I have
had given to me twelve pairs pedigreed
Homers, but yours are superior in every way.
Enclosed find P. O. money order, for which
Please send me six pairs Extra mated adult
Homers and twelve wood-fibre nestbowls.—
H.R. M., Massachusetts.

LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY
207

1907 MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS 1908

PLYMOUTH ROCK BLUE BARS AND BLUE CHECKERS.

BOY IN THE INDIAN TERRITORY 13 YEARS OLD GOT RID OF HIS FLOCK OF COMMON
BIRDS AS SOON AS HE SAW PLYMOUTH ROCKS AND WHAT THEY WOULD DO. The
nappies ordered of you came on time. My pigeons put them to use as soon as they arrived.
I bought six pairs of your Extra Plymouth Rock Homers in January, 1907. I now (July) have
32 large, full-breasted birds. Some of the young ones are going to work now. Iam 13 years
old and was anxious to do something to make a little money while going to school, and saw an
advertisement of your Homers and made up my mind to try them. I am more than satisfied
with my investment and within the next year I expect to have a very nice little income.

In your Manual you show a diagram of a self-feeder, and I had one made which is very
satisfactory, as it saves so much work and attention. I can get all the grain recommended
by you except the buckwheat and hempseed, and I use red (instead of white) wheat, and my
birds are thriving and doing well.

I hope to be able to dispose of all I can raise here in my home market, as they are so large
and fine. In fact, there is all the difference in the world between my Homer squabs and the
ordinary scrub squab, and it will pay any one wanting to go in the business to get the best to
start on. I weighed some of my squabs this morning (just three weeks old) and they average
one pound each, or two pounds to the pair. I had a flock of common birds and the squabs
were dark skinned and weighed about eight ounces, and when I read of your birds I at once
sold out and ordered from you, and I certainly feel that I made a good trade. I expect to
order six pairs more soon. Thank you for the promptness and care taken of my orders.—
L. G., Indian Territory.

THREE DOLLARS A DOZEN FOR PLY- LARGEST EVER SEEN IN ONTARIO.
MOUTH ROCK SQUABS IN ARKANSAS. The weather has been very cold here, 30
Please send six more pairs of your Extra degrees below zero, so I have kept a coal oil
Plymouth Rock Homers and one dozen nest- stove going most of the time. Your birds
bowls. We are able to get $3 a dozen for have been greatly admired. They are the
our squabs at the hotels here—W. A. T., biggest that have ever been seen here.—
Arkansas. G. S. B., Ontario.

LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY
208

MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS

ON A RUNNING BOARD IN THE SUN.

NESTBOWLS VERY PRACTICAL AND ARE A NECESSITY. BUSINESS SHEET OF A
BEGINNER WITH SQUABS IN CANADA. On May 5, 1906, I received your lot of seven pairs
Extra Plymouth Rock Homers, one pair out of tne seven being free, as some nestbowls were
bougat previdusly, to allow for the express charges on them. I may say that these bowls are
very practical, as none of my squabs have suffered from sprawled feet as is noticed when earthen-
ware nappies are used.

Tne breeders were put in the pigeon house the same night and it was not long before they
became acquainted with theirnew home. Full instructions were sent before the pigeons reached
here and as tiese were clear it was very easy to follow them. Sixteen days after their arrival
there were two eggs in a nest. This was an event, as many friends were interested. They
were much surprised to see these three-week-old squabs weighing 14 ounces and even more
than 16 ounces at four weeks. Their common pigeons were looking very small against my
Plymouth Rock Homers which were looking so fine. It was really funny to hear them taking
notice of the wonderful difference. Mine were looking so fine with their large breasts, their
bright-looking eyes, their wings which look to be detached from them. The opinion of my
friends was that they were the finest birds they ever saw.

At the end of the first month there were four squabs and six eggs, at. the end of October 12
pairs of eggs had been !aid and hatched, making a total of 22 pairs of squabs at the end of six
months. All the squabs of the first August were eaten at a family dinner and proclaimed the
finest squabs that were ever served on such an occasion. Since that time we disposed of the
squabs for breeding purposes and for eating. Last winter I had 15 pairs of squabs laid but as
the winter was very cold some of the squabs died because the parents were not acclimated,
but I am sure that this winter will not be so fatal as they will be acclimated. Since April, 1907,
I have had 29 pairs of eggs, of which 26 pairs of squabs have been eaten. In consequence,
pigeon keeping in Quebec has proved to be a success, a paying business, when proper birds are
used—that is, the Plymouth Rock Squab Company Homers.

Business Sheet of an Amateur Squab Breeder.

May 5, 1906 to September 1, 1907.
Total of eggs laid, 66 pairs.
Total of pounds of grains, 638, at a cost of $11.47.

Rations of Grains for Feeding Purposes.

Winter Summer
LEREISD egos take eA ONIN, Ok IN a ee eee re ee ga 30 lbs. 30 lbs.
Red uiWiheatan, spate sags nse 15 lbs. 25 lbs.
IBYOUG) a ANCENR tesa ceo ee Bey at Cera each EERO eae a He RS oe et ae 15 lbs. 15 lbs.
Cracked corn (not sifted)....... 40 lbs. 30 lbs.

During September and October I fed 30 pounds red wheat and 40 pounds peas.

The pigeons are sold in Montreal! for: 50—70 cents per pair in winter, 45—55 cents per
pair in autumn, 30—40 cents per pair in spring, 25—35 cents per pair in summer. Average
price, 40 cents per pair —G. G.. Canada.

KNOW WHERE TO BUY WHEN THEY
WANT THE PIGEONS WHICH ARE THE
VERY BEST IN EVERY RESPECT. In
February, 1906, I bought pigeons from you
from which I am raising the finest flock of
pigeons that I ever saw. I am sending to you
herewith with hopes of getting more from you
that are equally as good if not better than
the ones I got last year. The enclosed order
is partly for mvself and partly for Mr. Ritter,
who has been corresponding with you recently.
We want pigeons that are the very best in
every resvect.—W. A. G., Ohio.

BEAUTIES, EXCELLENT LAYERS, VERY
HEALTHY. In September, 1904, I purchased
from you 12 pairs of birds. We have in-
creased our flock to over 100 pairs so at
present (October, 1907) I am obliged to sell
some of our young birds for the need of
making room ‘for others. They are beauties
and give good satisfaction. They are excellent
lavers, hatching fine, large squabs weighing,
from eight to 12 ounces and are verv healthy.
Perhaps next year I shall be situated so I can
order abvut 50 pairs of your first-class
breeders.—E. FE. H., New Jersey.

LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY
209

INTERIOR OF MASSACHUSETTS CUSTOMER’S HOUSE.
Wire netting is used always to separate the units, not board partitions. This breeder has not set nest boxes
up against the wire netting, but this is done in almost every case. ;

NEVER HAD A SICK BIRD AMONG OURS, BUT BIRDS FROM ANOTHER SOURCE ARE

WEAK AND POOR BREEDERS, HANDLED UNDER THE SAME CONDITIONS.

You will

probably remember me as having bought two dozen pairs ot Plymouth Rock pigeons from you

last November. 2 :
one got away and one cock bird I killed.

what they would do, so I bought two cozen pairs from

Out of the 25 pairs you sent me, I have 29 pairs working.
I thought I would try some one else’s birds to see

One bird died,

I built a new house

exactly the same as I put your birds in, and have given them the same treatment, but they

are not doing as well as your birds.

They do not seem strong and vigorous like your birds.

I would like you to send me 24 pairs of your very best Extra Plymouth Rock Homers. I

am not particular as to color so long as the quality is there.
I have kept the birds I got from the other man in a pen by themselves as I want to give

them a fair chance.
young as they should do.
they do not seem as vigorous as your birds.

They may be young birds, as they do not seem to care for their eggs and
I give them exactly the same treatment as I give the others, but
I have never had a sick bird among yours, since

I got them, only the one that died soon after I received them.—J. W., West Virginia.

NEWS OF OUR SUCCESS CARRIED TO
INDIA. Having heard something of your
wonderful success in this business from a
gentleman from America, I should very much
like to hear full particulars. I have some
young nephews in California whom I should
like to help make a start in some way.—

M. C. H., Bombay, India.
LOST ONLY TWO YOUNG SQUABS. Will

you be so kind as to tell me where I can get
a good cut of a pair of Homer pigeons? My
birds which I bought of you are doing well.
I have not lost any but two young squabs
before they were grown. They are certainly
nice.—L. L. D., Georgia.

GOOD MATINGS. FOUR NESTS SIX
DAYS AFTER REACHING KENTUCKY.
Homers received in splendid conditicn on
March 8. They are surely a beautiful lot of
birds. Am very much pleased with them
and hope to duplicate order in a short time.
They have built four nests already. (March 14.)
—I. P. Y., Kentucky.

ONE HUNDRED SQUABS A MONTH
WEIGHING ELEVEN TO FOURTEEN
OUNCES. I have nothing but your Extra
stock exclusively and am now turning out 100
or more fine squabs weighing 11 to 14 ounces
and pret every four weeks.—E. M., South
Carolina.

LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY
210

1907

SIX SQUABS WEIGHEP A LITTLE OVER
FOUR AND ONE HALF POUNDS. I am
sending you by mail a photo of one of my
pigeon houses. 1 cannot have both houses
taken in the same picture because they are
too far apart. This picture was taken when
I had only 25 pairs of birds in it. I now
have 45 pairs in it, all your birds, and they
are doing fine. The birds are not quite
through the moult yet but they have been
breeding right along. I killed six squabs
to-day and they weighed a little over four
and one-half pounds after they were picked;
so that’s not so bad, considering that they are
moulting. Please let me know if you can
let me have two pairs of good Carneaux,
something you can recommend, as I would
like to get good ones.—W. I. L., West
Virginia.

WOMEN ENJOY SQUAB RAISING.

HE HAS THE LARGEST HOMERS IN HIS
PENNSYLVANIA TOWN. I think it is time
to !et you know about my birds which I got

from you in April, 1906. Well, they are
doing all right. You know J got three pairs.
Now (May, 1907) I have 36. About 16

young ones died last winter on account of the
very cold weather we had. I must thank you
very much for the birds which you sold me.
We have quite a lot of people that have
Homer pigeons around here, but I have the
largest of them all, so I am well satisfied and
shall always recommend your squab farm
and your Homers.—H. D. K., Pennsylvania.

EXTRA POCKET MONEY. I thought I
would write and tell you how my birds are
getting about. I have raised squabs enough
to pay for their expenses and extra pocket
money.—J. D., Massachusetts.

MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS

1908

EXTRA PLYMOUTH ROCKS SUPERIOR
TO ANY RUNT CROSSES AT MUCH LESS
COST. I have been interested in your
advertisements for some time, and if you will
favor me with any suggestions regarding my
own birds, I will be grateful. About two
years ago, I got some Runt-Homer crosses
of the best strain, thinking them best for
heavy squabs. They are as prolific as can be,
but the squabs weigh only 14 or 15 ounces
at four weeks old. The surroundings, feeding,
etc., are all right, as I am only keeping a few
pairs for pleasure of it. Would like to be put
aright.—P. A. R., California.

Answer. The strain of Extra Plymouth
Rock Homers we have developed are superior
in weight of squabs and rate of breeding to
any Runt cross, at one-fourth the cost of
Runts. The only birds superior to our Extra
Homers are our Carneaux. These breed
squabs weighing 12 pounds and more to the
dozen, and breed faster than Homers.

NO LET-UP IN BREEDING IN STATE
OF WASHINGTON. FINE, FAT SQUABS.
Since last August I have been a very sick
man; in fact, came very close to the divide,
but have not crossed over yet. (April, 1907.)
About my pigeons, I have not noticed any
let up about their breeding since they com-
menced last May. I have about 150 all told
now, fine big fellows. I have fed them red
wheat, kaffir corn, hemp seed and the small
yellow seed you recommended, have forgotten
its name, with grit, clam shell from the
beach, salt and charcoal once in a while,
fountain of water in the house and running
water in the yard. The birds do not like
strangers. They are not afraid of me. I
have some fine fat squabs. You can im-
prove on your hopper feeder by nailing a lath
on the inch piece to which the feeding holes
are nailed. Let it stand up one-half to
three-quarters inches above the one-inch
piece. It does not allow them to pull out
the grain so fast. I send you a picture of
the house and yard with a few of the pigeons
on roosts.—G. H., State of Washington.

TWELVE PAIRS OUT OF THIRTEEN
PAIRS AT WORK IN TWELVE DAYS
AFTER RECEIPT. I thought it might be
of interest to you to know how my little flock
of birds are getting along. It has been just
twelve days since they arrived and I now have
twelve pairs out of the baker’s dozen at work.
It strikes me that there is ‘‘ something doing.”
I have a nice, roomy home for them and do
everything that I can to make them happy,
and enjoy the care of them very much. [
feel now as though I will succeed and if I do
I will build me a unit plant next spring and
will stock it with your Homers. I go East
about once a year as far as New York, and the
next time I go, I will go over to Boston and visit
your plant.—B. A., Georgia.

eeeeEoOoOoeeeeeeeeeeeeee
LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY
211

1907 MORE’ STORIES OF SUCCESS 1908

AT THE BACK OF A BARN.

Showing how a New York customer made a handsome home for his birds without doing any building. (This
flying pen is shown in detail on next illustrated page.)

THAT THE WORK IS NOT BEYOND THE PERSON OF AVERAGE ABILITY IS PROVED
BY THE SUCCESS OF THIS 15-YEAR-OLD BOY WHO HAD NO PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE
AND NO GUIDE BUT THE MANUAL. Please send me prices on pigeon supplies, also prices
on breeding stock, as I have mislaid those that I received from you about a year ago when I
purchased pigeons of you. Iam only a boy of 15 and must wait until I can earn enough from
the ones I have. My Extra Plymouth Rock Homers have done very well. My brother bought
six pairs of you and he sold them to me immediately after they began work before winter was
half way begun. One pair died, so that left me only five pairs of breeders. I was se interested
in these that I forgot about the pair that died. They worked fine until cold-weather set in
having averaged a pair of squabs from each pair every seven weeks, but during the cold
weather we raised less. Our loft being upstairs, in an old granary, was pretty cold.

This spring (1907) they began work in earnest again, laying their eggs again before the squabs
were two weeks old. One young pair only four months old raised a pair of squabs weighing
one and one-half pounds. J nave now about seventy-five (75) birds old and young and lots of
eggs. x

We got 50 cents a pair for the squabs we sold, but I did not wish to sell many because I am
to raise them for breeders.

It certainly pays to buy the Extras, for everybody who sees them says they. are splendid, but
I believe your Manual is just as necessary tu make it a paying business. I do not see how
could raise them without it. Perhaps I will want some more breeders if I get the building
ready this summer.—G, L. G., Wisconsin.

ONE SALE LED TO ANOTHER. No OUTGROWN THE COOP. Please send me
doubt you are acquainted with Carlton five dozen nestbowls and one drinking
Daniel, who is a first cousin of mine. His fountain by express. My coop has got too
pigeons looked so fine that they encouraged small to hold the birds. The dozen pairs
me to buy of you. I don’t think mine can be you sent me have increased to 125 birds.—
beaten.—F. W., Indiana. F. C. W., Massachusetts.

LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY
212

1907 MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS 1908

F
lee
Ir
Fs
bie

SHIPSHAPE FLYING PEN.

This is the.flying pen of the place illustrated on preceding page. By the use of inch boards the owner has finished
off the timbcrs so that the effect is permanent and beautiful.

THIS NEW JERSEY BREEDER RECEIVES $4.50 A DOZEN FOR HIS SQUABS AND THE
DEMAND IS SO GREAT THAT HE CANNOTL FILL HIS ORDERS, SO BUYS MORE BIRDS
In sending my second order (January, 1907) for your Extra mated birds, I would like to put in
a few words in regard to tre birds I received from you in 1904. My birds have done fineiy.
I sent to Boston $30 fur 12 pairs. The birds arrived in the finest shape that was ever seen in
this part of New Jersey. I reccived the birds in May, 1904, and had eight pairs cf squabs in
July. I taen went to work and kept all the squabs for a short time until they got six to seven
months old, tien I went to mating them the way you show in vour Manual. I now in January,
1907, have 200 birds which is only one-fourth of the birds I raised, but the demand for squabs
was so great that I could not get the chance to save any for breeding. That is the reason why
I send an order for 50 pairs of your best birds.

My house is 12 feet wide and 26 feet long with a hall three feet wide, one window on the
north side and thee windows on the south side, with 200 nests. My first house was 12 feet
by 12 feet, but I found out that when handling Plymouth Rock Homers it does not take long
for tiem to make money for a larger house, and to get a start in a business of our own.

I would like to tell you that I put one advertisement in a paper of our town some time ago,
not to sell my squabs for I had more orders than I could fill, but to let my friends know that
I meant that there was money in handling your birds. The advertisement brought me so
many orders that I didn’t know what to do. 7

The demand for squabs is so great that I get $4.50 per dozen. My squabs average nine to
12 pounds to tie dozen.

I am going to build house No. 3 this spring and then I will need more of your fine birds.

I would like to tell you a few words in regard to the Manual. It is the finest I have ever read
for the reason you show how to run a successful squab business.

I use the self-feeder which you show in your Manual. I always find the feed clean and dry,
which is the main part of the feeding part. I feed cracked corn, red wheat, Canada peas and -
hempseed. The feed bi!l will not exceed 85 cents a year per breeding pair. I can ficure on
nine pairs of squabs per vear at 75 cents per pair, which leaves me a net profit of $5.20 per
year for each pair of breeders.

I am perfectly satisfied with the results obtained from your birds and wish you continued
success.—A. N., New Jersey.

VALUES HIS BIRDS AT FIVE DOLLARS USUAL STORY FROM IOWA. The birds
A PAIR. I would not sell my birds for five received from you last winter are doing
dollars a pair now.—C. E., New Jersey. finely.—E. R. W., Iowa.

LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY
213

1907

MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS

1908

BIRDS FED ONLY CRACKED BARLEY.
KNOWS WHERE TO GET MORE BIRDS.
I have some fine birds and am ctuck on that
last basketful you sent—those nice dark
checkers, and some of the nicest sky blue I
ever saw. I have some young birds from
the last ones you sent me that will mate in
two or three weeks, so you can see they did
not lose much time after shedding feathers.
There was a man at my place, whose name I
forget. He said his birds were from your
place and that my birds were livelier than
his. I told him if he would follow your book
he would be all right. I told him he was
feeding too much, or he was not giving them
the right feed, and he said he was feeding
cracked barley so he cannot expect much
from his birds.

I went to the market to find out what they
are paying for birds. They are paying 25
cents apiece for old common birds and he said
that they pay more for Homer squabs.

My birds are getting along finely. I am
going to get 60 cents a bushel for manure
with straw in it, which I think is a good price.

If I want any more birds I know where to
get them and that is from your place.—J. C.,
Wisconsin.

READY SALE IN LOUISIANA FOR ALL
SQUABS THAT CAN BE PRODUCED.
PRICES ARE GOOD, RANGING FROM $2.50
TO $4.00 A DOZEN. I received your
National Standard Squab Book on the evening
of the 5th inst. and have studied same over
carefully several times and will say that I
am perfectly satisfied with it and consider
your Manual one of much value and indis-
pensable to one who intends to raise squabs.
{t expect to order from you in half dozen and
dozen lots, until I get me a good flock of
breeders. (This I will have to do on account
of my limited means and again I am not at
my home. I am employed by the railroad
company as foreman and my house is 25
miles from my work. However, I am con-
fident that I will be in a position to quit
railroading in 12 months from now if I have
good luck with birds.) I have an ideal place
for a squab plant containing 12 acres of
good land and nice dwelling and out buildings.
I have also investigated the marketing of
squabs in this territory and find that I can get
ready sale for all that I can produce at from
$2.50 to $4.50 per dozen, according to weight
and plumpness.—T. H., Louisiana.

THIS ILLINOIS YOUNG WOMAN HAS
GIVEN US HALF A DOZEN ORDERS FOR
BIRDS BETWEEN 1903 AND 1908. Please
find enclosed two post-office money orders
for $125 and send me 50 pairs Extra Plymouth
Rocks. My mother’s. sickness interfered
with my plans. I have lost many orders by
not having enough breeders. I think it safe
to try now.—Miss J. M., MMlinois.

HAS: KEPT PIGEONS FOR YEARS.
PLYMOUTH ROCKS DO BETTER THAN
ANY HE EVER BRED. I had 35 pairs ot
your Extra Plymouth Rock Homers to start
with. They are fine birds and very good
breeders. I have kept pigeons for years.
but yours do as well and in some respects
better than any I ever had. I intended to
breed them for squabs, but there is such a
call for good breeders that I have not had
any chance to sel! squabs.—A. T. K., Massa-
chusetts.

FIFTEEN-YEAR-OLD BOY EARNING
POCKET MONEY FOR TWO _ YEARS.
About two years ago I bought three pairs
of your best Homer breeders and they are
getting along very nicely. I am only 15
years old. I am running my business the
way described in your National Standard
Squab Book. Have you a 1907 copy of this
book?——J. A. M., Wisconsin.

NEST OF STRAW AND FEATHERS.
Some birds build a scanty nest, using only a few

wisps of straw, with perhaps a feather or two.
nestbowl is an absolute necessity for such pairs,
otherwise the eggs soon roll apart or out of the nest box.
In April, 1907, a Missouri woman wrote us as follows:
“Bnclosed find draft for $11.52, for which please send
me one gross of nestbowls. One year ago I started
with 40 pairs of Homers. Now I have something
over 400 birds. I have lost a great number of eggs,
and feel like I must have the nestbowls, as they pre-
vent the eggs from rolling out. Send them at once.”

GETTING RID OF COMMON PIGEONS
AND PURCHASING PLYMOUTH ROCKS.
THE MOST WEIGHTY BIRDS HE EVER
SAW. I have a number of common birds
which I am either going to sell, or kill them
for my own use, but I will exert every effort
to sell them and purchase more birds of you,
as I think yours are the most weighty birds
I ever saw. As soon as I am rid of what
common birds I have on hand now, yeu may
expect my order for some more of your
breeders.—T. W., New York.

LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY
214

1907

QUICK WORK BY THE NEW FLOCK OF
A NINE-YEAR-OLD BOY. L should per-
haps have written you earlier of my boy’s
success with the Plymouth Rock Homers
which you sent. One pair were nesting in
three days and inside of three weeks there
are, I think, ten of the thirteen pairs at work,
and if my recollection serves me, inside of
four weeks he had ten or a dozen squabs
hatched.

It is now nearly five weeks since he had
them and some of the scuabs are nearly large
enough to market. I consider this a pretty
good record.—H. C., New York.

Note. The above gentleman
known business New Yorker.
only nine years old.

is a well-
His boy is

DIFFERENT SIZES.
This shows two squabs, one of which is growing

faster than the other. This means that it is pushing
its smaller mate out of the way at feeding time and
getting more feed from the parents. In such cases,
the bigger one will grow fast and the smaller one will
be stunted. The latter should be helped by being
taken out of the nest and put alongside a squab of
its own size in another nest, the larger squab there
being brought back to grow up with a mate of its own
size. The parents in both cases do not neglect the
new comer.

MARYLAND CUSTOMER SATISFIED
AND ENLARGING. On November 27, 1906,
I received from you 50 pairs of Plymouth
Rock pigeons. I put them into what I
considered an up-to-date house, using nappies
for nests. I am starting another pen and
expect before fall to have 150 pairs of good
stock. I feed cracked corn and wheat and
I also give the Canada peas when I can get
them, a little hemp and rice once in awhile.
1 am entirely satisfied and when I am in the
market for more birds, Elmer Rice’s birds will
do for me. Thank you for your many
kindnesses.—W. B. C., Maryland.

MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS

_to sell

1908

UICK BEGINNING BY MATED PAIRS.
ALL AT WORK WITHIN TWO WEEKS
AFTER DELIVERY AND A PAIR OF
SQUABS ON HIS TABLE WITHIN SEVEN
WEEKS. MORE ORDERS FOLLOW.
Within seven weeks from the date of receipt
of the birds I ordered from you, I have had a
pair of broiled squabs on my table, and such
squabs I never saw before. A few days before
they were four weeks old, they weighed a
pound each.

Some of my pairs went to work within
five days and all of them within two weeks
after their receipt. Jt has been less than
three months since I received the seven
pairs, and I have killed two pairs squabs,
and my flock has more than doubled. I
think this is a good record. I can readily sell
my young pigeons here for breeding purposes
at good prices, but as I ordered them to raise
squabs for my own table, have, so far, declined
any.

Two of my neighbors have duplicated my
order since they have seen mine, and I am
sure other orders will follow.

I am delighted with the business and take
a great interest in my birds, which have
learned my voice, and when I go out to the
fly, come fluttering at my call. I prefer
squabs to chickens, and they are much less
trouble, and so much easier to raise.—J. M.,
Mississippi.

BEST THESIS HE EVER READ ON ANY
SUBJECT. I have the pleasure of acknowl-
edging receipt of your National Standard
Squab Book and having read it once through
and made notations of details (not indexed)
at the sides of the pages, I can get the meat
of any subject promptly. I want to say
(which, of course, must have been said a
great many times to you) that ‘‘ it is bully,”’
it is the best thesis I ever read on any subject.
I have tried to think of questions that sug-
gested themselves to me I would like an-
swered, but in vain. You have answered
everything. I want to state to any one
interested in squabs, surely your Manual is
worth its weight in gold.—W. C., Wisconsin.

NEVER WAS TREATED MORE FAIRLY.
My birds arrived October 1 in first-class
condition, earlier than I expected. Never
spent money for anything better. They are
regular beauties. I thank you for the extra
pair; I never was treated more fairly. Hope
to give you a larger order next time.—P. M.,
New Orleans.

MAN OF FORTY YEARS’ EXPERIENCE
HAS NEVER SEEN BETTER HOMERS
THAN OURS. The birds came safe last
night. I told you before, I had some of that
sort (a few pairs) continuously, for over forty
years. I never had any better and many
inferior in fancy points. Accept my thanks.—
L. O., New York.

LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY
215

1907

MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS

1908

MATED PAIRS START QUICKLY. BEST
BREEVERS IN A LIFE-TIME OF EXPERI-
ENCE. SUGGESTION FOR CITY PEOPLE.
SURE WAY OF MATING. I have received
yours of tae 18th and am following out your
request. About the color, either a blue or
a red checker cock will do. I should like to
know how I am to get him. I started in
just one month ago with my shipment of 12
birds and about five days later, in which time
they had to pick up from the fatigue of the
journey, a pair of blues were sitting on eggs.

his was kept up at intervals by the others
until now when J have ten young ones and
two eggs, which are being hatched by a pair
of fligats.

Barring one sick one I can honestly call this
a good investment because I have had
pigeons since I was ten years old and in that
time I have not seen any better done. Should
they keep this up, I find the market good, I
shall buy some more this spring. You said
the Eagle and Sun had quotations on squabs,
but unless it is somewhere else tian on the
market pace, neither of these papers has
them. They want a dollar a pair for them in
butcher shops.

The Manual is all right, but if you want
suggestions I should say that the way you
describe for having pigeons in the city is very
seldom used. The most popular way is
putting a coop and screen on a flat roof or
on poles in the yard. This is the way you
will see most coops in Brooklyn and New
York. However, the way you describe is a
very good advice for these with peaked roofs,
as I know many people would have pigeons
if their roofs weren’t peaked. On mating
birds I should also tell of a very effectual
way I have for mating stubborn pigeons who
absolutely refuse to mate. This is to put
them in a box or something so that they
cannot get any light and leave them so until
you think they ought to be taken out and
then put them together and in most cases
they will be so glad to get back to light and
see another pigeon that they will mate right
away. Should they still refuse repeat the
method until they do, but this method has
worked so that I have yet to come across the
ono could not mate this way.—H. H.. New

ork,

FIRST SQUABS WHEN TWO WEEKS OLD
WEIGHED TWELVE AND FOURTEEN
OUNCES. Perhaps you will be interested
to know that the first pair of squabs at two
weeks weigh 12 and 14 ounces respectively.
Am pleased with the weight—A. T. V.,
New Hampshire.

ONE YEAR OF PROGRESS. Enclosed
find money order for which please send me
six dozen wood fibre nestbowls by freight.
The Homers I got from you about a year ago
are working splendidly.—E. A., Pennsylvania.

MONEY-MAKING STORY BRIEFLY
TOLD. BIG FLOCK RAISED FROM SMALL
PURCHASE. PROLIFIC BREEDERS. If
you remember, I bought from you in the
autumn of 1906 12 pairs of squab breeders.
One pair went to work the second day after
arrival, the others following in close order.
In two weeks every pair but one had eggs. I
now have (October, 1907) 576 pigeors, two
pairs having raised 11 pairs per year, the
others nine and ten. I feed cracked corn,
whole wheat, hemp seed, barley, kaffir corn
and rice. During thie moulting season I
feed a good quantity of hemp seed. I think
the squab business is a very good money
making enterprise if well attended to.—
R. F.S., New York.

AN INEXPENSIVE START.

TWO YEARS’ SUCCESS. GOING TO
SHIP TO BIGGER MARKET. I am now
raising more squabs than our local market
demands at reasonable price and in order
to obtain good prices must find market
elsewhere. Can you put me in the way of
same? I bought my first Homers of you in
August, 1905, and have had remarkable
success with pigeons, having lost but 15 that
were able to fly, in all the time since then. I
will feel very grateful for any information
you may be able to give me. Also kindly
quote me price on 50 pairs Plymouth Rock
Homers, as I think of adding another loft.—
C. H., Wisconsin.

ALL PAIRS AT WORK QUICKLY. PLY-
MOUTH ROCKS RECOMMENDED ABOVE
ALL IN DELAWARE. My Homers arrived
safe and I am certainly pleased with them.
They are all mated and I expect eggs soon.
I recommend your birds above all. I told
several parties about my birds and I think
they will give youan order.—R. W., Delaware.

LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY
216

1907

MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS

1908

LAYING AND HATCHING WITH TEM-
PERATURE FIFTEEN DEGREES BELOW
ZERO. My first pair laid and hatched out
squabs wnich grew the fastest of anything I
ever saw. When the eggs were laid and the
birds were hatched it was 15 degrees below
zero half of the nights (February, 1907) and
the water in the fountain in the squab-house
froze hard every night. My first young birds
are about as large as the old birds (April) and
are flying just as easily, I think, as the old
birds.—M. S. B., New York.

Note. The old pigeons protect both the
eggs and the squabs more closely in cold
weather. They adapt their attention to the
climate. Do not fear that you cannot raise
winter squabs, even if you live in the coldest
parts of Canada.

NOT ONE SICK. NO LICE. My pigeons
are getting along very nicely. You sent me
13 pairs last December and now (July, 1907)
I have about 30 pairs. Not a one has been
the least sick, and have not been troubled
with mites nor lice among them as yet. Will
soon have to double the size of my house. I
attend to them myself.—M. V. B., South
Carolina.

A ROW OF BEAUTIES.

SELLING IN ST. LOUIS FOR $4.50 A
DOZEN. You will find enclosed herewith
an order with remittance for 55 pairs of your
Extra Homer pigeons, which I hope to receive
as soon as possible. You will find also that
I send order for yarious other supplies which,
if you think it will be cheaper, you will please
send by freight.

The pigeons I purchased of you last year
are doing nicely and have produced some
fine, large squabs. They are selling in St.
Louis for $4.50 per dozen. Thank you for
fair dealing in the past and wish you success
in the future.—R. C. H., Missouri.

THREE ORDERS FROM ONE TOWN.
Enclosed herewith I send you check for which
please send me seven pairs of Plymouth Rock
Homers. I ordered seven pairs from you a
short time ago, and also had Mr McRaven
duplicate my order.—J. B., Mississippi.

GOING TO TRY IT AGAIN. Please send

e your printed matter as soon as you can.
Thad some of your Homers a year ago and
they did very well. I expect to buy some
more.—J. J. R., District of Columbia.

CHICAGO MAN REPLACING HIS FIRST
BIRDS WITH PLYMOUTH ROCK HOMERS
AND BUILDING A LARGE PLANT. Your
letter of October 28 at hand. Please send me
the female as soon as possible as I can mate her
with the otner male. I still have the birds in
the crate but will empty it Saturday. I am
building now to accommodate 500 pairs of
birds and have torn down my old coop so I
have not had place to keep my birds. I am
vuilding it in units of 50 pairs to each unit.
Am getting rid of my common birds as fast
as possible.

From March first to the present time
(October) I have 38 youngsters from my
original six pairs, three pairs of which were
No. 1 and three pairs Extra. Both birds bred
alike, with the exception of the Extras
breeding a much larger squab. Eleven pairs
of youngsters have eggs at present. I have
lost none and with the exception of the
moulting season, I think I have done fairly
well. I have not sold any as yet, but have
been asked to. Not wishing to sell any until
I have 50 pair, I had to refuse the order, but
referred him to you. People who have seen
my Homers think well of them and I believe
I have a few interested.—A. S. C., Chicago.

TRIED TO GET ALONG WITHOUT THE
INSTRUCTION BOOK AT FIRST. I have
bought two sets of Extra Homers of you, but
have had bad luck. I do not have any now.
I am going to read up on the care of pigeons
betore going into it again. I have your
National Standard Squab Bsok of 1905 and
think that it is very well written and it con-
tains some very sound advice, which if I had
followed I never would inave failed. Is the
1907 edition different?—1. H. O., Jowa.

EVERY PAIR BREEDING SHORTLY
AFTER ARRIVAL IN FAR WEST. I received
seven pairs of Plymouth Rock Homers the
first part of April and now (May 20) have
five pairs of squabs a week old and the other
two pairs are setting. I am well pleased.
Strong, healthy birds. It is a wonder the
way the young squabs grow.—R. R., State
of Washington,

LITTLE LOT GAVE HIM CONFIDENCE
TO BUILD AND ORDER MORE BIRDS.
The three pairs of pigeons I received from
you in January are doing finely (April, 1907),
and I would like to have you send me one of
your plans for building, and as soon as I have
the plans I will send to you for some more
Digeons.—R. S., Chicago.

EXACTLY AS REPRESENTED. The
breeders I got from you are first-class and
exactly as you said they would be, and are
well. Please send me prices on grit and other
supplies, also on 12 pairs breeders.—W. J. W.,
Pennsylvania.

LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY
217

1907

TWO CUSTOMERS WHICH HAVE BRED
LARGE FLOCKS FROM SMALL BEGIN-
NINGS. Mr. Bartholemew of this place has
about 250 birds which he has bred from six
pairs of No. 1 Plymouth Rock Homers which
he says he got of you. I notice the difference
between the Extra and No. 1 Homers. Mrs.
Virkler has about 150 birds of Extra Plymouth
Rock Homers bred from six pairs.—C. W. B.,
New York.

EATING FROM HIS HAND.
The California man who owns these pigeons writes:

“They are beauties and breed fine squabs. I have
bred squabs from your Homers weighing a pound
apiece. Your Manual is straight and true.”

RECOMMENDED VERY HIGHLY BY A
LOUISIANA FRIEND. Enclosed you will
find a money order for which you will please
send me by express six pairs Plymouth Rock
Homers No. 1 mated. I trust you wil! make
me a good selection, as I am expecting to
Taise pigeons and wish the best. You have
been recommended very highly to me by Mr.

oseph Malbrough, as he has ordered the
lymouth Rocks from you.—H. H., Louisiana.

MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS

1908

SQUABS WEIGHING FROM SIXTEEN
OUNCES TO NINETEEN OUNCES EACH.
OUR STOCK AND OUR SELF-FEEDER
GET THIS RESULT IN TEXAS. I bought
six pairs of Extra Plymouth Rock Homers
from you iast November, and I now (May,
1907) have 31 in all, and 17 youngsters.
Four pairs have eggs. Out of the 17 squabs,
I lost only one, the death of that being caused
by one of the parent birds stepping on one
the day he was hatched. My squabs have
weighed one pound to a pound and three
ounces.

I have built a pen for my young squabs
as you advise to do, and I find that they do
very much better.

The things that I find most necessary are,
to have a clean house, water and feed, so I
clean my squab house every two weeks, and
have clean water and feed always. I use your
self-feeder so the pigeons can feed their young
whenever they choose.

The ground of my flypens is covered with
sand, and I renew it every month. I also
use oyster grit and rock. It is placed in the
squab-house, where they can get it any time
they want it. I feed wheat and kaffir corn
and a little cracked corn now and then, but
they do not need much corn as the weather
here in Texas is warm nearly all the year
around,

I think your Homers are the best I ever
saw, and every one that sees them says the
same thing about them.

Any one starting into squab raising should
buy your Manual. I have been trying to
follow it as nearly as possible and by doing
so I think I will succeed in raising squabs.

I intend to order more pigeons of you at
once.—F. S., Texas.

SUCCESSFUL BREEDING BY THE
SISTERS OF A CHICAGO CATHOLIC
HOSPITAL. Please send us 36 pairs (Janu-
uary, 1907) the same as you did the four pairs
a short while ago. Kindly send the very best
breed only.—Sister M. M., Illinois.

Note. In September, 1907, we shipped 36
pairs more Extra Plymouth Rock Homers to
the above customer, who is the sister superior
of a well-known hospital in Chicago.

NEW JERSEY FRIENDS SATISFIED.
Enclosed please find check to cover order for
24 pairs Extra Plymouth Rock Homers and
supply of feed. We know your dealings have
been square with friends of ours in New
Jersey. We have plenty of ground here and
everything going right. Will soon have the

other houses finished up.—G. M., Massa-
chusetts.
INCREASED FIVE-FOLD IN SIX

MONTHS. Regarding the ten pairs of birds
I bought from you last spring, I now (Novem-
ber, 1907), have 52 pairs.—C. V., Ontario.

EE ccd
LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY
218

1907

WISCONSIN HOTEL PAYING _ $3.50.
SQUABS WEIGHING TEN AND THREE-
FOURTHS POUNDS TO THE DOZEN. I
thought I would write you a few lines. I
want to buy some more birds from you,
seeing I am getting along so nicely with the
others you sent me. I am getting $3.50 a
dozen at the Plankaton House. They weigh
ten and three-fourths pounds to the dozen.
He said they were some of the best squabs
he had ever seen. He wants me to come
down some night to have a little talk with
me. I want to get a basket of birds from
you in about a week and about three dozen
of nest bowls and a couple of weeks later,
some more birds, if everything goes ail right.
I have some fine young birds, some of them
weighing a pound apiece. I find out that
you are a nice man to deal with and that
everything you say is all right and that the
birds cannot be praised too much. Guess I
will close, hoping everything is going good.
—S. H., Wisconsin,

STEADY GROWTH IN THREE YEARS.
ORDERS FOR SQUABS OUTRUN BIRDS,
SO MORE ARE BOUGHT. I am going to
send soon, before February (1907), probably
in a week, for 50 pairs of Plymouth Rock
Homer squab breeders, and want to engage
them at once, before the February trade
begins.

I bought of you six pairs three years ago,
since then 12 pairs, 18 pairs and 12 pairs
again. (Four orders.)

I do not yet have enough for the orders.
The birds are doing better. constantly. Their
houses are better, and I know more how to
care for them, and what things are important.
Have almost finished a house—all but nests
and a little finishing of yard. It seems as
if it would be a good plan to get birds now
before the really cold weather comes. I
want the Extras, best you have.—M. L.,
Illinois.

LIVELY WORK IN MISSOURI AND THE
LARGEST SQUABS EVER SEEN. I am in
receipt of my six pairs Extra pigeons and am
very thankful to you for the care you have
taken in sending these to me. I had them
just one week when two pairs had eggs, and
i was so surprised, but yesterday I was still
more surprised when I went into the pigeon
house and found four pairs setting, and two
of these had young squabs. Every one of
my neighbors is surprised to see the nice
pigeons you sent me. Mr E. C. Rice, I will
in every respect recommend your goods
very highly and I am sure that you will
appreciate it. These squabs are the largest
that I have ever seen. I will have one of
my friends take a snap shot of my pigeon
house and send you a picture.—E. i
Misgouri.

MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS

1908

MORE ORDERS FOR SQUABS THAN
HE CAN FILL. HOW TO FEED SUN-
FLOWER SEEDS. I am thinking about
planting a batch of sunflower seeds. Will
you please let me know if this is a good feed
for them, and how to feed it—either fresh
from the stalk or pick it and let it dry. It
would be a great saving to feed this during
the winter for me. The pigeons bought
from you are O.K., doing their duty. I have
more orders for my squabs than I can fill
and getting 35 to 40 cents apiece. I do not
do any plucking. My pigeons are doing fine
considering being locked in all the time.—
W.S., New York.

Note. Sunflower seeds are good for pigeons,
being used largely as a substitute. for hemp-
seed. Cut off the heads when grown and dry
them. When you wish to feed a head, throw
it into the pen whole and the pigeons will
pick out the seeds.

READY TO KILL

These squabs are four weeks old. See how plump
and broad-breasted they are.

FLORIDA FRIENDS ENTHUSIASTIC
OVER PLYMOUTH ROCKS. I have a friend
who is very enthusiastic over my pigeons.
He will send you an order the first of the
coming week for 48 pairs of your Extra
Plymouth Rocks such as mine Do your
best for him. Of course he expects to get
two extra pairs thrown in asa premium. My
birds are getting along very nicely.—W. J. D.,
Florida.

HAS HEARD FROM HIS FRIENDS. I
have heard from several of my friends about
your birds, stating they were very fine. I
want to get some of your stock.—S. W. H.,
Kentucky.

rr
LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY

219

1907

MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS

1908

WOULD NOT TRADE HIS PLYMOUTH
ROCKS FOR ANY IN HIS MONTANA
TOWN. I have had fair luck and in all the
Homers in town from different companies, I
would not trade the ones I got from you for
any of them. Friday noon, April 12, by
carelessness, some boy friends in going from
the coop let one of my fine red checkers out,
which I would not have parted with for $2.
He rose into the air and after circling once
flew away faster than I ever saw a pigeon fly
before. In discussing the matter with some

eople, they think he will come back, but he
ee not. Others think he has gone back to
you.—M. S., Montana.

Note. Letters like the above come to us
constantly. Guard your doors carefully.
Have springs on them so they will close with-
out attention. Homers which you raise you
can safely let fly, because they know no
home but yours, but Homers which you buy
will fly off.

SQUABS 25 DAYS OLD.
Note that although they have been in the bowl
since hatching, it is comparatively free from manure.
They back up to the edge of the bowl and void into

the nest box. It is the nature of pigeons to try to
have clean nests, and they should be given a chance
by the use of nestbowls.

NO CONCEPTION OF THE BEAUTY AND
SIZE OF OUR EXTRAS. I received the
birds last evening, just 24 hours after my
order was sent in—prompt work, that.
After having read your Manual and a great
many testimonials, I was expecting som2
fine birds, but find I had no conception of the
beauty and size of your Extras. The compact
bodies, rich, healthy color and uniformity of
size were a thorough surprise. I am going to
follow your directions given in the Manual,
and you may count on me as a customer to
the extent of my means.—Mrs. M. F. C.,
Massachusetts.

PLYMOUTH ROCK HOMERS IN DEMAND
IN THIS GEORGIA 1OWN. itnclosed find
my cueck, Send me by express six pairs
Extra blue-barred Plymouth Rock Homers,
mated. I have about got this town started
on raising pigeons. Mr. Barnes, my brother-*
in-law, has just handed me your new circular.
He tells me he has ordered 12 pairs from you,
I hope you will ship him some nice birds.
His son has just bouzht some birds from the
————— and I want the birds you ship
me and his father to make him regret that he
did not order them from you. I ordered
blue-barred birds from another party some
time back and they sent me checkers. If
I did not think you would send the order as
I am sending it in, I would not send it to you.

You remember I bought a few pairs of birds
from you a little over a year ago. I have sold
a great many birds and I have about 100 to
125 pairs of working birds on hand now. I
am building me another pen that will hold
about 200 pairs.—R. H. N., Georgia.

RAISING PLYMOUTH ROCK STOCK
ONLY. BEST BIRDS EVER SEEN ANY-
WHERE. The birds came yesterday all
O. K. and were fine birds, and ths hen with
a little age will also be on top. Please accept
my thanks. What I especially wanted was
solid reds and when you do get hold of such
a pair that is A No. 1. send them to me and
send me the bill. I om raising strictly
Plymouth Rock stock and have developed
some A No. 1 birds, the best I have ever seen
anywhere, and so I swear by E. C. Rice stock.
You state that not one in 100 birds are solid
reds. I know this to be a fact. When I do
go into the show I want to have the best of
all colors and they shall he Extra Plymouth
Rock stock.—R. B. W., New York.

OUR WHITE HOMERS COMPARED
WITH OUR COLORED HOMERS. I do not
know cf a man I would trust any quicker than
you. I would like to know if you have pure
white Homers that are as large, plump birds
as your colored ones are.—G. M. L., Vermont.

Answer. We charge $2.75 a pair for our
white Homers. They are fine birds, as large
as any white Homers in existence, but are not
so large as our Extra colored Homers and do
not breed so large a squab. They cost more
because they are scarcer; we sell a lot of them
for pets, for their handsome plumage, and
for undertakers.

PROLIFIC PLYMOUTH ROCKS HAVE
BRED MORE SQUABS THAN ANY PIGEONS
HE HAS. I came down to see you quite
awhile ago and bought a pair of your Plymouth
Rock Homers. Those Homers have bred
more squabs than any other pigeons I have,
and I have a good many. Will you please
send me your catalogue of orikes ts (OS
Massachusetts.

_——L—_—L—
LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY

220

1907

FIVE MONTHS’ WORK. SMALL FLOCK
QUADRUPLED. ONE OLD BIRD AND TWO
SQUABS ONLY LOST BY DEATH. BREED-
ERS OF COMMON PIGEONS MYSTIFIED.
I write youa sort of detailed statement of how
my four pairs of pigeons have done, that I
bought from you about the middle of May,
1907. One of my birds laid in about two
weeks after her arrival, but the eggs did not
hatch, and she laid again in about ten days
after I found her eggs were not good, and
that time she hatched all right. Two other
pairs commenced work soon after the first,
and both of them hatched all right and the
first taree pairs of squabs did well. I have
lost one of the hens that I bought from you.
She died after raising a fine pair of squabs.
I have lost two squabs.

I now have 18 birds in all, after deducting
the three that Ilost. All of my birds are now
(October) at work, some making nests and
some sitting.

Mine are the only Homers in this part of
the country that I know of, and every one
who sees them is charmed with them,

There are one or two parties here who are
trying to raise the common pigeons on the
same plan, that is by confining them, but are
not doing much, and cannot understand
why my birds do so much better than theirs.
They say that if I make a success of the
business they will then try Homers.

I am very fond of the business and find it
a great recreation, and very little trouble.
I attend to my birds before breakfast in the
morning and give them plenty of water, and
then at dinner time I feed them again, and
that does them until next morning They are
less trouble than anything of the kind that I
ever had anything to do with, and I believe
will be more profitable according to the amount
of capital invested.—C., A. F., Mississippi.

SECOND ORDER, BIRDS DOING WELL,
ANOTHER ORDER IN PROSPECT. I here-
with enclose you $1 in currency, for which
please send’ me 50 open legbands for grown
pigeons, numbered one to fifty. The last
shipment of pigeons came to hand on the
second in good shape, and are a nice lot of
birds. I am well pleased with them. My
birds are all doing well. I think that I shall
give you another order soon.—F. R., Missis-
sippi. (The first shipment to this customer
was made in April, 1907, the second in
October of the same year).

GREAT DEMAND FOR PLYMOUTH ROCK
SQUABS IN NEW JERSEY. I received on
May 27, 1904, one dozen pairs of your birds
and I have 200 birds at the present time.
There is a great demand for Plymouth Rock
squabs in New Jersey. Please send me your

rice on 50 pairs of your best Extra mated
bide —_N. L., New Jersey.

MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS

1908

FAST START IN TWO WEEKS IN NEW
JERSEY. On April 22 I wrote you informin
you of the arrival of the birds. Now (Apri
29) there are two nests complete and six
others being built, which I should think was
pretty good work for birds not vet two weeks
in a strange place. The birds have been
highly praised for their fine appearance by
a number of friends and acquaintances of
mine, and of course the natural question was,
where did I get them? And as lam a pretty
good advertiser for any one that I consider
to be worthy of such advertising, I have
recommended your company as the right one
to go to if they have any idea of investing.—
J. H., New Jersey.

IN THE SNOW.

Let them out on sunny winter days. In cold,

stormy weather they are better off inside.

FINEST BIRDS THAT HE EVER SAW
IN LOUISIANA, RESULT, MANY MORE
ORDERS. I received my birds Saturday
evening, November 2, at 7 p.m. Found
them all in A 1 shape and are the finest birds
I ever saw. Please accept my most sincere
thanks for the extra pair and for your nice
selection. I will return your basket one day
this week, will take bill of lading for same
from express agent and forward to you date
I return same. I will send you an order for
12 pairs more about the 25th of this month.
I want to order a small shipment each month
until I get about 100 pairs of breeders.—
G. W. T., Louisiana.

PERFECTLY MATED IN WEST VIRGINIA.
I write to tell you how well my pigeons are
doing. I am very well pleased with them
as I believe they were perfectly mated and
went right to work after they were in the loft
not more than a week.—J. N. M., West
Virginia.

LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY

221

1907

EVERY PAIR AT WORK IN DOUBLE-
QUICK TIME. BUILDING UP A PLANT.
I think a few lines to you is my duty. I
expected to be at your office and plant before
now. My young son got struck by a trolley
ear about the time I was going to go to
Boston, and just escaped very serious results,
so I have stayed pretty close at home, but
have a vacation in July and will call on you
then.

About the birds, they are doing fine.
They went to work at once and some of them
are now on their third lot of eggs. They held
their matings, every pair. I feel very much
encouraged and appreciate your fair and
honest business principles. You will receive
orders from us in the future as we are going
to build up quite a plant.—H. J. L., Massa-
chusetts.

SQUABS THREE WEEKS OLD.

BRANCHING OUT FROM A _ SMALL
BEGINNING AFTER SUCCESSFUL EXPERI-
ENCE WITH PLYMOUTH ROCK HOMERS
IN UTAH. I have decided to go into the
squab business on a large scale and when my
business interests are cared for will move to
Salt Lake City where I hope to work up a
good business The birds purchased from
you have been very satisfactory in every
particular and my business in the future will
be done direct with your good company. My
health is poor through confinement and I am
determined to try squab raising for the

urpose of making a success and money.—
W. B., Utat

SQUABS AS A SIDE LINE. Please send
me two dozen wood-fibre nestbowls by
express. The birds I received from you
April 1 are all working satisfactorily (May
13, 1907). I do this as a side issue. I work
in the factory all day and take care of my
Pigeons nights and mornings, and find it very
pleasant work.—E. D. D., Massachusetts.

MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS

1908

TEN PAIRS OF SQUABS A YEAR FROM
ONE PAIR. MARKET BROADENING AND
DEMAND INCREASING. The pigeons that
I bought from you are doing nicely. Most
of them seem to be in good condition and
keep steadily at work. One pair raised ten
pairs of squabs a year and there are others
that almost equal them. I began last fall to
save those from the best breeders. I had
to keep them in the house with the older
birds because I had nowhere else for them
to stay. They disturbed the pigeons through
the winter, but they are mating and getting
to work now.

I sell all the squabs I can raise to one of the
local marketmen. At first there was no sale
for them except in summer when wealthy
people from the larger cities are sojourning
here, but he bought all I had last winter. (See
note below.)

When ready for market they weigh from
two pounds to two and one-half pounds a pair.
They are white and fat and the dealer has
complimented me a number of times about
them.

I find the business very interesting and
would like to engage in it more extensively
if I could get more time to devote to the
birds, but it is impossible to do so at present.
—Miss M. D., Connecticut.

Note. The squab market has broadened
tremendously since we first began advertising
in the high class periodicals advising people
to eat squabs as well as raise them. This
habit of eating squabs has a steady hold all
the year round on thousands of families wha
ten years ago did not know what a squab
was. This demand is increasing every year.
In spite of the steady growth in production
of squabs, the prices are as high, and in many
cases, higher than ten years ago.

DELAWARE MAN FINDS IN OCTOBER,
1907, THAT NEW YORK MARKETS ARE
HOLDING GOOD. PRICES ARE LIKELY
TO GO HIGHER. I received your Manual
yesterday and am very much pleased with it
and stayed up until 1.30 last night reading it.
I believe that if I follow your instructions
and make up my mind to make a success of
it, I will be able to do it. I knew a little
about pigeons before, as my brother and I
kept a flock of common pigeons when we
lived in Long Island City, but had to move
to New York City and had to do away with
them.

I have a few mongrels on hand now and
am experimenting a little, but as soon as able
will send you an order. It will not be very
large, but if your stock is as good as repre-
sented (like your Manual) it will be all right.

I have written to New York markets for
prices and find they are still holding up good
and I believe next year they will go higher.
Hoping you the best of success.—N. H. C.,
Delaware.

LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY

999

1907

MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS

1908

OTHER HOMERS HAVE NOT THE
oe ALITY OF PLYMOUTH ROCK. SQUABS

EIGH FIFTEEN OUNCES, FEATHERS
OFF. On December 22, 1906, T bought three
pairs of Extra Plymouth Rock Homers from
you, and since then have had considerable
Juck with them. They are the best pigeons
for breeding as well as for fancy I have yet
seen. I’ve seen other Homers similar to
those I have but they have not the quality
of the Plymouth Rock. They weigh at the
age of four weeks on an average 15 ounces,
dressed, and are the finest pigeons for eating
purposes that can be had. When I received
the pigeons I knew but very little about them;
but after following your Manual carefully I
found results as stated, and will say it is
worth double the amount I paid for it. I also
made a feeder as shown in your Manual and
think it is the proper thing for pigeons as
there is but very little waste in feed. Out of
the three old pairs I raised 28 squabs, losing
but very few during the winter. I now have
six pairs left which I am going to keep for
breeders. The others I have been selling to
friends here right along. I get from 50 to
75 cents a pair at the age of two months. I
now (September, 1907) have a larger and
better place for them and find they are breed-
ing a little better. They require but little
care and are a great pleasure for pastime.—
E. W., Missouri.

NINE HATCHES IN TEN MONTHS IN
BRITISH COLUMBIA. WOMAN HAS NOT
LOST A BIRD, OR HAD ONE SICK. Please
find enclosed the sum of $2.90 postal note
for which send me three dozen of your wood-
fibre nestbowls by Dominion Express Co.
Also if you would send me your price list I
should be greatly obliged. I am quite well
satisfied that your pigeons are all that you
claim for them as to breeding qualities. I
have one pair of the eight you sent me last
May which have had nine hatches in ten
months, and the others were never far
behind them, and now I have quite a number
of the young ones mated up and raising
young. For a fine appearance I do not think
there is anything in pigeons could beat them.
Have followed the directions in your book
and I have not lost one bird or had one sick.
I quite expected to have sent you an order
for more breeders before now, but I have had
my husband sick a great deal this winter
and funds would not permit of it, but I hope
to send you one before long.—Mrs. A. O.,
British Columbia.

EVERY PAIR HAS EITHER EGGS OR
SQUABS IN CALIFORNIA. I am more than
pleased with the way my birds are turning
out the squabs and intend placing an order
for more breeding stock soon. Every pair
has either eggs or squabs and some have both.
—I. L. T., California.

EARNING POWER OF SMALL FLOCK
INCREASING AT NO EXPENSE. We tre-
ceived our birds March 24, 1907. We had
25 pairs. They started to work in about
three weeks and we had the first squabs
about the 10th of May.

We have now (November 7, 1907) 120
young birds, and of these young birds we
have five pairs that are working. Two pairs
have already had young ones. Our entire
expense for feed to date has been $36.52.

Our expense for fitting up has been $140,
not including price of birds. We figure that
we have not made any money this year, and
still we have not lost any, and think with
more birds and a better knowledge of the
business there would be good money in it.—
F. E. B., Connecticut.

SQUABS TWELVE DAYS OLD.

POSTMASTER’S GOOD PROGRESS IN
TWELVE MONTHS. I felt like it was my
duty to write you a few lines. Just one year
ago to day since I received my birds from
you, seven pairs Plymouth Rock Homers.
I now have 18 squabs, and 40 birds that can
fly around in the pen. That makes 58 in all.
I think that is doing remarkably well for 12
months’ time. am also trying to raise
poultry. i have a fine place here for that
purpose and thought that I could attend to
that between times. I am postmaster here.
After I get started and there is good money
in it, I will sell out my store and do nothing
else but raise squabs and poultry.—F. L. H.,
Illinois.

USED GRAPE-VINE STICKS FOR NEST-
ING MATERIAL. The pigeons bought are
doing well. The flying pen is covered with
grape vines. I neglected to put in any
nesting material. All the pigeons have
squabs, so they used great grapevine sticks,
some as large as my finger.—W. E., Massa-
chusetts.

LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY

992

4249)

1907

MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS

1908

STRONG MATINGS LAST TO THE STATE
OF WASHINGTON AND SEVEN PAIRS OUT
OF FOURTEEN HAVE EGGS WITHIN TWO
WEEKS, REST DRIVING. Received your
shipment of 14 pairs of Homers about two
weeks ago. There are seven pairs of them
on eggs today and the rest are all driving.
They were all in first-class condition except
one cock, which seemed to have had his neck
hurt, as he could not hold his head up nor
eat anything, and he died. Thank you for
your promptness and the two pairs free.—
H. G. M., State of Washington.

VERY SUCCESSFUL WISHES TO BUY
MORE. Could you tell us of a place where
we could sell our pigeon manure? We have
some four or five bushels. We have been
very successful with our Homers. Starting
with 12, we now have about 60 or 70. We
want to buy some more breeders.—G. P.,
Missouri.

SQUABS A FEW DAYS OLD.

KENTUCKY WOMAN’S SUCCESS WITH
FAST-BREEDING PLYMOUTH ROCKS.
About 18 months ago we purchased from you
six pairs of your Extra mated Homers, each
pair a different color. These birds have done
extra ‘ood work for us and have been more
than satisfactory in every way. We have on
hand now about 50 mated birds and about
100 youngsters; some of which ought soon to
mate. The birds are all in good condition,
moulting, but in spite of that some are still
at work.—Mrs. C. P. M., Kentucky.

ALL MATED, QUICK IN GETTING TO
WORK IN DISTANT TEXAS. The pigeons
that I got from you last Thursday are getting
along just fine. Two pairs have nests and
as far as I can see they are all mated. The
Extra hens, it took them just about a week,
which is fine. The Wells Fargo would not
ship the crate collect on delivery, so I paid
them ten cents for shipping. am weil
pleased with the birds.—G. J. W., Texas.

SQUA®S TWICE AS LARGE AS THOSE
FROM HOMERS FROM ORDINARY
SOURCES. My birds purchased of you have
been doing splendidly, under rather adverse
circumstances because of the lack of care
occasioned by my constant absence from
home. Since entering into the business, I
have taken special note of different pens in
various parts of the State, of pigeons pur-
chased elsewhere, and find to my entire
satisfaction that none are as fine or finer than
my birds. I have been unable to keep an
exact tab on the rate at which they breed
but I notice that certain pairs exceed others
in this capacity and have been exceedingly
satisfactory.

As to size of squabs, I can best tell you in
the words of one of my customers upon her
first purchase: ‘ Why, Mr. Cantey, I never
saw such large, fat things in my life. I had
to stuff and bake them, instead of broiling.
They are twice as large as any I have been
getting elsewhere. I wouldn’t mind if they
were smaller.”” This is her unvarnished
statement. I will send you a photograph of
my pen in a few days.—H. C., South Carolina.

OUR MATED PAIRS GO RIGHT TO WORK
IN KANSAS. I kave delayed writing in order
to see how the birds were going to turn out.
Can say that I am very much pleased with
them. They were delayed in Junction City
from Saturday until Monday, but arrived
in good shape. One male had its eyes
pecked until it couldn't see, but I took it out
and bathed the swelling and it was all O.K.
in a few days. I have four eggs and three
more nests are being built, so you see they
are going right to work. I have them so
tame that I can hardly keep from stepping
on them when I go into the house. I will
probably want more the first of the year and
if I do I will certainly order from you.—
C7 EoD; Kansas:

VIRGINIA CUSTOMER A_ STEADY
BUYER. I enclose check for ten pairs blue
and blue checker breeding pigeons. Ship per
Adams Express to me. intend to order in
fots until I have 300 pairs. My old birds
are doing well. I now have 18 pairs including
squabs.—H. T.I., Virginia. (This customer’s
first purchase was eight pairs, shipped in
June, 1907. At this writing, November,
1907, he has sent in four more orders. His
wife gave him a birthday surprise by ordering
20 pairs which we shipped so that they
reached him on his anniversary.)

NO SUBSTITUTES WANTED, BUT SOME-
THING JUST AS GOOD. I want to make
another order by the 25th of this month
(October, 1907). The last pigeons you
shipped me were beauties and I would like
to have some more just as good.—C. O.,
Alabama.

Ee
LETTERS FROM CUSTOMORS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY
224

1907

MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS

1908

BIRDS WELL-MATED, WENT TO WORK
AT ONCE. ONE OF HER SQUABS
WEIGHED ONE AND ONE-HALF POUNDS.
HER HOUSE WAS ON THE GROUND AND
RATS GOT AT THE SQUABS. I bought my
first pigeons of you and put them in my
house on March 21, 1907. They were in fine
shape and eyery one thought them the
handsomest birds they had ever seen. I had
25 pairs. I think my first squab hatched
April 21, and about all the birds were at
work then, I think. I had my first two
squabs on my own table and one of them
whea all dressed ready for baking weighed
one pound and a half. Can any one beat
that? I have not kept account of the
number I have sold, but could have made
a good thing of it if the rats had not got in.
I sell them here in Scituate to the butcher
for 20 cents apiece. While I was away this
summer the one that took care of my birds
for me sold a number of pairs of squabs to
breed from for 50 cents a pair. I shall sell
no more at that price. I have followed your
Manual as nearly as I could in regard to
feeding the birds and find my birds are big
and fat and I have not had one sick one
among them all. Neither have I been
troubled with lice. When I came home this
September I took account of stock and found
that I had just 16 pairs of birds left. You
see the rats did us great harm, but we had the
house raised and now I am sending for ten
pairs more of the Extra Homers and hope
to make a good thing of the squab business
after this. I shall keep an exact account of
all my birds. There are a number of people
around here that keep pigeons, but I think
mine are the best birds of them all. Those
that see mine want to have birds of the same
kind. I think you will have some orders soon
if you have not done so already from some
that have seen mine and want birds like
them. I got my birds to make money with
and I am going to do it if it is to be done.
And I am sure it is. I think your Manual is
a fine thing to have if one is going to do any-
thing in the squab business. When I want
to know anything about the business I
always look in the Manual and I can most
always find my answer. I should not want
to get along without the book.

Enclosed please find post-office money order
for the ten pairs of Extra Homers and other
goods I sent for. I wish to thank you for
the extra pair of birds you so kindly offer to
send. I hope to send for more birds before
many months if these do well. I took a
picture of my pen with some of the birds in
it to-day, and if good will send you one.—
Mrs. J. H. H., Massachusetts.

Note. Rats burrow in the dirt and raise
their families in these holes. When the floor
of the squab-house is on the ground, the rats
breed out of sight and out of reach, then they

get into the squab-house quickly. As we
say in the Manual, the floor of the squab-
house must be elevated two feet, then there
will be no rats, for they will not start breeding
in the open air under such a house.

LOST ONLY ONE OLD BIRD AND ONE
SQUAB IN FIVE MONTHS’ BREEDING IN
MISSISSIPPI. Please let me know what
you will let me have about four pairs of first-
class pigeons for. My pigeons are doing
finely. I have 16 now (September, 1907),
just twice the number I bought of you in
April. I have lost one of the old ones and one
of the squabs. I have enlarged my quarters
and want to enlarge my flock somewhat.
I have one pair setting and two pairs have
just raised a pair each and are ready for
business —C. A. Mississippi.

NEST OF TOBACCO STEMS.

Some birds build a neat, compact nest like the above,
and like tobacco stems to work with.

GENEROUS AND HONORABLE DEAL-
INGS. I received to-day by mail a leg-band
outfit complete, with which I am very much
pleased, and wish to thank you very much
for same. If at any time I can do anything
for you, don't hesitate to acquaint me of it,
as I would like to show my appreciation for
your generous and honorable dealings with
me. My pigeons are al! doing finely and I
have quite a bunch of fine young birds.
Thanking you again for your kindness and
extraordinary promptness.—W. G., New
Jersey.

SICK BIRD REPLACED. I received your
postal today and was agreeably surprised to
hear that you are willing tc replace our sick
bird. I hardly expected to receive such
honest treatment. It is a relief to find an
honest man these days. That bird we wish
to replace is a hen. All the other birds
are getting along finely —F.A., Massachusetts.

LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY
225

1907

RAPID BREEDING. CONTENTED MIND
AND A CLEAR RECOMMENDATION FOR
PLYMOUTH ROCK HOMERS. This is the
first time I have had occasion to write you a
for a year, so here it is briefly. Being a
business man myself, I know the value of
time. I put 21 pairs Plymouth Rock Homers
in loft August 6, 1906. Have sold and eaten
ten and one-half dozen squabs. Have on
hand to-day, October 8, 1907, 80 pairs mated
breeders and near the end of the moulting
season. Ihave about a dozen not ready for
market and about a dozen pairs of eggs,
divided between two lofts, 40 pairs in each
and outside of fear of rats. I have a contented
mind and a clear recommend for Plymouth
Rock Homers.—W. T. P., Ohio.

RAISED FROM PLYMOUTH ROCK EXTRAS.

In sending the above picture he writes: “The
parents I got from you. I refused ten dollars a pair
for one pair this winter. I have seen several large
squab ranches in Delaware but on all of them I never
saw any birds that could throw such birds as those
sold by you.”

MONTANA MAN LIKES OUR STYLE OF
DOING BUSINESS. Received vour notice
of shipment of birds vesterday (Sunday 29)
and received the four pairs of fine Extra
Homers to-day (80th) all in good shape.
They are all fine birds and we are much
pleased with them. It was very kind and
generous of you people to send an extra pair
free of charge, and also drinker and bowls
as we did not expect either. If this our first
venture proves successful, you can_ rest
assured you shall hear from us again. I like
your style of doing business—H. S. C.,
Montana.

A TREAT TO BE TREATED WELL. The
eleven pairs of birds (second order) arrived
here yesterday and all in first-class condition.
I shall place another orde1 shortly, as I have
to complete the buildings, and J am highly
pleased at the manner your firm does business.
It is a treat to know that one’s order is filled
satisfactorily —J. N., Virginia.

MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS

1908

SQUABS SOLD TO HOTEL FOR FIFTY
CENTS A PAIR IN KENTUCKY. I received
your shipment of six pairs of Extra Homers,
all in good condition; thank you for the Extra
hen. This was the finest lot of Homers I ever
saw in size and plumage, which is so uniform
that it is hard to tell one from the other. I
will send for another order some time next
month. I sold three pairs of squabs this
morning at 50 cents per pair to the hotel,
and they say that my squabsare fine. (Later.)
Find enclosed money order for which send me
six pairs of your Extra nest-mated Homers,
checkered and uniform in plumage. Every
pair I have are working and some have two
nests; one has three young squabs, which [
think is unusual.—A. H., Kentucky.

FIVE YEARS OF SUCCESS BY A NEW
YORK STATE WOMAN. In October of
1902 I sent you a check for $102.75 for
pigeons. My pigeons have done very well.
I ship to New York each week. I have just
been reading your new squab book of 1907
and would very much like the address of the
firm you quote in appendix on page 141 and
top first column page 143. Kindly send it
to me thereby helping an old customer.
Also kindly send me price of the new drinking
fountain spoken of in your Manual. I need
three new ones and if satisfactory as to price
will buy of you.—Miss O. W., New York.

STOCK DOUBLED IN MOULTING SEA-
SON. We have sent you to-day an order for
grain for which we hope you will send as soon
as possible. We bought stock from you
several times, the first order sent in about
June 1. Since that time (three months) the
stock has doubled. We expect to place a
large order in the spring along about March.
We have about 75 birds in stock at present
and started with a stock of 32. We shall
have to have a few white birds in our next
order. What is the price of the white stock
at present? Hoping you will send us the
grain soon.—C. & F., Massachusetts.

FAST NESTING BY MATED PAIRS IN
TEXAS. My birds received August 10 and
turned into pen; the 17th they were building
their nests, making seven days from arrival—
all the birds in good shape. One did not fly
on perch for about two minutes, but after this
time have nothing wrong with them. They
have certainly proven all that you have recom-
mended of them and as to nesting have beaten
your figures quite a bit. Thanking you for
your extra favor, will do more business as
soon as I locate where I will make my squab
farm:—GRe; diexas.

MANUAL WORTH TEN DOLLARS. Iam
very much pleased with your Manual and
think it worth $10. I shall send you an order
for breeding stock some time this month,
and grain and supplies. just as quick as I can
get my house built.—T. H., Massachusetts.

LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY

226

APPENDIX E

(Copyright, 1908, by Elmer C. Rice.)

——

(Above pictures copyright, 1907, by Elmer C, Rice.)

CARNEAUX. BIG, RED PIGEONS.

The Carneau (pronounced car-no; plural Carneaux, pronounced the same) breed is new to this
country. These pigeons are larger than the Homers and breed squabs weighing over a pound
apiece. Plumage almost invariably copper red (rare specimens yellow) splashed a little with
white; long body; broad breast; shape of head and body, and poise of body, different from
other varieties; quiet disposition, not so timid as other breeds; meat of squabs uncommonly
white; have no homing qualities; they may be allowed to fly, if desired, after a fortnight’s con-
finement, will stay around the place where they are fed, will not try to fly back to place where
bred; feed their young steadily and well; breed nine to ten pairs of squabs per year; are housed,
fed and handled same as Homers; strong, rugged build. The above pictures give a very good
idea of this variety. A customer in Greensburg, Penn., writes: ‘‘ This is the first time in my
life to receive a circular picturing anything which gave a true picture; your picture is true to
life in every detail. Everybody who sees my Carneaux is greatly taken with them. In every
way they are doing splendidly.”

I spent several months in Europe in 1906, partly to study in their home the
Carneaux pigeons, which then were just becoming known in America and
were recommended in sensational terms. It was my purpose to see the
evidence at first hand and find out if the claims were founded on fact. My
investigations were favorable to this breed but I have waited two years to
see how the birds would breed in our own lofts and in the lofts of customers.
At this writing we have sold about a thousand pairs of Carneaux and orders
for more are coming in fast. Previous to our importing this breed, there were
about 600 pairs of Carneaux in America.

In our long experience with pigeons, we have never known such a demand

227

228 NATIONAL STANDARD S.OCUAB BOOK

as there isfor Carneaux. Six dollars a pair may be obtained by anybody who
has the breeders for sale. Youngsters weaned and able to stand shipment
sell for three dollars a pair. ‘Lhe squabs sell alive for ten dollars to twelve
dollars a dozen. It costs no more to feed and raise these birds than other
pigeons. The selling price both for squabs and breeders being so much
larger, that is why the profit is larger. On account of the tremendous demand
for these birds for breeders, nobody is selling the squabs from them killed, but
if they ever get so numerous that squabs are marketed from them, the price
will be the very top notch.

This breed has been developed by the pigeon breeders of Belgium. There
are some Carneaux in France and Germany, but they are inferior in size and
beauty to the Belgian birds, and few in number.

They are not very plentiful in Belgium. We have made arrangements for
the output of all the adult, perfect pairs of Carneaux the breeders of Belgium
can furnish, fit for breeding, but so far they have not been able to furnish us
more than 200 pairs a month, so scarce are the birds. We hope to get more
from them. We have saved out 500 pairs Carneaux and are breeding them at
our farm. We can supply Carneaux imported by us, or (in limited number)
bred by us from birds of our importation.

Why is the demand for Carneaux so much greater than the supply? Just
this: They eat no more than Homers, but breed faster, and breed bigger
squabs.

In other words, they not only produce more squabs than the Homers, but
the squabs bring at least one-third more money. The breeder making a
profit from Homers will make more than double his profits with Carneaux.

For years, the study has been to produce a pigeon larger than the Homer
which would breed faster than the Homer. This has been accomplished in the
Carneaux. We know it by our own investigation and actual breeding of this
variety, and we know it by the experiences of our customers.

The big breeds, all of which we have tried, such as Runts, Maltese, Italians
(personally selected in Italy), breed big squabs, but they breed with exasperat-
ing slowness. Crossed with Homers, the rate of breeding is improved, but
the squabs are no larger than from our Extra Plymouth Rock Homers, so it is
far better to breed the straight Extra Homers.

The Carneaux breed squabs weighing a pound or more apiece and they
breed nine pairs to ten pairs of squabs a year. For these two reasons, we
believe that the Carneaux will displace the Homers in time. It will take
many years because the Homers have a strong hold now and the Carneaux are
scarce. Nevertheless, the cash returns from squabs weighing 12 pounds and
14 pounds to the dozen give a great profit to the breeder, and profits are what
all squab breeders are after.

Any one who has both Homers and Carneaux can get in a year from each
pair of Carneaux 15 or more pairs of squabs. Theoretically this is impossible
for any pigeons. However, the Carneaux have help from the Homers. Just
how this done is fully explained by us at the end of this article in the para-
graph headed, “ How to Breed Fifteen Pairs of Squabs from One Pair of Car-
neaux in One Year.” ahs

One of our customers, a Southern gentleman, visited our farm in the fall of
1906. He liked the looks of the Carneaux and on returning home later sent
for three pairs, which we shipped him December 26, 1906. On February 13,
1907, he wrote us asking how many pairs we could give him. He took all we
could then supply at $6.00 a pair, giving the following endorsement of his first

AGA EIN 229

purchase: ‘‘ The three pairs I got December 28 have raised six squabs and
are setting again (February 20), and I have not had them 60 days yet. So
far they beat the Homers.”’ Under date of April 29, he wrote us. ‘ I have
now, in my lofts, between 800 and 900 birds. Have Maltese, Mondaines,
Carneaux and Homers, but the Carneau is the favorite bird with every-
body that sees them. Have nearly 100 of these now and they are very rapid
breeders, raising squabs that weigh from one to one and one-half pounds each.
Have not sold any yet, but have enough orders on hand for them, at $6.00 a
pair, to take all that I can raise for some time tocome. Think at the present
rate I can get eight to ten pairs a year from them.’’ Under date of December
13, 1907, he wrote us as follows: ‘‘ I have now something over 100 pairs of
Carneaux. Have sold a few pairs and could have sold many more, but
wanted my stock to accumulate and get as many breeders on hand as pos-
sible. They are the best birds for squab raising that I have ever seen, and I
believe I have seen them all. They breed faster, eat less, are hardier, better
setters and feeders, and gentler than any of the other breeds, and for beauty
they are unsurpassed. I have all told now about 3000 birds in my lofts.
Have been very successful with my plant so far. May want some more
Carneaux from you later on.”’

A customer in Missouri bought four pairs of Carneaux and liked them well
enough to buy six more pairs three months later, saying: ‘‘ lam keeping an
accurate record, which promises to be something startling for the year. Two
pairs went to work (laid eggs) within 10 days. The third pair went to work in
26 days. The fourth hen was not so well along in the moult and did not lay
until November 8. The average weight of squabs at four weeks old has been
17.6 ounces, weighed without crops filled with feed. The four pairs have
made nine nests in less than 90 days, or a total average production of better
than nine pairsa year. The actual average production is better than this, of
course, as it wouldn’t be fair to count an average until all birds are at work.
I have found them to be all that is desirable in a pigeon. They are good
feeders and do not use more feed than the Homers.”

In November, 1907, we shipped 21 pairs of our Carneaux to a Philadelphia
breeder, who replied: ‘‘ To say I am pleased, these words do not express it.
They are the finest lot of birds I have seen anywhere. My friend, who
imported 25 pairs of Carneaux some time ago from Belgium, is very much
disappointed with his Carneaux since he has seen the shipment you sent me.
I shall endeavor to do all I can for the interest of your house in the way of
orders. I received the 21 pairs of Carneaux Saturday, 8.30 p.m. On Mon-
day, at 10 o’clock in the morning, nine pairs of the birds sent had almost
completed nine nests in their new home (in a little over one day). This seems
remarkable to me and I write you these few lines to get your opinion of the
work they have done.”’

Other breeders, not our customers, who have bred the Carneaux, praise
them as follows:

“They will easily average three squabs a year in excess of select Homers.
A conservative estimate of squab weight under favorable conditions is 18
ounces.”

‘ They average nearly a pair of squabs per month. For fancy and squab
producing qualities, the Carneaux easily lead all.”’

‘““ No questicn about Carneaux. They are it.”

‘“T have only two pairs. Results are so satisfactory that I am clearing
lofts to devote exclusively to Carneaux.”’

230 NATIONAL STANDARD SOUCAB BOO,

“‘ The Carneaux boom has struck this country for fair.”’

““ The Carneaux exceed all others in point of squab producing, not only in
numbers and weight, but also in the clarity of the skin, the palatableness of
the flesh, and prolific nature.”

‘The consensus of opinion seems to be that the Carneaux will produce 10
pairs, or 20 pounds of squabs per pair to the year, while some place the
average higher. Few place it lower.”

‘‘ All I have read has been substantiated by my own personal experience.
Their yearly yield is from 10 to 11 pairs of squabs.”’

‘“ My experience with Carneaux is limited to two years. Theyare great.
The Carneaux will occupy the place of honor in loft and showroom. Ten
pairs of squabs is the yield per year.”’

‘“T have bred them two years. Carneaux are as superior to the Homer as
the Homer is to the common pigeon. It is the rule rather than the exception
for the Carneaux to produce nine pairs of white-meated squabs a year which
will average one pound each. My experience proves conclusively that they
will produce twice as many pounds of squabs in a year as the ordinary birds
now generally used as squab breeders, and one of the most conspicuous points
in their favor is the fact that the cost of keeping them is no more,”’

A few advertisers of pigeons who live inland, not in a seaport city,
may ‘‘run down”’ imported pigeons, saying they are no good, culls, not
acclimated, poor breeders, and so forth, ad nauseam. The reason why these
soreheads fret so is, that it is impossible for them to import pigeons success-
fully. To do this successfully, steadily, profitably, one must live on the sea-
board, close to where the Antwerp steamers come, and must have a personal
acquaintance with the officers of the steamships, and see them at every sail-
ing, and pay them for their work in caring for the birds. The reason why
those who decry imported pigeons do not sell them is simply that they cannot
get them, or, if they think they can get them, they wish to sell something in
which there is a greater profit. We have seen not much talk of this kind, in
opposition to imported pigeons, but it will be indulged in more or less as the
traffic in Carneaux increases. The trade calling for Carneaux in America
must be supplied with imported birds or go without them, for nobody can
ship day by day, steadily, Carneaux of his own raising. You should be sure
and get Carneaux which have been in this country at least one or two months,
and have got their sea-legs off, for it is our experience that the long voyage
results in a goodly percentage of dead and injured birds, depending on the
weather and the caretakers.

That imported Carneaux go to work quickly is indicated by the letter of
the Philadelphia gentleman above quoted, nine pairs out of 21 pairs having
built nests within two days after delivery to him.

Our trade in Carneaux is increasing every month and we expect to sell
many thousand pairs in 1908 and 1909. We recommend them to our cus-
tomers. We do not wish anybody to take our word for their excellence.
Try them alongside of your Homers and form your own opinion. Anybody
who buys Carneaux of us and is not perfectly satisfied with them, and that all
we say here is true, after six months’ trial, may exchange them for our Extra
Plymouth Rock Homers at the rate of three pairs of Homers for one pair of
Carneaux.

AP PEN DIX E 2a)

HOW TO BREED FIFTEEN PAIRS OF SQUABS FROM ONE
PAIR OF CARNEAUX IN ONE YEAR.

(Copyright, 1908, by Elmer C. Rice).

During the first eight months of the year, January to August, the
Carneaux may be robbed of their eggs twice a month and they wil'
lay again about 10 days later.

A pair of Carneaux build a nest, and the two eggs are laid. On
the day they are laid (or the second or third day, if the first day is not
convenient for you) you take away the two eggs from the Carneaux
nest and carry them in your hands to the pen where you have
Homers breeding. You look around in the pen until you find a nest
with Homer eggs. You throw these Homer eggs away, putting in
their place the two Carneaux eggs. The Homers keep right on sit-
ting and hatch out, not their own eggs, but the two Carneaux eggs,
and raise the two Carneaux squabs.

Meantime, the pair of Carneaux from which you took the eggs
wish more eggs, and within 10 days to 14 days the hen lays again.
Now, as you did at first, you take away these two eggs from the
Carneaux and put them under Homers.

Do not take away the third setting of eggs from the Carneaux.
Let the eggs stay in the Carneaux nest and the Carneaux will hatch
and raise them.

For example, a Carneau hen lays two eggs June 1. Take them
away and substitute them for the eggs in a Homer nest. The
Carneau hen will lay again June 10 to June 15. Take the two eggs
away and substitute them for the eggs in a Homer nest. The Car-
neau hen will lay again June 25to July 1. This will give you three
settings of eggs from one pair in 30 days. Let the Carneaux raise
the third setting and then repeat the process.

During the last four months of the year, take away the eggs only
once and let the female Carneau set on the second pair of eggs.

From 15 pairs to 18 pairs of squabs from one pair of Carneaux
may be produced in one year by the above method. With Carneaux
selling for six dollars a pair, of course it pays to use Homers to
increase the supply of Carneaux. With ordinary success, in follow:
ing this method, the capacity of a pair of Carneaux may be doubled.

COMMENT ON ABOVE.

We do not think this forcing method would have the slightest effect on the
health of the Carneaux. Hens and ducks lay a great many more egys thar.

232 NATIONAL*STANDAKD SOUAS OOS

pigeons. It is not much strain on the female pigeon to lay four or six eggs
a month instead of two. The strain of production comes from setting on the
eggs day after day, not in laying the eggs, we should guess.

Why not take away all the Carneaux eggs and hatch them under Homers,
some may ask. We do not believe in this, as far too unnatural. The Car-
neaux should be given an opportunity to raise the third setting, for that is
what they are striving for.

This method has been tested thoroughly with birds purchased from us and
it works all right. There is nothing far-fetched about it. You simply take
the eggs away and let Homers hatch them out. At the same time, simple as
this plan is, it has never been published before, to our knowledge, nor has it
ever been tried except by a few breeders of our acquaintance. It is not
uncommon for breeders of fancy pigeons of poor feeding and raising qualities
to put their eggs under Homers, but no motive for doubling the squab pro-
duction from certain pigeons has ever existed until today, when it is money
in the breeder’s pocket to turn out all the six-dollar pairs of Carneaux he can
in the shortest space of time.

In following the above directions the breeder should realize that the
Carneaux eggs must replace Homer eggs laid within two days of the same
time, otherwise the bird milk of the Homers will be too old and thick, and
the young Carneaux cannot assimilate it and may die.

(Later. January 1, 1909.)

Another year of breeding and shipping the Carneaux has substantiated
our opinion of them, and the orders from customers have been added proof.
On page 229 we mention a Western customer who started with four pairs
of our Carneaux, then added six pairs. He was so pleased with results that
in 1908 he ordered 30 pairs more, then again 35 pairs, and finally in November,
1908, an order for 150 pairs amounting to $900. No more comment con-
cerning his opinion of our Carneaux is needed—his money tells an eloquent
story. This customer is an experienced pigeon breeder.

From the letters of other customers to whom we sold Carneaux in 1908,
we make the following extracts. The full letters are on file at our Boston
office, where they will be produced at any time to satisfy anybody as to their
genuineness:

Enclosed find check for $30 for which please send me five pairs of your Carneaux birds. I
bought one pair of you some time ago and am much pleased with them.

Please ship me two more pairs of Carneaux as soon as possible. The other two pairs you
shipped are doing nicely.

The eight pairs of Carneaux received from you April 25 have behaved beautifully with the
exception of one pair. Nine days from date of arrival one pair had anest and twoeggs. Today
(May 26) I have four pairs of squabs and expect three more pairs the last of this week. They
surely have followed President Roosevelt’s prolific policy. Iam greatly pleased and am be-
coming interested in the possibilities of squab raising with the Carneaux. Regarding the
pair that have not turned out right, I will ask your advice. The female (the smallest bird
of all) laid two eggs in a bowl without any nesting material and left them to spend her time with
her male partner in the flying pen. I will thank you in advance for any advice you can give
regarding this negligent pair.

I thought it might interest you to know how the Carneaux have done that I bought of you
in 1907. In June, 1907, I bought of you two pairs, in September one pair, in December, 1907,
one pair, and I now (December 17, 1908) have 21 pairs mated and working. I have 114 birds
not yet mated, and have sold $44 worth of mated pairs and young not mated. Do you not think
I have done well? I find the Carneaux a most charming bird, very tame, and they never leave the

Agr se END Xe 233

nest when setting when you approach them. They feed their young fine, and raise squabs that
weigh from 12 to 18 and 20 ounces at one month old. I have one pair of young mated last Jan-
uary that I have been offered $10 for. 1 find much pleasure in mating up these birds, and I
think I have got as good foundation stock as I could get anywhere. The Carneaux judge at the
show told me that one of the hens purchased from you was as good a Carneau hen as he had ever
seen. I have one young pair that have been breeding several months and they are averaging
a pair of squabs a month, and have never lost a single squab. Their hatches are usually one or
two days inside of a month. My Carneaux are very fast breeders, and I find by mating rightly
I can increase their speed in breeding. They are everlastingly at it. I have got so much at-
tached to the Carneaux that if there was no money in raising them I still would want a good
flock of them. What could you sell me 100 pairs for, and how soon could you deliver them to me ?

The birds which you sent me on Monday arrived here Wednesday at 10 o'clock in good
condition. The Carneaux are great and I wish to thank you for the extra Homer hen. It is
a dandy. My other two pairs of mated Homers have eggs now and my first pair of Carneaux
have young ones. I am delighted as your birds and dealings are first class. You can bet
that I'll be writing for more as soon as possible.

I have now over 150 pairs of Carneaux. Your birds (Carneaux) have done well. I am now
shipping 20 dozen per week and getting $4 per dozen. If it would keep up that way all the
year here (Florida) I would ask for no better business. I shall be in Boston later on in the year
and will call on you. I much want to see your Carneaux.

The Carneaux birds arrived in noble condition. We are very much pleased with them, and
every one here that has seen them cannot get through talking about them. We certainly
appreciate your promptness and methods in doing business and must say that you do more
than you promise to. Will in a few days write you for more supplies that we will be in need
of. Again thanking you for the way you have treated our order, we can give you our hearty
support in any way that the buying public may demand of you, and you are at liberty to use
this letter wherever it is of any value to you.

We received the three pairs of Carneaux April 27. They were in good condition, only one
seems a little dull, but I think it will be all right. They are the largest pigeons I ever saw and
are all that you claim them to be. When we have room we want to get more from you. One of
our neighbors is going to start raising pigeons and wants me to sell him my squabs. I had to
refuse and told him I thought Mr. Rice would furnish him with all the birds he wants, so I give
you his name.

My Carneaux birds are doing fine, in fact, I am more than pleased with them. I have had
ten settings and have just weighed a squab at one week old and it weighed a pound. We could
hardly believe our eyes, but it is true. 1am delighted with them. Any time I can help you in
any Way in regard to using my name you are w elcome in regard to your Carneaux, as we think
eee are the only kind of pigeons to raise and we will get rid of all our Homers and raise only

arneaux.

I have been so very busy with Carneaux, chickens, hens, etc., that I have found no time to
write before. I think the birds are very handsome and on May 8, every pair (16) had nests
and eggs. I expect they will begin to hatch the first young ones about May 14, tomorrow.

I would like to ask you whether you have three pairs of Carneaux mated, as I am very much
pleased with my first pair. They are all you claim them to be in size and have just finished
building their nest.

The Carneaux arrived all O.K. on the 12th. Yesterday four of them built nests and laid
oneeggeach. I call this fast work. Accept my thanks for quality of birds.

Some months ago I wrote you in regard to the pair of solid red Carneaux which I purchased
of you last December to show at the Rochester Pigeon Show last January. The cock took first
prize and the hen second prize. My Carneaux are doing fine and I find much in them that is
very interesting. I have raised a fine lot of young Carneaux this year and they are all from
your stock. My squab Homers are doing fine and I still have every one of the original 12 pairs
I purchased of you November 9, 1904, and they are all working right along.

I have received your Carneaux in fine shape, and they are as fine birds as I have. J am very
much pleased with them.

I wish to say that the four pairs of Carneaux my brother got of you last November have raised
163fine birds.

ae NATIONAL STANDAKD SOUAS BOOK

I am more than pleased with the pair of Carneaux which I got from you and send another
order for two more pairs. I have the finest Homers I have ever seen but they look very small
beside the Carneaux and if the Carneaux breed well I will send for more orders.

I am very much pleased with my Carneaux and will be glad to send you photogr.

as I get some. I had the address of a man in this State who clas: to ie oie a eae
breeder of Carneaux and Homer pigeons. 1 wrote him for a price on red, and red and white
birds, just in those words, and he said, yes, he had just what I wanted at $2.50 each. three for
$6, and he would make a personal selection of the birds, which were second prize winners
But you ought to have seen the birds he sent me, not near as good as my own. I returned
them to him, but he said they were just what I ordered and that I expected to get show birds
under the pretence of ordering breeding birds, also he did not ship birds on approval at this
time of year. He had the advantage as he held my money. He said show birds demanded a
big price. He refused a price of $150 for one bird in his exhibit at State Fair. Now, I saw
those Carneaux and they were no better than some of mine. One of the pairs I bought from
you last Spring throw some elegant birds. As I am an amateur I suppose I must learn that all
pigeon dealers are not white. I had no idea of showing my birds, but as this dealer seemed to
be afraid I would, I think it would be a good idea to go in and show him that “‘ there are others.’
If I have as good luck next season as I have this year, I think Ican doit. Three of the females
are from this best pair I mentioned. All three pairs hatched seven pairs young, working right
through the moult.

The shipment of Carneaux arrived just a month ago and is very satisfactory. Nine of the
ten pairs are mated, and seven have squabs. The birds arrived several days before the nappies,
but they adapted themselves to circumstances. One pair nested in a grit box, another pair
in the oyster-shell box and three pairs on the floor. The nest bowls arrived just in time to

save the drinking fountain.

The pair of Carneaux received in good shape, and am well pleased with them. Think they
will soon be at work, have commenced to drive. Will want another pair in a few weeks. Every
one that has seen them says they beat everything they have ever seen.

The three pairs of Carneaux and seven pairs of Homers arrived here March 25. The Carneaux
are very large, fine birds. There are several squab raisers here (California). One man has
8000 birds and another has 5000, mostly Homers, but when they saw my Carneaux they nearly
went wild. I am going to order more Carneaux in a few days but not until I see what they will
do. I will clear my lofts of Homers as fast as I can and stock up with Carneaux if they prove
to be even as good a breeder as the Homer.

The Carneaux are doing fine. One pair went to setting within 24 hours after arrival. The
other pair laid two eggs without building a nest so of course are not setting, but I believe they
are building now as they stay indoors a great deal of the time. Am writing you this as I
thought it might be of interest to you to know how your birds are doing that yousold. I
brought the doctor with whom you have been corresponding in regard to the Carneaux, around
to see my birds and told him of the very good work they have done and he seemed very much
pleased with them. What are 100 of these birds worth? I believe in time they will take the

place of the Homers.

The three pairs of Extra Homers and three pairs Carneaux arrived this morning in fine condi-
tion, and are a fine lot of birds. JI am well pleased with them. They seem to be in a hurry to
get to work, as one of the Carneaux laid this afternoon. I think all of them will be on eggs in
afew days. Will want more breeders later, when you will hear from me. Thank you for send-

ing me such good birds.

As I have promised you, this lady has ordered me to get more Carneaux for her. She is very
proud of the five pairs you sold her. She has got the Carneaux fever for fair. So here you are,
kindly have ready for next Saturday afternoon, we will call for them, five pairs of your best
Carneaux. Kindly note, she will want more in about two weeks. She has given me the money
already, so it is up to you to do your best. In hernameI thank you. I will call next Saturday
about 1 p.m. for them if you can get them ready.

Please advise me if the Carneaux pigeons purchased from you November 23 are imported
birds, or are they bred by you from the imported stock. The birds are doing excellent work.
I purchased 20 pairs and at this writing have 20 nests. Every bird in the loft has eggs or squabs,

of the lot purchased, 20 pairs.

I am well pleased with the pair of Carneaux which arrived Saturday in good condition.
Please send me three more pairs of same on the same conditions, for which I enclose herewith $18.

WP PEND TX E 235

1 thank you for your compliments regarding my success at recent leading shows with my
Carneaux. Three years ago in one of my consignments of pigeons from abroad, I received
a few pairs of Carneaux. I kept them and bred several fine specimens. I am not a regular
pigeon dealer. lama fancier more. I work every day at my trade. Pigeons with me are a
side issue. I have bought of you since December last over $148 of Carneaux, all for a few
customers, Now these exhibitions in different cities I made have created a furore and everybody
is after me for Carneaux. One party says, ‘‘ A man like you that exhibits such fine Carneaux
must have some fine ones at your lofts. I want your Carneaux,” etc. I will send you an order
for five pairs and I can guarantee you more orders next week.

I received my last order of pigeons two or three days ago; which was my third order from
you. The Homers were very fine and the Carneaux were the finest pigeons I have ever seen.
They are simply grand and if I could not get any more like them I would not take one hundred
dollars for them. They were driving the hens and feeding in one minute after I turned them
out. They all have nests now. You have treated me very nicely and I like to do business
with you. You have always treated me right. I had a letter from a pigeon man yesterday,
about 150 miles from here, but I did not know how they would use me and so I give my order
to you. Enclosed find check for $50 for which please send me three pairs of your very best
aes and the rest, a nice assortment of best Homers. (This is the fourth order from this
customer.

The eight pairs of Carneaux which you sent me last Friday arrived Saturday morning at 9.30,
making seven and one-half hours better time than the shipment of Homers you made me on
November 1 last. They are certainly beautiful birds. I tried putting each pair in mating
coops immediately on their arrival, having previously removed the partitions, and by four
o'clock that afternoon six pairs had mated. The other two pairs mated the following morning.

I was going to go to see you last Saturday but it was so cold I postponed it. Kindly fill
my order for five pairs of Carneaux. All Carneaux bought of you are entirely satisfactory.
It is a pleasure to deal with you. I will have the money ready when I call for them. Kindly
advise when you can fill my order.

The Carneaux were in fine shape and I am well pleased with them. I am enclosing money
order for $12 for which please ship, at once as per my other order, two pairs more of mated
Carneaux. Please give the filling of this order careful attention, as it means a great deal to me.
If these birds do as well as I hope they will, I shall place an order for about 50 or 75 pairs in
the near future.

I am in receipt of the four pairs of Carneaux which were shipped on June 1. The birds are
doing nicely, all four pairs having nested and laid.

The Carneaux came to hand last Tuesday and to say I am pleased with them is putting it
entirely too mild. They are the prettiest, biggest things in the pigeon line leversaw. Every one
that sees them savs that they are stunners, they are the talk of the town. Will do as you
suggest about the plan and photo of the house I built for less than $20, and it is a dandy for
this climate, too. If you wish to refer any one to me or have me show any one the Carneaux,
just say so and I will be only too glad to doit. Thank you for the prompt and careful attention
given my order.

Our two crates of birds arrived two weeks ago. We thank you for the fine lot you sent.
They are certainly as fine as any one can hope to possess. We have the room now for 700 or
800 pairs and we intend to fill this up with Plymouth Rock Extra Homers and Carneaux. We
are ‘stuck ’’ on the Carneaux but they are nearly out of our reach. Please give us all the
information you can about selling squabs. Can we reach New York? We understand that
wecan. We raise more squabs in the winter than we can easily handle in this city. We note
the markets in the Packer but they are always just as you say, below the actual market
prices. Our birds will win all the prizes at the County Fair again this year.

The Carneaux arrived Monday morning and were O.K. and to say I am pleased with them
does not express it, as I think the pair of yellows are the best I ever saw. I was surprised to
find the extra hen, as I did not expect you to make good the loss of the other one. I thank
you very much for the nice way you have treated me in our dealings, and hope to do more
business with you later.

In regard to our conversation of last week about the Carneaux, will state that I like the birds
much better than the Homers, as both squab raisers and show birds. Every one who has seen
my birds savs they are the largest and finest birds they ever saw. From the one pair of
Carneaux I purchased of you in March, 1908, I have raised five and lost three. They laid in

236 NATIONAL STANDARD SQUAB BOOK

vs » 2
= on De Ae 3 ts
abi Sas i ee ies Phe: teas ake

> &

CARNEAU SQUAB COMPARED WITH HOMER SQUAB.

The Plymouth Rock Carneau squab at the left of the above photograph weighs 1714 ounces. The Homer squab
alongside at the right weighs twelve ounces.

about three weeks after arriving here, so you see they have been at work nearly all the time
and are now setting. I have entered five of them at our County Fair, New York, and expect
to capture all the prizes as I have no competition and had to enter them in a special class. I
have a pair of yellow birds which I prize highly. The Carneaux should make a great showing
in the squab industry.

I received your special offer on your Plymouth Rock Homers, but I don’t see any reference
to your Carneaux. I have made up my mind to discard all birds except the Carneaux. I
have had one pair from you and I am well satisfied. Now what are your lowest terms, say for
five or ten pairs, express paid to my address? Mr. Rice, I want them in time so I can show
them at our fairin September. So far I am the only one in Colorado who has a pair of Carneaux,
and I believe I could get quite a few orders for you if I put good birds on exhibition.

The three pairs of Carneaux are doing well. The squabs arevery large. One pairof squabs
especially, I feel sure, will weigh a pound and a quarter each at about a month old.

We purchased from you Homers about six months ago and Carneaux about three months ago,
Both are satisfactory and we like the work very much. We are going to build a house for them
this fall so as to make room for more stock.

The pigeons you shipped me last week arrived this morning in fairly good condition, con-
sidering the long distance they travelled. The Carneaux were extra lively. They mated in
less than an hour after being taken from the crate. JI am more than pleased with the Carneaux
and think they are the finest birds I ever saw and shall take great pride in showing them to
my friends.

I have 50 pairs of Plymouth Rock Homers which we bought of you. They are doing all right
but I like the Carneaux better. The worst thing about the business is the killing part. If I

APPENDIX B 237

could get around that part I would enjoy it better. That is the reason I would like to get
started with the Carneaux.

The Carneaux are beyond my expectations. I have bred all kinds of pigeons, but have never
seen such breeders in my life. I have bred youngsters from them weighing 1934 ounces at 20
days old. Can you beat that? Enclosed please find order for six dozen nest bowls.

I suppose you may be interested to hear about the breeders you sent me last spring. The
two pairs of Carneaux are doing fine. They have hatched five pairs of squabs since.

The Carneaux I bought from you are coming along finely now. I have had luck with two
or three settings and now have ten young pigeons from two pairs.

I bought four pairs of Carneaux of you last November and now (October) have 37 birds.

I am going to order some more Carneaux sure. As far as I have seen they are the bird.
My neighbors here say that mine look more like turkeys than pigeons.

Some time ago I ordered of you five pairs of Plymouth Rock Carneaux at $6 per pair and am
very much pleased with same. I am particularly interested in the building up in point of
weight in this particular bird. Hence I beg to be advised whether you would select shipment
of extraordinary size at increased price and if so, extent of increased size or weight as compared
with the general run of this bird, and at what cost? (Later we received an order from this
customer for five pairs more.)

The Carneaux were purchased of you some time in December iast, I think, first three pairs.
Then later my partner went over and purchased of you three pairs more, making six pairs
of imported birds purchased of you. The balance are the offspring of the original six pairs.
I shall have no hesitancy in recommending the Carneaux to any who may inquire. They have
proved more prolific than the Homers and much heavier birds.

The Carneaux proved well. Enclosed find $6 for another pair. We are slowly selling off
our Homers. (This customer has bred Homers for many years.)

We started with six pairs of your Carneaux shipped March 26, 1908. We have divided
our loft into two pens, one for the breeders and one for the young. At this time, October 23,
we have forty birds altogether, which we considera good increase. The young birds are begin-
ning to mate. Our flock worked right through the moulting season. We enjoy the birds and
the work among them very much. (Later—November 23.) We now have forty-five Carneaux
all told and eight pairs at work.

The above letters from customers give a clear idea of how our Carneaux
are getting along in the United States and Canada. Our trade in them
increased in 1908 steadily and we are going to ship thousands of pairs in 1909.

PLYMOUTH ROCK CARHOMES.

The crossing of a Plymouth Rock Carneau cock to a Plymouth Rock Extra
Red Checker Homer female produces a splendid squab and we recommend
this cross if you wish to save a little money on your first purchase. If you
have some of our Extra Plymouth Rock Homer females now in your flock,
red checkers, we will ship you our Carneaux males to mate with them at
$2.50 each. Or, if you so instruct us, we will mate a Carneau male to a red
checker Homer Extra female and sell the pair to you for $3.50—as many
pairs as you wish at $3.50 a pair. The price of our Carneaux is $6 a pair,
one price only. (No special offers made on this breed.) So in buying the
Carneau-Homer combination of us instead of the pure Carneaux you will
save $2.50 on every pair you buy.

We call this combination Carhomes, taking enough of each word to make
the desired meaning. We advocate red-checker Plymouth Rock Extra
Homer females instead of the other colors because the color combination

238 NATIONAL STANDARD SOUAB EBOOK

is the prettiest and also because the resulting squabs have red plumage
closely resembling the pure Carneaux squabs. Of course they cannot be
sold for breeders as pure stock Carneaux but these Carhome squabs can
be put on the market in competition with pure Carneaux squabs and will
sell up to them surprisingly strong. One of our customers who is pro-
ducing these Carhome squabs writes the following emphatic words: “The
results of my breeding one of your Carneau cocks to a red-checker Extra
Homer female are more than satisfactory. First, it is impossible to tell the
difference in color and size. Second good result, it makes the young ones
very hardy. I made other experiments by crossing a Carneau cock with an
English hen Homer (carrier). The results are not so good because you can
tell the English blood in the squabs and it destroys the beauty of the Carneau
neadan

We do not breed Carhomes at our farm because our reputation has been
built up and will be continued on pure stock. But if you wish to breed
squabs for market, then you can go ahead with confidence on this cross.
We sell them at the price formerly charged by some for Homer pairs, and
they are superior to any Homers for producing big squabs and breeding fast.
Understand, there is nothing to prevent you from building up a business in
the Carhomes for breeders but you cannot sell them representing them as
pure Carneaux. The blood of the young will be half Carneaux and half
Homer. You sell them on their merits as squab-breeders.

For our customers of many years’ standing who are shipping steadily in
to the markets of all the cities on this continent not only the best Homer
squabs, but three-fourths of all the squabs sold, we recommend our Carneaux
cocks to be crossed with their red-checker Homer females as the best means
of increasing the weight per dozen of their output and the quantity of squabs
produced; and bettering both the appearance of the squabs and the quality
of the meat.

We do not advocate the crossing of a Homer red-checker cock to a Carneau
hen (or, to coin a word, Homecarnes) because (1) the cock should be master
in fact as well as name, (2) the female likes a large male better than a small
male, (3) the female is not so likely to break her mating to secure a more
vigorous helpmate, (4) the male is better able to defend his mate and family
from other nales or females, (5) the male Carneau, the best of his kind, is
larger and better than the male Homer, the best of his kind. (The female
Carneau is iaferior to the male Carneau.)

CARNEAUX AND HOMERS NOT IN THE SAME PEN.

As a rule, each breed of pigeons should be kept in a pen separate from
other breeds. If different breeds are kept in the same pen, the breeds may
mix, no ma ter how carefully the pairs are mated, and of course the young
are liable tc mix. There is nothing about a Homer pigeon which keeps it
true to its own species. If Fantails or any other fancy breeds of pigeons are
kept in the same pen with Homers, there is nothing about the Homer which
would lead it to be true to its own species. He or she is just as liable to seek
a different breed fora mate. As to the two kinds we sell, the Homers and
the Carneaux, if they were kept in the same pen, it is quite possible that an
attachment for a Carneau cock or hen might form with a Homer of the
opposite sex. So if you are breeding both the Carneaux and the Homers
for the pure stock you should keep them separate.

APPENDIX F

(Copyright, 1909, by Elmer C Rice.)

Letters from customers which we print on the following pages are a few
of those received lately. From a pile of manuscript some three feet high
we have selected enough letters to make a proper setting for the pictures.
Many customers have sent in letters which ought to be printed for the news
in them, but in this book, now grown to quite bulky proportions, we have
run up against the limit of space.

A MONTHLY SQUAB MAGAZINE.

The best outlet for suggestions, experiences, market reports from all over
the country, etc., constantly being sent in, would be a monthly squab maga-
zine, printed and illustrated in the best style, capably edited and written by
experienced and industrious men and women who have ability as well as
good intentions, who know what they are doing, and who know squabs.
Such a magazine, creditably gotten up, with money behind it, and money com-
ing in from subscribers really pleased because they would be getting full value,
would bea power in the squab industry. Properly managed, it would not only
be a clearing house for ideas and a monthly entertainment, but of assistance
in actually making market prices for squabs, bettering them. Breeders of
squabs should be organized for better prices and other ends. A first-class
monthly squab magazine would be cheap at a subscription price of $1 a year,
issued on time each month, and containing nothing but original matter at
first-hand (no politics or cheap wrangling, but plain and thorough business
all the time.) There is a demand for such a national squab magazine and
thousands of breeders would subscribe for it.

MORE ABOUT HOW TO TELL SEX.

A good proportion of our letters, month after month and year after year,
inquire how to tell the sex of pigeons. People ask us this question before
they have read this Manual and after they have read the Manual. We
should like to write this down to the remotest detail so that even a child
could tell the sex of a pigeon by looking at it, but this is impossible. There
is no language which can convey the secret of telling absolutely the sex of
pigeons. You can tell only by watching them and by experience gained
by this watching. You become more expert in determining the sex as you go
along. There are no marks on either male or female by which you can
distinguish them at any age. Some large male pigeons act the same as
roosters do and can be told almost at a glance. On the other hand, some
female pigeons are large and coarse, like a male bird, and the secret of their
sex is disclosed only by their actions in conjunction with birds of the opposite
Sex.

The birds we ship are banded cocks on right leg and hens on left leg. You
must watch these birds and see how they act. By the location of the band
you will know the sex and by their actions you will learn to connect what
you see with the specified sex. Sometimes customers will write to us and
state that they have raised birds and are puzzled about the sex of them.
In that case you must watch their actions or you can turn such birds in with

939

240 NATIONAL STANDARD SOUAE BOOKS

some of our birds and watch their behavior in connection with our birds.
You will know the sex of our birds by the bands on their legs, and when you
have determined by the actions of your birds what the sex of them is, catch
them and band them, putting a band on the right leg of the cock and a band
on the left leg of the hen. It is impossible to band a squab four or five days
old with a seamless band so as to designate the sex. You cannot tell the
sex of a squab or young pigeon until it discloses by its actions at mating age,
four or five months, what it is. If you put a seamless band on a young
squab, the object is to show the age, not the sex. The best way for the
business squab breeder is to put an open band on the leg of the squab, showing
its age, by its date, and bearing a distinguishing number which you refer
to in your records. You can put this band on either the right leg or the left
leg of the squab. When the young bird grows up to mating age and you
find out its sex, then change the band to either the right or left leg to suit
the case.

It is not a difficult matter to determine the sex of a pigeon by watching,
for sooner or later you will see actions that will tell you. You must not be
guided much by a little quarrelling which you sometimes see going on. Two
hens will quarrel the same as two cocks. If two or three pigeons are ex-
tremely puzzling to you, handle them in this manner: Take them out of
the breeding pen and put each pigeon in a small coop or box in the dark and
keep them there for two or three days, each pigeon in a separate box or coop.
Feed and water them regularly, then take them out of their little coops and
put them into mating coops with other birds. They will generally disclose
their sex as they are anxious for companionship after being shut in so long.
Another way to do this is to take two birds and put them into a mating
coop, one on each side of the partition, and put a bag or other covering over
the coop so that the place will be darkened for two or three days. Feed and
water daily. Then take off the covering and take out the partition in the
middle of the mating coop and watch the two birds as they come together.

The beginner should familiarize himself with the billing, treading and
driving as he sees the birds. We have had customers write us and declare
that we had shipped them squabs because they had seen what they thought
young birds taking nourishment from the older birds. What they really
had seen was a male bird kissing or billing with a female bird, a matter
entirely different.

The male and female mates not only bill, tread and drive, but they nestle
close at times, each running his or her bill through the feathers on the neck
and head of the other.

Pigeon breeding is an ancient hobby and pastime in England. An English
writer, Dixon, years ago described their love affairs in choice words. It is
a pretty sight, said Dixon, to see pigeons at liberty when “‘ courting.’’ They
begin to go together in pairs, except while associated with the flock at feeding-
times; and when they are resting on the roofs, or basking in the sun, they
retire apart to a short distance for the purpose of courtship, and pay each
other little kind attentions, such as nestling close, and mutually tickling
the heads one of another. At last comes what is called “ billing,’ which is
in fact a kiss, a hearty and intense kiss. As soon as this takes place, the
marriage is complete, and is forthwith consummated. The pair are now
united, not necessarily for life, though usually so, but rather durante bene
placito, so long as they continue to be satisfied with each other. If they are

APPENDIX F 241

Tumblers, they mount aloft and try which can tumble best; if they are
Pouters, they emulate one the other’s puffings, tail-sweepings, circlets in
the air, and wing-clappings; while the Fantails and Runts, and all those
kinds which the French call pigeons mondains, walk the ground with conscious
importance and grace. But this is their honeymoon—the time for the
frolics of giddy young people. The male is the first to become serious. He
foresees that ‘* the Campbells are coming”’ better than his bride, and therefore
takes possession of some locker or box that seems an eligible tenement. If
it is quite empty and bare, he carries to it a few straws or light sticks; but
if the apartment has been already furnished for him, he does not at present
take much further trouble in that line. Here he settles himself, and begins
complaining. His appeal is sometimes answered by the lady affording him
her presence, sometimes not; in which case he does not pine in solitude very
long, but goes and searches out his careless helpmate, and with close pursuit
and a few sharp pecks if necessary, insists upon her attending to her business
at home. Like the good husband described in Fuller’s Holy State, “ his love
to his wife weakeneth not his ruling her, and his ruling lesseneth not his
loving her.’’ And so the hen obeys, occasionally, however, giving some
trouble; but at last she feels that she must discontinue general visiting
and long excursions, and enters the modest establishment that has been
prepared for her performance of her maternal duties. A day or two after
she has signified her acceptance of the new home, an egg may be expected
to be found there. Over this she (mostly) stands sentinel till, after an
intervening day, a second egg is laid, and incubation really commences,
not hotly and energetically at first, as with hens, turkeys, and many other
birds, but gently and with increasing assiduity. And now the merits of
her mate grow apparent. He does not leave his lady to beara solitary burden
of matrimonial care. He takes a share, though a minor one, of the task
of incubating; and he more than performs his half-share of the labor of
rearing the young. At about noon, sometimes earlier, the hens leave their
nests for air and exercise as well as food, and the cocks take their place upon
the eggs. If you enter a pigeon-loft at about 2 o’clock in the afternoon,
you will find all the cock-birds sitting—a family arrangement that affords an
easy method of discovering which birds are paired with which. The ladies
are to be seen taking their respective turns in the same locations early in
the morning, in the evening, and all the night. The older a cock-pigeon
grows, the more fatherly does he become. So great is-his fondness for having
a rising family, that an experienced unmated cock-bird, if he can but induce
some flighty young hen to lay him a couple of eggs as a great favor, will
almost entirely take the charge of hatching and rearing them himself. We
are possessed of an old Blue Antwerp Carrier which by following this line
was, with but little assistance from any female, an excellent provider of pie
materials, till he succeeded in educating a hen Barb to be a steady wife and
mother.

There was a good deal of observation put into pigeons by Mr. Dixon
before he expressed the above sentiments and what he saw you will see
when you watch your flock.

HOW TO KEEP DOWN AN EXCESS OF COCKS.

One of our customers in Connecticut of considerable experience and
original thought has tried out our Homers with birds from other sources, and

242 NATIONAL STANDARD SOCUAB YEO Oe

has found them superior to all he has tried. He had no culls among the
squabs. He has bought largely of our Homers and Carneaux. He had been
trying on some white Homers our plan for getting 15 pairs from one pair
of breeders in a year and thought the plan was original with him. This is
an indication of the careful attention he has given to the details of the
business. Here is another plan he has been working. An excess of cocks
seems to be one of the troubles of some in raising young birds and for that
reason we have requests for single hens. This customer proceeds on the
theory that the second egg is said to hatch a hen, so he goes among the nests
every day and marks all single eggs 1 with a pencil. Then in a couple of
days when the second egg has come he marks it 2. Then he puts both the 2
eggs in one nest and both the 1 eggs in the other nest, making a memorandum
of the nests and what he has done. When killing day arrives for these nests
he saves the 2 squab and kills the 1 squab, thereby hoping to raise two hens.
How this will work out in actual practice he does not know, because he has
not been doing it long enough. We speak of it here so that our customers
may try it if they wish and see how they come out.

While in some lofts there may be an excess of male birds caused by con-
tinuous breeding, it is true that the law of the species is to hatch out equally.
Otherwise in time, and a comparatively short time too, the entire species
would be extinct. It is absolutely not true that more cocks than hens hatch
out. The law is that equal numbers hatch out, for this law is necessary to
the propagation of the species.

We have had thousands of customers start with three pairs or six pairs
or twelve pairs and increase from that small beginning to 200 or 300 pairs
or more, as our letters from customers show. This is proof that the law
of equal sex holds fairly good even in the restricted confines of a small squab
house.

Squab raising for profit is a new business for the Connecticut customer
above mentioned. He is well up on pigeons as a fancy or rather amusement,
having kept in Europe at one time or another a few pairs of all breeds. He
has been getting $4.50 for his squabs all summer in Connecticut, with some
at $3.50 to his local butcher who retails them at $4.50, unassorted, running
over eight pounds to the dozen. He says the more he sees of this business
the more he is convinced that conducted right there is{big money in it; but
conducted wrong it is a poor business. This is certainly correct, and is why
we insist upon our birds being used and managed in the way we tell both
in this book, and the special instructions which we send out with every
shipment.

SQUAB HOUSES OF TWO AND THREE STORIES.

We have been asked by customers whose ground is limited or who happen
to have a certain plot, if a two-story house would not be ali right in which
to raise squabs. Some of these customers have figured out carefully and
thoroughly that the construction of the two-story house is cheaper than two
one-story houses. A two-story house certainly may be built. We print
on the opposite page a photograph of a two and one-half story pigeon house.
This breeder is a good customer who has bought about $2000 worth of
Plymouth Rock birds of us during the past four years, and he understands
what he is about. We asked him to describe his plant. He says this house,
which is part of his large plant, was not transformed from an old place, but

APPEND X fF 2435

TWO AND ONE-HALF STORY SQUAB HOUSE.
This was built to utilize to best advantage a small plot of ground. For description see this page and the opposite
page.

was built especially for pigeons. It was almost a case of necessity with him,
as all the plots of ground near him were owned by one man who stood out for
a stiff price. The customer accordingly built this house and says he has
never regretted it. After it was built he was able to purchase all the land
he ever should need, and he bought it right. This three-story house is 54
feet long and 20 feet wide, 14 feet to top flat, 14 feet rafter with one foot pro-
jection. The third floor is laid on a level with top flat. The third floor does
not_extend across the entire width of the building, but drops back five feet
from each side, giving room for three nests from floor to roof. The four
sides of these pens are lined with nests, and the pens are 10x10 feet. Single
dormer window on north and two dormer windows on south (this is shown
in photograph). No hallway on third floor, but steps from second floor
go up near the center of the building, making it unnecessary to pass through
all pens to reach the end pens. First and second floors alike have a four-foot
hallway on the north side, and each floor has six pens 9x16 feet. The
partitions between these pens are formed by the nest boxes. Feed and water
from the hallway. The floors are of matched lumber and the first floor is
double with paper between. The frame of building was first covered with
heavy roofing of a popular brand and sided with ship-top lumber. Under
the west end of this building is a basement 20x20 feet, cement floor, used for

244 NATIONAL STANDARD SOUAB BOOK

picking and packing squabs. The building has 17 pens, and each pen has
its flying pen which reaches the ground. ‘For the first floor, the flying pens
are nine feet wide and seven feet high, and extend out 20 feet from the
building. Beyond the south end of flying pen for first floor, the flying pen
extends another 20 feet. This extended pen is divided into two pens 10x9
feet on the ground. The birds from the second and third floors reach these
pens through a fly-way above the flying pen of the first floor, one-half as wide.
You will notice a tank (shown in photograph) on the roof. Water is forced
from a cistern into this tank. All pens outside are connected with water
main, making it easy to give the birds a bath.

SQUABS FED ARTIFICIALLY.

Sometimes it is desirable or necessary to feed a squab artificially, introduc-
ing the right kind of a mixture with the fingers or with a syringe. These
efforts are more or less crude. The best way is as it is done in Italy, but it
is doubtful whether our squab raisers would employ it. We first saw this
done in Bologna, Italy. The squabs are shipped into Bologna from the
outlying country when they are about the same age as our squabs, four
weeks. They are always shipped in alive in common slatted coops. It is
quite necessary that the squabs be fed before they are re-shipped alive as
they always are to Paris or Monte Carlo or Aix-les-Bains. They are fed in
the following manner: The workman mixes up a sort of thick gruel with
grain and water. All the grain which he uses is quite fine, such as the finest
size of cracked corn. Then he fills his mouth with a quantity of this mixture
and begins feeding the squabs. He takes up a squab in his two hands and
holds the bill of the squab to his mouth. The squab is hungry and naturally
open its bill, or if not the operator opens the bill of the squab for him. The
operator then with his tongue forces into the mouth of the squab a quantity
of the mixture, and the squab fills its crop. Immediately another squab is
taken and handled in the same manner. This process is done with great
skill and rapidity. We watched one operator feed a coop of 24 squabs in
five minutes. This artificial feeding of squabs is very common in Bologna
and in other European cities, where it has been going on for years. The
operators show no repugnance, but keep at the work as part of their daily
round of duties month after month.

NESTS ON THE FLOOR.

It is impossible to prevent some pairs from building on the floor of the
squab house. Squab breeders who have a large bump of system and order
are cast down because all of their pairs do not stick to the nest boxes all
the time. You cannot force certain pairs to breed in the nest boxes. They
will pick out a corner on the floor or alongside of the crate containing the
nesting material or under a tier of nest boxes. There they will build their
nest and rear their squabs and they are generally left alone. Do not take
their nests and eggs and put them in one of the nest boxes, for if you do it
is not likely the birds will follow.

Squabs from such nests should be carefully watched and should be taken
away to be killed before they are strong enough to walk around on the floor.
You will have to take away such squabs when they are full and plump at
three weeks of age. If you leave them in the nest too long it is quite usual
for them to get up and walk around on the floor and as soon as they do this

Val ccd ea eh OB GRY sh 245

they are no longer squabs, but have trained off their fat and become young

pigeons. Squabs in the nest boxes do not walk around like these because

me realize that they are somewhat weak and will not take the flight to the
oor.

It is troublesome when cleaning to avoid some nests on the floor. When
the young birds leave the nest boxes above they are quite helpless and will
rest on the floor. The old birds which have built their nests on the floor
will peck the young birds and give them no rest. The cocks especially will
do this.

A customer has found out a way which he has had in use for some time
to keep pairs off the floor and induce them to build in the nest boxes. When
he finds a new nest on the floor, he lets the hen lay both eggs there and sit
on them for one or two days. Then he makes a nest box about twelve inches
square and six inches high and places the nest, eggs and all, into this box
and allows the nest box to stand on the floor of the squab house in the same
spot where he found the original nest. He reports that nine times out of
ten the hen will sit on the nest as before. He lets her sit on the eggs for
three or four days more, then he takes the nest box, eggs and all, and screws
or nails it to the side wall as near as possible to the spot where the nest was
on the floor. Sometimes he raises the nest box from the floor a small distance
at a time, one inch one day, another inch the following day. He says that
although this is quite a trouble it seems to break the hen of the habit of
building on the floor and the next time she is more than likely to build the
nest off the floor.

A PLAN TO GET RID OF RATS AND MICE.

One of our customers gives us the following idea: Make a rough table
of matched board with joists for legs, about three and one-half or four feet
high and the same shape as the feed box, only have it three feet longer and
three feet wider. This will allow for a platform 18 inches wide around the
feed box for the birds to stand on and eat the grain; next make a rim, high
enough so that when the pigeons are getting grain they will not scatter any
on the floor. Do not be afraid of having the rim too high, eight inches will
be all right. Have this eight-inch rim all around. The last thing is to buy
some smooth, glassy tin plate and wrap a piece around each leg. It is not
necessary to cover the whole leg, 12 to 18 inches will be enough. This will
make it impossible for rats or mice to climb up over the tin and eat the
grain. The legs should be 18 inches or two feet high.

Another way to manage instead of using the tin is to put the feed box up
on a platform and support this platform with four legs made of iron pipe.
Generally there is a joint in the tin, and some mice may run up a joint or
seam of this kind, putting their feet into the crack in the seam. If you use
iron pipe to support the platform it will be impossible for the rats or mice
to climb up this iron pipe to the feed box. You should use four pieces of
piping, one at each corner.

Here is another way to clean out the mice: Take a small tight box, say
six inches by six inches in size. Bore an inch or two-inch hole at one side
near the bottom, put in a handful of feathers or cotton and lay the box on
the floor in a secluded part of the squab house. In about two weeks go to
the box quietly in the daytime, put your hand over the hole, and carry the
box to a barrel or tub half full of water. The mice will jump out faster

246 NATIONAL STANDAKD SOUAB SEO Ore

than you can count. One customer got 48 at the first trial, and about ten
the next time. This took them all and he was no longer troubled by mice.

HOW TO MAKE PERCHES.

In making perches, one of our friends has a plan that may be of use to
some beginner. Take a square tobacco caddy with dove-tailed corners,
such as can be had at any tobacco counter. Remove the bottom and saw
the sides in two half way. A small block of wood nailed in the angle furnishes
an easy way to fasten the perch to the wall.

PITTSBURG MARKET.

Our customers repeatedly call our attention to the fine market for squabs in
Pittsburg. They are quoted at $4 a dozen in the newspapers there, and we
have customers in that city who are getting as high as a dollar apiece, or
$12 a dozen, for first-class squabs bred from our birds, weighing a pound
apiece. It is quite true that Pittsburg is an excellent squab market, in
fact, one of the best in the country, as there are so many rich people there.
We have also some good, live, wide-awake customers who are shipping
squabs to Pittsburg, and they have shown Pittsburg squab buyers the
superiority of well-bred squabs. The result is that they have worked up
an insistent demand which must be satisfied. What our customers have done
for Pittsburg anybody can do living near a city, or a town. This work of
letting your nearest market know what you have, and then showing what
you have to the market must be done by you. Nobody can do it for you.
The prices you can get for your squabs, and the demand for your squabs,
which you can create, rest entirely with you. Nobody can do this from
a distance—you are on the ground and such work must be done by you.

LOW QUOTATIONS.

Beginners may find in the newspapers or in letters from commission men
a low quotation for squabs. Some will write to commission men and dealers
asking them what they will pay for squabs, etc. In nearly every case the
commission man or dealer will write back an absurdly low price. It is to
his advantage of course to buy squabs as cheap as he can and sell as dear as
he can. The most peculiar feature of such matters to us is that the breeder
or prospective breeder of squabs apparently takes the matter for settled
and writes us that he can get only $1.50 or $2 a dozen for squabs. Such
people seem to be lacking entirely in any business ability. An eight-year-
old boy who is accustomed to selling newspapers has enough business judg-
ment to prevent him from writing such a letter. Of course the commission
men or squab dealers start with a very low price. If the breeder ‘vill sell
to him at this very low price, that is so much more to the advantage of the
commission man or dealer. He is writing to feel out the breeder. If the
breeder writes back to him and says, “Your price is too low, you will never
get my squabs for this figure,’ then the commission man or dealer will raise
his prices. The dealer who is selling squabs for from $3 to $6 or more a
dozen (as they all are) will pay from $2.50 to $4 a dozen, no matter who he
is or where he lives, in any part of the United States or Canada.

The only way for you to determine the true market price of squabs wher-
ever you live is to go into the market or apply by letter and offer to buy
squabs and not to sell them. In all the letters you write and all the talk

AE PEIN DIX Es 247

you make, offer to buy all the time and then the dealer will disclose to you
the true prices. Then you will know what to sell your squabs for. If you
find that he is selling squabs at $3 a dozen, he should pay you $2.50 a dozen.
If he is selling squabs for $4 a dozen, he should pay you $3 a dozen for them
and so on. :

Once more, be on your guard against market quotations. If you see
squabs quoted in a newspaper or anywhere else at low prices it does not
follow by any means that that price is the true one. Such figures are put
in because they are the prices of the commission men or dealers, which they
want to pay.

No successful squab business can be built up if you allow a middleman to
run your plant for you. You are simply buying grain and working for him.
He has no trouble or expense to amount to anything but he takes the profits
and you do all the work. When grain is high you must get more for your
squabs tnan you do at other times. The trouble with many squab raisers
we have found is that they have no actual knowledge of what it costs them
to raise a dozen squabs. You must arrive at your cost of product absolutely
and when you do it.is folly to sell squabs for that figure or less. You must
put them out at a profit or else go out of the business. Our best customers
are those who have sense enough to sell to a private trade or to first-class
wholesalers, and this must be your goal in every case, If you wish to make
the most money, get right after your private trade until you secure it, as
this is unlimited. People who are accustomed to eating chicken, as they
are in every part of the country, will eat squabs. If they do not, it is your
fault. You must tell them what a squab is and show them, and induce
them to buy and eat them. If they do not know what a squab is, you must
demonstrate.

HOW TO KILL CATS.

A kitten brought up in a squab house will make no trouble. We raise
two or three kittens every year at Melrose and give them the run of the pigeon
houses, and such cats are intelligent enough not to try to reach the squabs.
Of all the cats we have raised we have had only one which we were obliged
to shoot because of squab stealing.

Cats belonging to the neighbors may cause some trouble in your squab
house if you give them a chance to get in. A customer in Ohio has found
a way to kill visiting cats. He does not like to have them around the squab
house trying to get in so he puts exposed wires on the top of the flying pen
and when the cats walk around on the top of the pen, looking for a chance
to get at the pigeons inside, he throws a switch in the basement. A strong
current of electricity shoots through the wires. The body of the cat makes
a short circuit from one wire to the other so the charge of electricity passes
through the cat. The result is that the cat tumbles off in double quick time
and starts for the tall timber, if alive. He says he has electrocuted two and
still has his hand near the switch.

BREEDING TRUE TO COLOR.

No colored Homers breed true to color. We mean by this that if you
start with the blue-barred Homers, for example, and breed them, you will
in time get from these blue-barred birds all the other colors, such as blue-
checkers, red-checkers, silvers, etc. All these colors are in the blood and

248 NATIONAL STANDARD SOQOUAE BOOK

they will come out in time if you give them time enough. Some pairs are
eccentric in their breeding. <A certain pair of blue-barred birds may breed
blue bars, whereas another pair of blue bars may breed one blue-barred squab
and one blue-checkered squab, or any other color, and this variation may
be characteristic of this breeding for quite a period. It is impossible to pre-
dict absolutely.

Our white Homers breed true to color. If you buy white Homers of us
and breed them, the squabs will be white-feathered constantly and will not
be blue barred or blue checkered, or any other color, except very rarely.

SULPHUR OR IRON WATER.

Parties write us from different sections of the country stating that the
water where they live contains sulphur and othefs write that the water
contains iron. For example, on the East coast of Florida about half-way
down, all the water is strongly impregnated with sulphur. Breeders write
us to know if this sulphur water is all right for pigeons. To this we reply
yes, when they get accustomed to it. If when you get your pigeons you
find that this sulphur or iron water is affecting them, stop it and give the
birds rain water. Rain water is absolutely pure water containing no mineral
substances whatever, except the trifling amount of dust which may get in
as the rain water runs down a roof before it gets into a rain-barrel or cistern.
It is always safe to give this rain water to pigeons and you can introduce
them to your sulphur or iron water as slowly as you please, by adding the
sulphur or iron water to the rain water from day to day until the mixture
is finally all sulphur or iron water. This will accustom the birds to the new
water and before long you will have no need of using the rain water.

PIGEONS THAT FLY AWAY.

In every day’s mail, two or three letters and often more recount the story
that the writers have accidentally left open the doors of their squab houses
or the doors of their flying pens; or that some other accident has happened
so that some of the pigeons have flown away from the premises. Customers
writing from as far as California tell us this and sometimes telegraph us and
wish us to catch these birds as soon as they reappear at Melrose and send
them back by express. The capacity for flight of a Homer does not seem
to be a matter of well-defined knowledge, so we will say here that flights of
over 500 miles for a homing pigeon are very rare. We have no cases on
record of flights of homing pigeons even from Ohio or Illinois to New York
or Massachusetts. It is incredible that a homing pigeon would get back
to its native place after a flight of two or three thousand miles. Birds
which have been imported would make no attempt to fly back across the
ocean or to the shipping point, so if you lose any of your pigeons out of
your coop, the best you can do is to hope that they will return, as quite
often they do. Recently we recall a case where a customer lost nine birds
which flew away but five of them returned and went inside the house.

Once again we repeat, hoping it will catch the eyes of so many who write
us, that any Homers which you buy you must keep wired in all the time,
otherwise they will fly away and leave you. By all the time we mean day
after day, week after week, month after month, year after year, continually
and perpetually, as long as the pigeons live. You cannot feed them for a
month or so and then let them out and think that they will stay with you.

ALE EE INSD CK? Ea 249

They have a yearning and a longing, the homing instinct, to try to get back
to the place where they were bred. i

Any Homers which you breed yourself you can safely let fly because they
know no home but yours and will stay with you. If you have a mixed
flock of Homers including not only those which you have raised but some
you have bought, you cannot let them out with any certainty that those
you have raised will hold on your premises those which you have bought.
It is quite possible that those which were raised elsewhere will leave you.

NO COAL ASHES.

About every household here in the North burns coal and the problem of
getting rid of the ashes is considerable to many people who do not live in
the city where the city wagons call to take them away. The result is that
we have hundreds of letters asking if coal ashes can be put in the flying pen
of the squab house. :

Coal ashes should not be put in the flying pens where the birds can peck
at them, because they are irritating to the mouths and other insides of the
birds. It is all right to put down a layer of coal ashes in a pen for the founda-
tion if you want to get rid of a lot of coal ashes, but on top of these ashes
a layer of gravel should be put down from four to six inches thick and the
top of this gravel should be renewed every three or four months.

TEMPORARY PEN AND BREEDING PEN.

It is very necessary to avoid having odd or unmatched birds at liberty in
the loft during the time the other birds are either mating or breeding. If
there be but one such bird in the loft, be it male or female, it will be sure to
cause disturbance among the mated birds, either by getting mated to some
bird you have had great trouble to get mated to your wishes, or by causing
continual fighting, resulting in many broken eggs or dead young ones. All
odd birds should therefore be either kept up in pens or in a loft by themselves
during the breeding season. For the same reasons, three or four pairs of
newly-mated birds should not be turned into the loft together. If they are,
there will certainly be quarreling, as two or more pairs will want to take the
same nest box, which will often be the cause of pairs getting unmatched,
and remated in a manner which is not desirable. To avoid this, each pair
as they are mated should be turned into the loft singly, when they will select
one of the unoccupied boxes, and go on quietly. It is very rarely necessary,
if this plan be pursued, to adopt any measures for inducing a pair to take
a proper nest, supposing there be one at disposal; but if any trouble be
anticipated, any kind of a cage of lath or wire may be fixed to the front of
the breeding box, and the birds then confined for a few days in sight of the
rest of the loft, till they have got thoroughly used to their new abode. We
can hardly remember an instance, however, where such a plan was necessary,
unless the breeding places were so numerous and so much alike as to puzzle
the birds. In this case the plan we prefer is to make some distinction at
the entrances: thus, a half-brick may be placed at one hole; and passing the
next, something else at the next alternate one, by which the birds will readily
learn their proper breeding-places. One more caution must be added in regard
tomating the birds. It frequently happens that, on account of proved sterling
qualities, it is desired to breed from an old pigeon as long as any fertile eggs
can be obtained from him; and this can only be done by matching him with

PLYMOUTH ROCK EXTRA HOMER MALE

250

APPENDIX oF Zot

a very young hen. Such a pair will frequently breed well; and we have
had fine strong young ones from an old Barb over ten years of age, which
won many prizes. But it is in such cases particularly needful to avoid
having in the same loft any lively young cock with a strong voice, for if this
be the case, the young hen will frequently leave her eggs to reach and pair
with the young bird, even though he be already mated, and thus all the
owner’s plans are liable to be frustrated. For although pigeons as a rule
pair with great fidelity, exceptions are by no means rare; and cases have
been known in which a cock has mated with two hens, and even assisted
both in hatching and rearing their young; while we once possessed a cock
which, though he never aided them in family duties, regularly paired with no
less than five hens. This case being so very remarkable, we took particular
notice of it, and can vouch for the truth of what we state. To the naturalist
such instances are particularly interesting; as showing that, under some
circumstances, pigeons might possibly become gregarious like poultry.

The above paragraph we have taken word for word from the writings
of Mr. Fulton, the best English authority, to which our attention was first
called in December, 1908. Readers of this Manual will note that his ideas
correspond with ours—indeed, such things are not a matter of opinion,
they are a matter of fact. What one observer sees, another will see. In
the light of the above, how absurd it is for a pigeon tradesman to represent
in his advertisements or printed matter that he controls the matings or love
affairs of his birds to the extent of assuring the probable purchaser that they
are absolutely and irrevocably ‘‘ married for life,’ “‘ mated absolutely-never-
to-be-changed.”’ The object of such representation is to convince the
probable purchaser that the pairs will go to work in a new home exactly
according to schedule or pre-arrangement, and that all he has to do is to
take feed and water to them, and exchange the squabs at intervals for half-
dollars. Such claims are made with the intense anxiety of consummating
a sale by assertions just a little more plausible, regardless of the habits of
the pigeons.

TWIGS FOR NESTING MATERIALS.

Some pairs will build their nests entirely or partly of twigs, if given the
opportunity. A customer in New York read of pine needles in this book,
so thought of twigs. He put in half a bushel or so of dry old hemlock twigs.
All used them and one pair made their nest wholly of them.

Another of our friends states that he has solved the nesting material
proposition, as far as his own squab raising is concerned (pleasure and hobby).
Instead of providing the birds any tobacco stems, or other nesting material,
he does not give them anything, except to fill their nappies (or the little
two-inch deep by 15-inch square boxes that he has for them to build in)
with sawdust, or fine shavings from the local saw mill. The birds do well
in them, and when he takes out a pair of squabs for the nippers, he empties
out the sawdust, which nearly cleans the nappies and what does remain
is very easily removed with trowel and brush. He then refills them with
fresh sawdust or fine shavings, and they are ready for use again. He has
found this very successful. New birds have to get used to the change but it
does not take them long to take to it. Young birds of course, raised in
them, do not know anything else.

PLYMOUTH ROCK EXTRA HOMER FEMALE

252

APPENDIX F 253

CLAMORING FOR SQUABS IN THE STATE OF WASHINGTON.

The squab market in the Northwest corner of the United States at this
writing (1909) continues to be wonderfully strong. Our attention is called
to this from time to time by correspondents in the State of Washington.
Apparently there is no limit to the demand there, as in the other great
States. We were surprised in September, 1908, to receive the following
letter from the president of a hotel company in Seattle, proprietors of one
of the best hotels west of the Mississippi river:

Kindly send me a half dozen of your pamphlets, covering the growing of squabs. I wish
to send these to the small towns contiguous to Seattle—that is to the Chamber of Commerce
of each town, to be directed to the right parties who would want to engage in this business.
Quite a number have expressed their desire to do so. We are anxious to receive nice squabs
and will pay a good price. Thanking you in advance for the pamphlets.

We thought it surprising that a hotel man should be a for squabs
in such an insistent manner and asked him for details. e replied under
date of September 26, 1908, as follows:

I am in receipt of your treatise on squabs, likewise the booklets. I have advertised in a
number of country papers where the farmers are liable to take up this matter, informing them
that they can increase their income and to write me and that I will send them a booklet. I will
send you later on a copy of the advertisement. There is no reason that a number of farmers
should not take up this work, as I should think the extra grain they would have around for
food would practically cost them very little.

Under date of October {), he wrote us again the following letter:

Inasmuch as your circulars have all been used, we would ask you to send us about a couple
of dozen more. We are advertising in the papers as per enclosed clipping, and have received
many responses, which we think should bring you results.

The newspaper clipping showing how this hotel man was trying to stimulate
the squab production was as follows:

WHY DON'T YOU RAISE SQUABS?

You have enough waste feed to do so
without extra cost, We will tell you
how and buy a‘l you have—it will add
largely to your income.

In a letter dated October 24, he explained his intentions more fully as
follows:

In response to your recent favor, I beg to state the only object that we have insecuring
persons to raise.squabs is that we may get sufficient to meet our demands. At the present time
we find it difficult, just when we want squabs, to receive as many as we have a demand for.

My idea in advertising this in the paper was to not alone derive a personal benefit, but to
help the country along in general. We should all be up-builders, particularly in the West.

We give this correspondence here the publicity it deserves and hope that
our friends, old and new, in the State of Washington, will take hold ener-
getically and give this hotel man, and the other squab consumers in Seattle,
the Plymouth Rock squabs for which they are so eager. Evidently the State
of Seattle is so prosperous with big enterprises that squab raising has to wait
its turn and now is a sort of spare time money-maker. We feel confident,
however, that there must be a large number of people in the State of Wash-
ington who are not too busy to overlook a good thing of such promise, and
they will be encouraged to go ahead after reading the above correspondence.

254 NATIONAL. STANDARD SQUAB BOOK

Our shipments of breeding stock in 1908 to this State were quite large, fully
as much volume as to California.

A correspondent in Acosta, Washington! wrote us in November, 1908:

I am going into the squab business in Washington (Lewis County). Squabs sell in Seattle

and Tacoma markets at $2.50 and $3.50 per dozen, and the market is not supplied ten per cent
of the demand. I have 15 acres to devote to this business.

OKLAHOMA AND INDIAN TERRITORY.

If a stranger to the poultry and squab industry were asked to name a
section of the United States where chickens and squabs probably would sell
the slowest, he might name Oklahoma and the Indian Territory. In this
judgment he would fall into considerable error, for the people there are just
as enterprising and just as fond of good things to eat as they are in the East,
although there may not be so many of them. Witness the following letter
to us dated June 27, 1908, from a prospective customer in a small city in the
Indian Territory:

Some few weeks ago I wrote you for catalogue, now I want your squab book and you will
find enclosed 50 cents in stamps to pay for same. How many pairs would you advise me to
start with? The Almeda Hotel says they can handle from four to ten dozen a day. This hotel
is the leading hotel of my city.

Four to ten dozen squabs daily is going some for one hotel in the Indian
Territory.

_ Concerning Oklahoma, one of the leading poultry, butter, eggs, etc., houses
in Oklahoma City wrote the following letter to one of our friends under date
of March 14, 1908:

In regard to squabs, will say, that there are not any handled around here to speak of. There
is no reason why it should not bea paying business, if some one would start here who understands
it fully, and turned out a good article, just at proper age and of good quality, etc. No reason
why a good demand could not be worked up for them here. If at any time you should raise
more than you could put out locally, we could undoubtedly find a good market for them, as we
are shipping out of here in carload lots weekly to New York City and California. Will be glad
to give you any further information and have you write us.

In other words, the demand waits on the supply. Get busy, Oklahoma
folks. Grain is cheaper for you than for us here in the East and if you may
not succeed in getting New York prices for your squabs, you will make as
much money as squab farmers here.

TWO YEARS’ WORK IN MAINE. From
18 pairs of your Extra stock that I bought a
little over two years ago, I now have 300
mated pairs and at least re pairs that will
be mated very soon.—F, R., Maine.

GREAT SATISFACTION. I am pleased
to be able to advise you that the pigeons which
I purchased from you are giving me great
satisfaction, as they have really doubled in
number and the squabs have been very heavy,
healthy, deliciou I am sure that you will
be pleased to Wicar the above report—
F. J., New York.

MINNESOTA GROWTH. I have a nice
little plant of about 250 pairs from the stock
I bought from you some two years ago.—
M. H., Minnesota.

MOST PRACTICAL BOOK SHE EVER
READ. The National Standard Squab Book
is a most satisfactory treatment of the subject
of squab raising. It seems to me to be the
most practical book I have ever read on any
subject.—Mrs. E. G. W., Washington.

HOW A RETAIL TRADE GROWS. My
Plymouth Rock Homers are doing well.
am selling some of the squabs. One customer
gets another, so I have orders for all I can
spare at present.—G. R., Michigan.

TWO YEARS’ BREEDING IN IDAHO.
We take advantage of the present (February,
1908) to thank you again for the excellent
queney, of birds sent us in June, ’06.—J. W.,

aho,

MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS

THIS CUSTOMER IS A TIN ROOFER AND MAKES GOOD WAGES BUT HAS FOUND OUT
THAT HIS TIME IS WORTH MORE RAISING GOOD SQUABS. I will try and give you an
account of how my birds are doing in the Scate of West Virginia. About 18 months ago I saw
the advertisement of the Plymouth Rock Squab Company in a magazine and I decided to try a
small lot of birds. I first wrote for literature, then sent fifty cents for a Manual, which IJ got by
return mail, and would not take $5 for it now. As soon as I got my book I sent for six pairs
of Extra Homers, and to say they were fine would not begin to express my opinion of them.
They were the finest birds I ever saw and every one says the same. I built a small house 6 by
6 feet for them at first, but soon had te build a larger one. I havea house 10 x 12 witha 12 x 20
foot fly, but this is teo small now. Jam trying to get a place in the country near town and will
go into the squab business right. I have had my birds about 15 months, have had 180 birds
hatched and have about 30 mated pairs now. I have sold all my squabs since March 1 at $3
perdozen. One hotel takes all I have and could handle three or four times as many. I sell about
a dozenaweek. Feed is very high here, but there certainly is money inthemanyhow. Ihave
one pair that I bought of you that I have kept careful account of since they started to work.
They went to work the week after I got them, and have laid and set every month since. They
have hatched and raised 26 squabs, having lost two eggs, and today are building for the 15th
time. If all were like them, I certainly would make the best record ever known. I have lost
a few eggs and three or four young birds that were two or three days old, but 1 think that is
a very small loss. I hope to get a location soon for I am convinced that there is good pay in
raising squabs. I advise any one who is thinking of going into the business to buy their stock
of Mr. Rice, for I consider him a perfect gentleman and as for the Extra Plymouth Rock Homers,
I cannot say too much for them. They beat anything 1 ever saw. My birds are producing
about nine pairs of squabs per pair, per year. The average weight of the squabs is ten pounds
per dozen, which I consider very good. I hope to be able to send an order for more breeders
before the fall and they certainly will be Extra Plymouth Rock Homers. I am a tin roofer by
trade and make very good wages, but a squab plant of a thousand pairs I know will pay me much
better. I use the self-feeder and your drinking fountain and find them perfectly satisfactory.

I use tobacco stems and straw for nesting material. W. M. C., West Virginia.

FOUND INSTRUCTIONS CLEAR AND
CONVINCING. I thank you for your courtesy
of September 22, and it is just what I wanted
to know. Iam so situated in regard to my
present occupation that I cannot do anything
before this time next year and then I hope to
place my order with you for 300 pairs of your
Extra Plymouth Rock breeders and 10 pair
of the red Carneaux. I know you must be a
busy man, but I wish to tell you I have been
looking over every field that I know of for
a man with $1000 to $1500.

I spent $10 for poultry information which
was so contradictory that I threw them all
into the Atlantic and vowed never to have
one near me. I then got your information,
and everything has been so clear and concise
that I have no hesitancy in knowing what I
will do. The plans enclosed from you were
about what I had figured out for myself,
only I had given more room and consequently
would have made the cost more if I had not
spent 50 cents for your Manual and 10 cents
for your plans. By so doing I consider I
saved, or rather, will save, from $75 to $100
on my pens and buildings.

Pardon this long-winded letter, but I feel
that apart from your trying to sell your stock
to a probable customer I think all the more
of you and your business methods, and know
you will give me all you represent your stock
to be when the time comes. Wish you and
the Plymouth Rock Squab Company all the
success you deserve, and that squabs_ will
be eaten by a larger number of people.—
R. H. W., New York.

Leanne ee EEE

MARKET FOR SQUABS IS LOW IN HIS
PART OF TEXAS BECAUSE BREEDERS
DO NOT PUT UP PRICES. ‘I got my
pigeons from the Plymouth Rock Squab
Co.,”’ is the proud answer I give to any one
asking me where I got my pigeons. When I
tell them that I started with only 12 and have
raised about 150, they say I have done
wonderfully. Some other squab _ raisers
around me have not raised half that many
in twice that time. (They have common
pigeons, that is the secret of it.) My pigeons
have fully repaid me. I think they are 25
per cent better than any Homers around me.
My birds raise from seven to nine pairs per
year and I can sell all I can raise. I have
about 100 breeders and they keep me stocked
very well. The market prices down here are
very low. They have been used to common
squabs and do not know what is good. but
I am going to raise the price all I can. It is
only $1.25 to $1.50 and I hope to raise it to
$2.50. My squabs weigh from 10 to 12
pounds to the dozen. I have a self-feeder
like the one in your Manual. I feed them a
mixture of wheat and corn. I have followed
your Manual strictly and have not departed
from it in any way, and let me say right
here that any one (even of those who do not
know a thing about squabs) can take your
Manual and read it through, follow it care-
fully and make a success. They are bound
to make a success. I think the squab busi-
ness is a great one and is increasing every day.
I have not had sickness of any kind. I can
sell at home all I raise —W. P. C., Texas.

LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY
255

MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS

FLYING PEN OF A BARN. =

This New Jersey breeder’s story is on this page.

At the top of the next paze one of the ladies of his household

is shown holding a nest bowl in which are three squabs from one hatch, two days old.

LOST ONLY ONE OLD BIRD AND THREE SQUABS IN FIVE MONTHS’ BREEDING. I
have had, I think, remarkable success with the birds so far, and thought possibly you would

be pleased to hear it.

fortune, with the exception of three squabs, which I think the parent birds neglected.
in the neighborhood now (August, 1908) of about 200 birds.

The loss of one bird in the first lot shipped has been my entire mis-

i Ihave
Kind regards to your Mr. Rice.

‘ For breeding my flock, I have used about half my stable and have not been troubled with
either mice or rats, as I built another floor over the old one, raising the same about 18 inches,
and do not think that there is any way for the rats to get at the birds; besides I have three

cats that spend part of each day under the floors. :
They measure 10 by 12, with a three-foot passage in the centre.

five units. :
not feeding, is done from this passage.

You will see from the pictures that I have
Watering, but

You are very welcome indeed to use my name, and you cannot write a letter too strong for
me to endorse, referring to the treatment, etc., received at vour hands, also the quality of the
birds delivered me and the results obtained from them.—J. W. H., New Jersey.

HIGH-PRICED MARKET IN SARATOGA
SPRINGS, NEW YORK. I like the National
Standard Squab Book very well, as it plainly
but fully tells everything necessary to know
in the squab business and it becomes very
useful to the pigeon fancier. There are
boarding houses here in Saratoga Springs
that pay $6 a dozen for squabs from common
pigeons, for I have sold them.—C. N. G.,
New York.

SQUAB BUSINESS IN MONTANA IS ALL
RIGHT. Please find enclosed ten cents in
stamps, for which mail me one copy of your
plans and specifications for squab house.
lam building new and larger quarters in the
country and wish to build right. Seven of the
Homers I obtained from you escaped from
my pen in town, five returned. I have raised
some beauties from my original stock. The
squab business is all right.—R. C., Montana.

LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY
296

MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS

THREE SQUABS HATCHED IN ONE NEST.

BUILT HIS OWN HOUSE IN WASHING-
TOW (dv. C.), FOR TWENTY DOLLARS LESS
THAw OUR ESTIMATE. I have a house
consuructed of all new material 12x16 and
nine feet to peak, seven feet to eaves, divided
jnto two rooms 8x9,.a fly 8x16x18 divided
down the center (doing all the work myself).
Everythinz, including birds from you, cost
me just- $47.58 or about $20 less than your
estimate, not so bad for a starter? I hada
party call at my house, he hearing that I was
goint to raise squabs, offering me $3 per
dozen the year round. He will have to come
again, as $3 will not get mine—C. C. B.,
District of Columbia.

CATHOLIC SISTERS RAISING SQUABS
FOR THE PATIENTS IN THEIR HOSPITAL
IN CHICAGO. We do not sell any of the
squabs we raise, we use them all for our
patients. We intend to have a photograph
of our coop taken in order to let you see it
and get your opinion about it.—Sister M.,
Illinois.

SELLING OUT IN TEXAS TO MAKE
ROOM FOR PLYMOUTH ROCK HOMERS.
Some time ago I purchased a Manual from
you and received a Special Offer on your
Extra Plymouth Rock Homers. As it was
the best thing I heard of, and as I know
your birds by their reputation, I got busy and
began selling my stock off so as to make room
for a sample shipment of your birds. I sold
one customer in an inland village $10 worth
of my birds and when he remitted it was the
whole amount in two-cent stamps. What
I wish to ask, Mr. Rice, is will you take, say
$5 worth of them off my hands?—L. S., Texas.

ENLARGING TO A TEN-UNIT HOUSE,
Last September I bought some breeders from
you and same are doing nicely. As I want
to enlarge my house, having bought a new
place, I would kindly request you to send me
as soon as possible a set of plans as per your
offer in your Manual for a ten-unit house.
Also send me some of your grit as per en-
closed memorandum.—C. R., Conn.

i LEE
LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY
257

MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS

COMMON PIGEONS A FAILURE. REMARKABLE DEMONSTRATION OF WHAT FOUR
PAIRS PLYMOUTH ROCKS WILL DO IN TEXAS. In February, 1907, I purchased 12 pairs
of common pigeons from a friend, expecting to clear as large a profit from them as I could from
the Homers. However, we soon found the difference, for when we sold out about six months
later, I am positive we did not sell more than 15 pairs altogether, that is to say, most of our
squabs died or did not hatch. About the end of October, 1907, I received four pairs of Number
One Homers from the Plymouth Rock Squab Company. About November 15 I got two pairs
started and later on the other two started. I now (May, 1908) have 50 squabs and breeders
and all our pairs are setting again. I have 15 pairs mated. I never saw anything like it. I
have never seen any birds to equal ours in any respect. Our squabs are large and healthy,
weighing not less than eight pounds to the dozen. I keep a careful record of the breeders and
they average eight and nine pairs to the year. We do not know the price of them, as we have
never sold any, but a friend of ours sold them at $4.80 a dozen. These were common and
Homers mixed and I am sure that if he makes money off of those poor breeders, we ought to
make more off your prolific birds. We have fed corn, Kaffir corn, wheat and a little millet.
As we have followed your Manual as closely as possible, we have had no trouble with lice. We
had two cases of canker, but we did what you advised and had no further trouble. I have not
kept account of expenditures, but I know that the birds have well paid for themselves. My
ideas of the birds and the business are O. K., and in the future I expect to raise more pigeons.

You may be sure they will be Plymouth Rock Homers, as they are the best.
no idea of the pigeon business had it not been for your
I will always praise the Plymouth Rock Squab
(1 forgot to mention above that on account of our house being

right and any one would be lost without it.
Company in the highest terms.

improperly built some small animal got through a hole and took eggs and squabs.

I would have had

Manual. I can tell vou that it is all

This hap-

pened three times but not any more).—E. G. R., Texas.

SMALL FLOCK PAYING A GOOD PROFIT.
In April, 1906, I bought six pairs of your
Plymouth Rock Homers and in just one year
I had raised 85 birds. In May, 1907, 17
months after my first purchase, I had 110, or
55 pairs. I then began selling squabs, and
in the eight and one-half months I have sold
228 squabs at 25 cents each, which is $57.
I kill them with your killing machine, hang
them up as your Manual teaches and bleed
them. I do not have time to dress them,
or I could get better prices. I have had none
that weighed less than eight pounds, and
many that weighed 10 pounds to the dozen.
The expense of feeding them the eight and
one-half months has been $33.15, a profit of
$21.35. I think there is big money to be
made raising squabs. I keep this small
flock in connection with 35 chickens, and only
have the time outside of b siness hours to
look after them, which is ample.

I have seen lots of Homers, nice‘looking
ones too, but they do not breed as fast as
mine. I follow your Manual, in fact, all
I know about them is what the book says.
I have had no sickness nor lice, simply kept
them clean and fed red wheat, cracked corn,
Kaffir corn, buckwheat, hemp-seed, millet,
oyster shells and plenty of good sand. My
idea of successful squab raising is cleanliness,
pure feed and water, and attention to busi-
ness.—C. H., New York.

RAISING TOBACCO AND PLYMOUTH
ROCK SQUABS. We grow 30,000 pounds
tobacco per year and make fresh stems
constantly, bales run about 125 pounds.
We have bought our first Homers from you
and have done well. Iam glad to hear from
you on stems.—C. H. W., Connecticut.

PERSONAL INQUIRY AND ITS RESULTS.
IT ama member of All Souls Unitarian Church
of Washington, made up of New England
people largely, and many of them Bostonians.
Also I go to Greenacre (Eliot, Maine), occa-
sionally in the summer to speak on Emerson
and his philosophy, therefore, I Have a large
acquaintance up your way. I mentioned
my intention in a social group of going into
squab raising and asked incidentally about
your place. They offered to get me the re-
port and did so, but I donot know the channel.
I did not care to know of your financial con-
dition, but I was anxious to learn of your
character and reputation. The report was
very gratifying. In it was stated that you
were “‘ gilt-edged as to character and reputa-
tion.”? It made me feel good to get such a
report, for I knew I could safely go on and
enlarge under your counsel and advice.
Thank you for your offer to assist me when-
ever I may callon you. If you happen down
this way, try to see me either at the Burea:
of Immigration or at my country home in
Maryland, half-way between Washington
and Baltimore, where we shall establish our
plant. We are looking for a suitable piece
of ground, say 10 or 20 acres, where we shall
plant a good German and his wife and make
it pay in other respects.—J. A. C., District
of Columbia.

SQUABS WEIGHING OVER ONE POUND
WHEN THREE WEEKS OLD. I have
received the female Homer in good shape. It
wasa pretty bird. I just weighed some of my
squabs which are not quite three weeks old
and they weigh over one pound. [I expect
to order some more birds some time in
spring.—H. S., Pennsylvania.

pee a EEE EEEEEEESEEEEEEEEESEEIEEEET
LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY

258

MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS

ANY OLD PLACE FIXED OVER.

Results which are really surprising may be accomplished in quarters such as these, with good birds. (See the
letter from the North Carolina man printed below.)

NO BIRDS ON EXHIBITION AT THIS NORTH CAROLINA FAIR COULD TOUCH HIS
PLYMOUTH ROCKS. Ireceived from you April 2, 1908, 13 pairs of Extra Plymouth Rock
Homers. Ihave raised 60 birds, have sold 12 squabs and have lost 23, and I think that is doing
well for six months’ work. They have bred at the rate of four pairs per month. Someare slow,
others are very fast indeed, and I have lost about 18 eggs on account of not having enough nest
bowls, but have since put in more and will soon have to build. My house is of my own con-
struction, very rough indeed, but I think answers the purpose very well, but in the future
will build according to your plans except without the passageway.

The birds I received from you and those I have raised and mated are indeed hard to beat. I
have not seen any here that can touch them, in fact, none on exhibition at the fair here held
October 13 to 16, could touch mine. The squabs at killing age weigh about three-quarters of a
pound each. Have sold only one dozen squabs to people who are sick at $2.50 per dozen. I
have fed whole corn, cracked corn, Kaffir corn, Canada peas, a little red wheat and a little
green clover, cabbage cut very fine, and some rice and hemp seed about three times a week.
Cannot say that I have followed your Manual in every detail. Please ship at once the enclosed
order for feed. My birds are doing exceedingly fine and I am in hopes of being able to keep them
so. Iam well pleased with the squab business and intend to go into it for a living.—J. A. P.,
North Carolina,

A WOMAN WHOGETS HER PRICE FOR
SQUABS ALL THE YEAR. The people who
have eaten my squabs say they are delicious,
plump, and so much better than the market
ones. I am getting $4.80 a dozen for them.
That is my price no matter what they are in
the market. They weigh over three-quarters
of a pound each.—Mrs. E.G. A., New Jersey.

LOST ONLY ONE BREEDING PIGEON IN
THREE YEARS. I have had my Plymouth
Rock pigeons three years in July and have had
splendid luck, having lost only one banded
pigeon by death, and one flew away. I have
studied the Manual and got lots of help from
it. I only wish I had more room to keep
more birds.—M. H., New Jersey.

LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY

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NINETEEN PRIZES WOW ON 21 ENTRIES AT THIS LARGE WORCESTER COUNTY
EXHIBITION. I have been breeding your Plymouth Rock Homer stock for several years.’ I
have been a breeder of pizeons for a long time and enjoy the work very much and I want to
tell you that I have never seen better Homers anywhere, nor do I believe that better stock
exists than the strain you sell.

At the Worcester poultry show held in December, 1907. in Mechanics Hall, I entered 21 birds
nearly all your Homers, or bred from Homers sold by you. I had a few pigeons of another
fancy variety in the show along with your Homer stock, but the Homers did nearly all of the
prize winning. On the 21 birds I won 19 prizes, made up of 10 first prizes, five second prizes
three third prizes and one fourth prize. :

The birds were very much admired by the people in attendance at the exhibition. On one
white Homer which came from you and on which I won first prize I was offered $5, but declined
the offer. For another beautiful red checxer Plymouth Rock female Homer which won me a
first prize I was offered $5 by another exhibitor, but I declined the offer. The judge of the
pizeons told me I ought to send these two birds to the Boston show in January. as they were
“‘ world beaters.”? Sometime I am goinz to enter my birds at the Boston show when I get
around to it and can spare the time from my regular business, Iam confident that I will make
them “‘ sit up and take notice.”

Your Homer stock is distintuished not only by the large size (which I have never seen equalled
anywhere) but by their prolific treeding qualities. :

A good proportion of my birds are the red checkers, and I value them highly. None of the
Worcester pizeon men has birds approaching mine. In fact, there are two Englishmen in this
city who have been breeders of birds all their lives and they told me that they never saw any that
could equal my stock. A professional man of this city is a breeder of fancy pizeons well known
over the United States. He entered some white Homers in competition at the Worcester poultry
show mentioned above but my white Homers went way over anything which he had. ;

These large Plymouth Rock Homers of which you have sold so many during the past ten years
have completely driven the small native American Homer out of the market. The old breeders
of these small native Homers have hated to admit that your Belgium stock was better than
‘theirs, but anybody with half an eye can see that a Homer which is almost half as large again
as were the best American Homers is to be preferred, not only for squab raising but for fancy
breeding, for anybody who wants the best. The enormous popularity of your business in hand-
ling this magnificent strain is well accounted for.—H. M. W., Massachusetts.

FIRST AND SECOND PRIZES AT THIS WISCONSIN COUNTY FAIR. It was February 1,
1907, when I got my first lot of Homers. They were the Extras. The pigeons are the largest
and the best of their kind Ieversaw. I would advise every new beginner to study the Manual
before starting. I feed my birds two-thirds cracked corn to one-third red wheat in winter,
two-thirds red wheat to one-third cracked corn in summer; dainties such as hemp seed, rice,
peas, Kaffir corn and vetches. I have invented a little mill to crack corn. I bought some
cracked corn but it was not half cracked. I can adjust my mill to crack any size corn I want it
to. Ihave chickens in the same yard with the pizeons and they get along good. Your Manual
is the best it could be. I don’t think it could be improved much. I haven’t had any trouble
with lice or sickness. I think we will send another order as soon as we can get a place ready for
them. The squab business is O. K., as well as a paying business. My pigeons took first and
second prizes-at Ocotno County Fair, September 3, 4, 5.—E. G., Wisconsin.

WON FOUR FIRST AND SECOND PRIZES AT TOPEKA, KANSAS, EXHIBITION. My
birds that I got from vou are doing very nicely At the Topeka show I was awarded four first
and second prizes out of 16 birds shown. I would have gotten another first, but I classed the
bird wrong. The judge gave her first, but they looked on the judze’s card and she was not undet
that class. At the show, two of my Homers got out of the caze and also out of the hall. They
were fine-lookine birds and built for flying. They started east and that is the last I have heard
of them.— F. L. K., Kansas.

FIRST AND SECOND PRIZES WON BY PLYMOUTH ROCKS IN FLYING COMPETITION.
I boucht several pairs of your Homer stock about a year ago and am raising, and also flying
those which I raised. I have also Belgiums which I fly, but the young of your stock are equal.

I can recommend your birds to anybody, and the flying club which I am in also know what
they are. The last fly I made was 300 miles, at which I took first and second prizes on your
stock. Ithank you for sending me such quality of birds. W. J. K., Michigan.

AGAIN A SWEEP OF PRIZES AT ANOTHER NEW YORK COUNTY FAIR BY PLYMOUTH
ROCK HOMERS. We had a county fair here and there was quite a large exhibition of fancy
piveons and a few Homers, but not any as nice as the ones that I had on exhibition. I took
six nairs of old ones and five pairs of young about eight weeks old to match the old ones. I
get first and second premiums on all._—F.S.S., New York.

a cn
LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY
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MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS

NINETEEN PRIZES WON BY PLYMOUTH ROCK. HOMERS AND CARNEAUX BY ONE
CUSTOMER AT THE GREAT RCCHESTER (N. Y.) EXHIBITION IN 1908. I am flat in bed
with pleurisy buc I want to let you know about the Rochester Show. I got fifteen out of sixteen
prizes, and also four specials; losing only one third prize to a cock from the New York Show.
All of my prizes were won from adult stock bought of you, and young raised from them last year.
As soon as I am able to be up and out I will write you more fully. Excuse looks of letteras I
am writing in bed. (Later). There were three old cocks and three old hens which were re-
cently bought by a Rochester man in New York. The birds were said to have been in the New
York Show and this man made his brag, that he got the birds to turn down the Lyons man,
but my birds were cooped first and when he brought in his Carneaux and cooped them near
mine, he told the president of the show that he guessed he did not have much chance. He got
one third prize. All the rest were thrown out. I got four first, four seconds, three thirds, four
fourths and four specials. (One special on best cock in show, a pair of record Homers, one
special on best hen and two minor specials.) The last pair you sent me got, cock first, hen
second. My Carneaux are doing fine and I have quite a number of young mated and at work.—

R. I. C., New York.

PLYMOUTH ROCKS THE BEST HOMERS IN THREE STATES AT THIS BIG EXHIBITION.
A NOVEL USE FOR PIGEON FEATHERS. I wish to thank you for suggestions offered, which
enabled me to win first prize on Homer pigeons at the Tri-State Exposition and Livestock Show
held at Chester, West Virginia, just across the Ohio river from our city. This was considered the
best poultry and livestock show in this section of the country thisseason. Our local fanciers came
out fairly good considering the opposition we had. Three of the largest breeding farmers in this
section sent 1n a carload of poultry apiece. The second prize in Homers went to an Ohio man,
one of the above mentioned breeders. I also got second on White Leghorn cockerel. My birds
were shedding considerable, but I made good use of the long feathers as you will see by some
enclosed advertising for the firm by which I am employed as well as for myself. They went
like hot cakes after we got them started. Every one worea feather. I don’t know whether the
value of this ever appealed to you or not, but I think that you could find ready sale for the
light-colored feathers for this purpose.—S. E. A., Ohio.

Note. What he did was to gather un all the good-sized feathers lost in moulting and print
them in red ink with a rubber stamp, “‘ Welcome at Smith’s,”’ giving the name of the store where
he worked: These stamped feathers were treasured as souvenirs. This idea-could be used in
other ways by squab breeders and the feathers handed out as advertisements.

VICTORIOUS AT TWO NEW YORK STATE EXHIBITIONS. When I was in Boston a few
months ago, I promised you I would let you know how I made out at our County Fair, but for
some unknown reason I did not get at it. I entered at the fair six birds. Four Carneaux took
four first prizes, two Homers two second prizes.

I entered at Hudson Valley Pigeon and Poultry Association at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., seven
birds, and won three firsts on Homers, two seconds on Carneaux. Did not enter my old Car-
neaux or would have taken first on them. I have a fine Carneau cock that I think would be
hard to beat, but the hen is not up to the mark.’ I think I will show the Carneaux at the New
York Show.—J. R. V., New York.

TOOK EVERYTHING IN SIGHT. WON EVERY PRIZE OFFERED FOR HOMERS WITH
HIS PLYMOUTH ROCK HOMERS AT NEW YORK COUNTY FAIR. The Homers that I
bought of you last September are doing fine. I would like to visit your plant a little later if
it would be convenient for you. Iam going for the purpose of looking over your plans and to
purchase some more breeders. I have now about 60 pairs and want to get enouch to make 125
pairs. I entered those that I got of you at the Clinton County Fair at which I got every prize
that was taken on Homers.—E. R. G., New York.

ONE PAIR OF PLYMOUTH ROCKS GOOD ENOUGH IN VIRGINIA TO BEAT PROFES-
SIONAL SHOW FOLLOWERS. The Plymouth Rock Homers you sent me have all been working.
I carried one pair to the Roanoke Fair and received first premium over some Homer dealers
from Pennsylvania.—F. E. H., Virginia.

TOOK FIRST, SECOND AND THIRD PRIZES IN WEST VIRGINIA. My birds are beauties,
and took first, second and third premiums at the Poultry Show here, and I have been selling
squabs right along that are fat and nice.—Miss G. E. K., West Virginia.

WON THE SILVER CUP AT THIS MICHIGAN SHOW WITH HIS PLYMOUTH ROCK
HOMERS. I have had six pairs in the show and won the silver cup. People said thev were the
best they ever saw. Isold two pairs for $5.—J. F. F., Michigan.

LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY
261

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FIVE PRIZES TAKEN BY PLYMOUTH ROCK HOMERS AT TENNESSEE POULTRY AND

PIGEON SHOW.

pairs that you sent me.

I won two firsts, two seconds, and one third prize.

_ It would probably be of interest to you to know of my success with your
Plymouth Rock Homers in our recent Poultry and Pigeon Show.

I entered six of the eleven
The fine Homers I

purchased from you won one, two, three, while two pairs of colored Homers that I raised from

some birds bought of you won one, two.

Those grand white Homers you shipped me attracted more attention and were admired by more

people than all of the other birds in the show put together.

They are superb.

I placed the birds in my breeding pen at noon on Monday and on Friday afternoon four pairs

had built nests and one pair had laid two eggs.

The youngsters raised from some of your birds that I referred to before are only eight months

oid and have been at work three months.
E. D. R., Tennessee.

I am enthusiastic over Plymouth Rock Homers.—

WON TEN PRIZES, TAKING ALL BUT ONE (A THIRD) WITH TEN PAIRS. At the North
Adams Poultry Show I entered ten pairs of ‘‘ exhibition Homers ”? made up largely from Ply-

mouth Rock stock and was awarded five firsts, three seconds, one third, one fourth.
“headed ”’ but once and that was for a third place.

I was
The entries were made up of one pair reds,

one pair red checkers, two pairs silvers, three pairs blue checkers and three pairs blue bars.—

J. T., Ma sachusetts.

PAIR OF PLYMOUTH ROCKS THE BEST PAIR OF HOMERS INTHE 1908 TORONTO EX-
HIBITION. Only one pair of those Plymouth Rock Homers which I purchased from you were

exhibited at the fair but they took first prize.
the perfect wings, only one little feather being wrong.

The judges in examining them commented on

I know nothing of the standard but you

will doubtless know what they meant.—T. S.C., Ontario, Canada.

PLYMOUTH ROCKS FIRST AS WELL AS SECOND AT THIS IOWA EXHIBITION. Our
blue Plymouth Rock Homers took first and our silvers second at the show here.—C. D.* Iowa.

HAS BRED THOUSANDS OF SQUABS IN
INDIA FROM PIGEONS POORER THAN
OURS. About a month ago when: staying
in Chicago I made an inquiry for your cata-
logue and about a week later I sent you 50
cents for your National Standard Squab Book.
I read your book with great interest and must
say it is the best written instruction to the
beginner that I ever saw. I have _ bred
thousands of squabs in India, where I was
born and came to America to start a squab
farm here. Of course, the kind of pigeons
we use over there is not as good as what we
use here. I have succeeded in getting a fine
farm in Missouri,a very dry, healthy climate.
Tomorrow I am going to the place and when
settled there about a month (this time I
want to make the squab houses} I will send
you an order.—V. K., Missouri.

LONG SHIPMENT OF PLYMOUTH ROCK
HOMERS ACROSS THE CONTINENT TO
BRITISH COLUMBIA AND FROM THERE
TO AUSTRALIA. I duly received your
letter of May 12, and the birds came safely
and in good order by the Dominion Express
Company to Vaneouver. You will be glad
to know that they arrived safely at Mel-
bourne on June 27. The Carneaux pecked
three or four Plymouth Rock Homers, but
today they are in splendid condition, having
gone through the long, hot voyage very well.

Je, of course, looked after them on the
steamer to see that the cage was kept clean
and followed your instructions as to food, grit,
etc.—Mrs. A. B., Australia.

SQUAB MARKET WAITING TO BE
DEVELOPED IN THE PROVINCE OF
ONTARIO. The National Standard Squab
Book has given me much satisfaction, pleas-
ure and also a longing to get into the business.
{ am a poultry plucker, bench-hand, feeder,
etc, employed by the largest wholesale live
and dead poultry handlers here. I originally
sent for your Manual not with the idea of
starting to breed squabs, but to add to mv
knowledge of feathered life. I found the
book so interesting I have read it through

several times and could answer correctly
any question asked me from it. It is the
most exhaustive treatise on the subject

imaginable and I now consider myself an
authority on pigeons. To show you how
undeveloped the squab trade is here: I may
say we do not receive proportionately one
squab to every 100 chickens.—J. E., Ontario,
Canada.

IMITATION NEST BOWLS. I must say
my Plymouth Rocks are the best Homers I
ever saw. Are the bowls as seen on page 48
of the Manual what are known as the Rice
Wood Fibre Nest Bow!s? I must say that
I like them very much better than what
are sold here as ‘‘ Rice Wood Fibre bowls,”
as the ones here are almost flat.—M. R. K.,
Tennessee.

Note. The genuine wood fibre nest bowls
can be obtained only direct of us from Boston.
We do not supply stores with them. If
bowls are offered you in stores as ours, they
are not.

———S_oO——ax“oc—_sy_eSaQSaSSQSSSSSsSss 2a QQV_QVQVQV
LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY
263

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A NEW JERSEY PLANT.
This picture and the picture on the opposite page are both photographs of the same plant.

HIS BROTHER-IN-LAW IS HAVING A
PROFITABLE EXPERIENCE WITH PLY-
MOUTH ROCK HOMERS. Yours dated
November 20 was received this p.m. I
shall be very much pleased to have the pair
of birds as you suggest and will gladly pay
transportation on the same. I do not con-
sider you are under any obligation to ‘“‘ make
good ’”’ under the circumstances, as I ap-
preciate accidents will happen in transporta-
tion, but since you make this offer I will
greatly appreciate the favor.

My brother-in-law, Mr. Merritt, has been
telling me fabulous things of the squab
industry, and I propose starting with the 12
pairs, allowing them to accumulate for two
years, and determine positively the per-
centage of increase, profit, etc.

The birds Mr. Merritt purchased of you
have certainly done wonderful work, and this,
too, after being shipped to California and then
to St. Louis. The birds you shipped me are
truly very handsome, and feel sure they will

do well. I have been breeding and shipping
fancy poultry for the past 15 years.—R. W. B.,
Missouri.

KNOWN BY REPUTATION. I know you
by reputation to be the largest and most
successful and reliable breeders in America,
therefore, I am to buy stock from you and
would be glad to have your prices.—H. C. M.,
Tennessee.

MANUAL IS PREPARED EXPERIENCE.
The birds I got from you are in every way
larger and finer looking than any other
Homers ! have ever seen around here. Their
squabs are larger at the hatch and incom-
parably larger at maturity, or four weeks.
They seem to be attentive birds and extra
good feeders. I love the business and I love
my birds. I have followed your Manual
as regards feeding and watering and find that
I get the best results. It seems to be just
what it is, prepared experience for the begin-
ner. My policy was, if you don’t know, refer
to the Manual, and I always found that I did
the right thing and very seldom if ever went
wrong.—W. T., Virginia.

PLEASANT BUSINESS RELATIONS. Our
business relations have been so pleasant and
satisfactory I will leave it entirely to your
discretion in making me a present of a pair
of Extra Homers. (Copy of your letter
attached herewith explains all.) My birds
are doing finely and I know your book by
heart and will follow it carefully all through.
I will give you an order soon for more Extra
breeders.—A. D. W., Kansas.

ONE YEAR’S INCREASE. Your book
is the best I have seen and is very satisfactory.
Just one year ago I purchased 24 pairs of your
Plymouth Rock Homers. Now I have 200
young birds. J am well pleased with them.—
W. A. L., Ohio.

ONES
LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY
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ANOTHER VIEW OF NEW JERSEY PLANT.

This breeder tells his story in a letter printed on this page over the initials B. F. B., New Jersey.

REPEATED ORDERS FROM A NEW JERSEY CUSTOMER PLANNING TO HAVE 5000:
PLYMOUTH ROCK HOMERS. On April 6, 1908, I received from you six pairs of Extra
Plymouth Rock Homers. On April 16, I received 13 pairs, and on May 9, 13 pairs more, the
majority of each shipment being at work inside of a week after receiving them. Six pairs
were laying on the second day after receipt. At the date of this writing (October 26) I have
100 young birds, as fine as you can find anywhere. The birds received from you and the young
hatched by them are not beatable around these parts. I have not as yet weighed any of the
squabs, but from handling them know that they will weigh all that you claim.

I have fed as your Manual directs and have not had any trouble from sickness or any sign
of lice, as Iam looking after my lofts atalltimes and keep perfectly clean. By doing this no
lice will linger around. Iam more than satisfied with your business dealings, fair and square
in all respects. I have just received from you 104 pairs of Extras, and they are beauties, the
talk of the town.

In the spring I expect to enlarge my plant so I can put in 5000 or 6000 birds, and you will
have the order for stock, as I will know what I am getting. Thanking you for square dealing
with me.

I will send you next week the $150 for the two special offers and also give you shipping date.
All the birds received from you in the past have been O. K. in all respects, but if you have some
that you think will go ahead of them I wish you would send them, as I think it will be the
means of a large order for you.—B. F. B., New Jersey.

PLEASED TO RECOMMEND PLYMOUTH
ROCK HOMERS TO OTHERS. Replying
to yours of July 31, in regard to our showing
this gentleman around our plant, would, say,
that we will be pleased to do so. We feel
sure he will not hesitate buying from you after
he sees our birds for they are proof enough,
to our minds, of your fair dealing. Permit
us to say that it will be more convenient for
us to show him around our place on some
Sunday for then we are able to give him
better attention. —L. O. N., New Jersey.

EIGHT TO NINE PAIRS OF SQUABS A
YEAR FROM EACH PAIR OF BREEDERS.
The 10 pairs of Plymouth Rock Homers
purchased from you some time ago are ail
working very satisfactorily, averaging eight
to nine pairs of squabs a year from each pair
of breeders.—D. V. G., New Jersey.

THIS IS THE RIGHT TALK. If at any
time I can get you any business, you can
count on my doing so.—D. D. C., North
Carolina.

EE ee
LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY
265

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THIS MINNESOTA CUSTOMER IS A PROMINENT LAWYER WITH A FINE FARM ON
WHICH HE RAISES HIS OWN PIGEON FEED. The publication of my place in the St.
Paul Press came about not upon my solicitation. All said is true enough and I doubt if I
could improve it myself. Then I had the ranch and residence halftoned and stamped on
envelopes and letter heads as per enclosed.

Of course, I have so much to look after that Iam not able to give the pigeons much attention,
but find them “‘ good to eat and nice in appearance. We have no difficulty now in disposing
of all the squabs we can produce in St. Pauland at home. We get only $3 per dozen which does
very well here as the farms produce wheat, buckwheat, and corn enough for all the birds,
horses, cows, hogs and chickens I have. This year I tried Canada peas with satisfactory
results.

Our main house is 58 feet long, 16 feet wide, with seven-foot. posts. It rests upon a stone
foundation with stone piers in the center supporting the sills, and is about two feet above the
surface. Drop siding is used for weather boarding and matched fencing for inside lining.
The space between the lining and drop siding is filled with cinders. The floor is of two thickness
of inch flooring and brake-jointed. Ten feet of this house is used as a storing room and for
nlling the drinking fountains. The building is supplied with heat and city water. There are
six flying pens each eight feet wide, 10 feet high and 24 feet long, with roosts as shown in the
picture and are covered with one-inch mesh wire number 18. The entire framework support-
ing the wire rests upon concrete foundations four inches wide and let into the ground about one
foot. Each loft contains 140 nests, 70 nests on each side, leaving a space in the center of six
feet. An entry way three feet wide extends along the entire north side of the building with a
door opening into each pen. The small building is eight feet by ten feet with shed roof eight
feet and five and one-half feet respectively in height. This is used as a mating pen, where an
equal number of males and females are placed and when mated are banded and placed in
larger lofts. The floor of each flying pen is covered with sand from four to eight inches deep.—

H. W. M., Minnesota.

ENLARGING AFTER AN EXPERIMENT
WITH THREE PAIRS. I am now making
preparations to occupy a new building in the
spring, and as soon as I can scare up the
money, I want to order more breeders and
about 20 dozen nest bowls, as I expect to have
a two-unit house besides the one now oc-
cupied. I can’t say enough about the breeders
I bought of you. My first pair of squabs
weighed two pounds, two ounces, the second
pair two pounds, and by the looks of the
third pair, I believe they will weigh more
than any of the first ones. I am going to
keep my young ones for breeders, also expect
to add more of your stock in the breeding
line. If I get my other house up, I can easily
accommodate 150 pairs of breeders, and I
want them just as fast as I can get them.
I feed a little red wheat, Kaffir corn, millet
and hemp-seed, buckwheat and barley and
Canada peas. I have all told 10 kinds of
feed, use the self-feeder for staples and my
relishes I feed on a board with raised edges,
which I remove from the pen after the birds
have finished eating.—R. E. B., Pennsylvania.

PLEASED WITH WHAT HE SAW AT
MELROSE FARM. I write to let you know
I was very much pleased with what I saw at
your farm in Melrose and the treatment
which I received from your superintendent,
and shall send you another order for some
more of your birds by spring, as they are all
right. If you have any new literature, would
you kindly send me the same, as I want to
keep in touch with youin regard to anything
that I can learn for my benefit.—C. H. H.,
Massachusetts.

BETTER HOMERS THAN THIS FANCIER
HAD IN HIS COOPS VALUED BY HIM AT
TWENTY-FIVE DOLLARS A PAIR. Since
I wrote you Saturday I had a great pigeon
raiser call upon me to ask the privilege of
looking at my birds you sent. I asked him
to express himself in a candid way as to his
opinion of the quality and also if he had any
finer birds. He replied, ‘‘ Well, I have
several kinds. Some I consider are worth
$25 a pair, but I confess I have none that can
hold a candle to those birds. They are
extremely fine.’”” He made strict inquiry
about you and seemed wonderfully enthusi-
astic and, on his leaving me, remarked he
certainly would have to send for some of
those birds. I just simply mention this to
you for your credit. This is one of the
parties I mentioned to you in my first letter
I wrote you, asking you to send me some
good birds, as I did not want to be laughed
at. I think you will receive some orders
from this part of the country, at least I am
hoping so.—T. S., Illinois.

RICH PEOPLE SURPRISED BY QUALITY
OF PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUABS. Two
years ago I bought 12 pairs of Plymouth
Rock Homer pigeons of you with the intention
of raising squabs for market. I have never
lost but one of the old birds and now have
a flock of 225 or 250. About 100 are just
beginning to mate. I sold some of the squabs
to alady from New York who comes here for
the summer, and her colored servant, who
came to buy them, said they were the nicest
ones he ever saw. The lady lives in an
expensive part of the city —W. R., Vermont.

ere
LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY
267

ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH

———— eee
Greatest Banquet Ever Given in the West Will
Be That at the Coliseum Saturday
Night.

When hungry Republicans, who have
been, crowded Away from the poiiticai
pie counter, in Missouri for 38 years,
gather for their banquet at the Coll-
seum, Saturday night,
the greatest quantity of food ever
sérved at a single eating fest in the
West.

There will be seated in the great éin-
ing room 2266 Republicans. They will
occupy 78 tables, And 225 waiters have
been ‘engaged to serve them.

Lyman T, Hay of ihe Jeffersow and
Planters hotels, who has undertaken to
satisfy the appetites of the hungry Re-
publicans, has ordered food in the fol-
lowing quantities:

225 gallons of soup.

1200 pounds of fish.

1000 pounds filet

2266 squabs,

2500 large rolls of bread

200 loaves of bread.

700 bunches of radishes,

200 bunches of celery,

55 gallons-of olives.

10 boxes of léttuce,

‘10 boxes of chicory.

10 boxes of tomatoes,

30 dozen~hunches‘of parsley,

30 cases of Mma beans.

60 gallons of coffee.

2 sacks of Potatoes,

100 gallons of ice cream, with large
Guantities of assorted cakes.

Sixty Cooks to Cook It.
Early Saturday morning 60 cooks ana

eef,

they will face] ner.ready for serving -when the guests

helpers’ will -be set to work in an im’
mense temporary kitchen {n the base-.
ment of the‘ Coliseum to prepare tli
éreat feast. They expéct to have;the ditt

ara seated at 6 p../mi, sharp. The 225
walters will be divided into two squads,
and will work from each’ end of the
arena toward the centeY.

It is expected that it will require from
# to 105 minutes to serve the meal. Mr.
Way-is-kaving the tables made, and will
Procure the 2266 chairs needed, and have
them sent to the Coliseum before. the
dinner béll is fapped.

Mr. “Hay 4s assisted) by -J. D: Tellman,
‘who will, be the général*superintendent

‘at the banquet hall; Max McCurlee, who

Will have chargé of the service, and
Fred Laufgatter, chief engineer of the
Planters Hotel, who will arrange for
the heating service and gas stove con-
nections,
West's Biggest Banquet,

Mr. Hay says that the banquet will
be the biggest ever elvén in the West.

The guests of honor and the speakers
will be seated at the head table, on
which 62 plates will be laid. Gov.-elect
Hadley will be the principal guest of
honor. Jeptna D. Howe, chairman of
the Republican City Committee, will be
the toastmaster. The banquet is belng
given by the Republican City Commit-
tee to celebrate the victory in this State.
All of the leading Missouri Republicans
have been invited.

HUNDREDS OF SQUABS EATEN AT ONE BANQUET.

ippi : i i 5 i in Nov 908, shows what St. Louis
The above clipping from the St. Louis Post Dispatch printed in November, 19 1 Show: at St )
people think of squabs, Squabs are certainly being eaten in the W est. To provide the 2266 squabs which were
eaten at this banquet would take one year's output of a plant of 150 pairs of Plymouth Rock Homers.

268

MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS

MISSISSIPPI SQUAB HOUSE.

The house is 14x26 feet and the flying pen 20x26 feet. 11 feet high. There are two galvanized iron bathpans
in the flying pen with water piped to each. The drinking fountain is inside the squab house and is made of six
one inch T’s put together with nipples, making the whole eight feet long with water running through it all the
time, and the T's nearly full. This gives them plenty of fresh drinking water all the time and it cannot be fouled
by the birds. The house has 76 egg crates for nest boxes and can take forty more when needed. The white line
seen at tue back of the picture is a much traveled shell roadway and the birds are much admired by passers-by.
Of course it is not necessary to build a squab house so warm in Mississippi as in the North.

NINETEEN PAIRS INCREASED IN TWO YEARS TO FIVE HUNDRED BIRDS WITHOUT
SPECIAL INSTRUCTION AND WITHOUT SYSTEM. I never had one of your Manuals. I
merely put the 19 pairs of pigeons I first got from you about two years ago in a house 12 feet
square and about 9 feet high, with a flying pen 20 feet by 12 feet by 9 feet, and have let them
be there ever since. I have now about 500 birds and a nicer bunch of birds I have never seen.
They are very much crowded at this time and many of the young are being killed by the push.
I have now let contract for larger quarters and expect to remate the flock (if such a thing is
advisable), and have separate pens, thus dividing the flock, and I am very anxious to get all the
information possible so that I will maire no more mistakes. I enclose 50 cents in stamps for
the Manual. There are three or four persons in town who have small flocks of pigeons and they
sell squabs at $1.50 a dozen, but thev are small and mixed breeds, and do not have enough to
supply the wants of the people. We have not as yet sold any squabs, but expect to charge at
least $3 a dozen. We have a start now and my brother is going to help with the birds and we
feel that there is a nice income ahead of us. I have been closely confined to my office duties,
thus the birds in the past have been neglected.—G, J. G., Kansas.

RAISED A FINE FLOCK FROM A FEW.
I visited a friend of mine in Erie, Pennsyl-
vania, last week (August) and he showed
me a fine flock of pigeons that he has raised
from 12 he bought from you in the. spring.
Will you kindly send me prices for six pairs
and 12 pairs, also illustrations and different
kinds you have.—B. K., Pennsylvania.

FIVE TIMES BETTER THAN COMMON
PIGEONS. ‘The three pairs of Plymouth
Rock Homers are doing as much as the 15
pairs of common pigeons I had in the same
quarters last summer.—G. S., Wisconsin.

BREED RAPIDLY IN FLORIDA. The birds
received from you have done extra fine.
Our stock has more than doubled already.
Enclosed find check for which send_ by
freight 100 pounds of your health grit, 100
pounds of oyster shells, 100 pounds mixed
pigeon grain, and two dozen nest bowls.—
ESD AG Biorida:

NO MORTALITY. I have followed your
Manual’s instructions to the letter and have
never lost a bird, when once out of the nest,
and only three squabs, and they were only
two or three days old.—W.O., New Jersey.

eee eT
LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY

269

MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS

A MASSACHUSETTS PLANT.
For description see title underneath cut on opposite page.

COMMON PIGEONS IN UTAH FOUND A POOR INVESTMENT IN COMPARISON WITH
PLYMOUTH ROCK HOMERS. I recently purchased one of your Manuals and find in it a
world of very valuable information. I have at present a pen of 300 common pigeons which are
profitable, as I dispose of all the squabs I can raise at $3 per dozen. A friend of mine who
purchased some of your Extra Plymouth Rock Homers some time ago gave me six pairs of his
birds, and I must say they are the greatest workers I have ever seen. My common birds are fer
sale, as the Homers have taken their place in my estimation, one pair of your stock to three pairs
of common. As soon as I can dispose of the birds I now have (except my pen of Homers) you
can depend on a good-sized order from me for your stock, I will also want a few pairs of the
Carneaux you so highly reeommend. If they beat your Homers they must be great workers.
I put the Homers in a separate house with eight-foot flying pen on the second of July last and
at present date, November 7, they have raised 34 young and four pairs are again with eggs.
I have considerable trouble in getting proper grains, that is, Kaffir corn, hemp seed, Canada
peas, as no one here handles them. Will you kindly inform me as to where I may purchase
same, and if not too much trouble quote prices. I hope to be able to dispose of my common
stock and replace same with your fine birds.—G. S. W., Utah.

EIGHT PAIRS OUT OF NINE QUICKLY
AT WORK. Recently my son received nine
pairs of Extra Plymouth Rock Homers and
it is his wish that I notify you of their safe
arrival and that he is well pleased with them.
Eight of the nine pairs are at work. In fact
he has a dozen young, and eggs to hatch.—
S. P. T., Missouri.

BURNED OUT, BUT STARTS A NEW
FLOCK. Please send mea catalogue of your
best stock. I bought some Extra Plymouth
Rock mated birds about a year ago of you,
but lost all in a fire which burned the pigeon
house down. I made good money on them
and liked them for pets very much and I
wish to stock up again.—J. R., Missouri.

LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY

270

MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS

ANOTHER VIEW OF MASSACHUSETTS PLANT.

The customer whose main plant we illustrate on this page and the preceding page lives not far from our Melrose
farm. His building has been erected after our plans and is a duplicate of our own buildings with slight variations.
One of these variations is ventilators in the roof, an excellent idea. The ventilators in our own houses are at the
ends of the houses, which genera-ly serve well, but on very hot days in summer we have felt the need of additional
ventilators in the roof as this customer has built them. He has room enough in the cellar of his house to grow
mushrooms and rhubarb. The rhubarb grows fast and to great size. This customer grows rhubarb five feet high
in the dark in such a place and there is a good market for it. He is a market gardener and understands how_to
utilize the under part of his squab house in this manner. He heats this house and the cellar under it with a hot
water plant. If any of our customers wish to put in hot water heaters, write us and we will give you the benefit
of our experience. We have tried three kinds of heaters at our Melrose plant, in fact we have three different kinds
in use there now and have learned something about the different makes and can give helpful advice on this subject.

HALF-INCH MESH WIRE NETTING OVER THE SILLS TO MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR
RATS TO GNAW THROUGH. I got birds from you last summer, two shipments of the Extra.
What do you ask for them now, as I want to get some? Your birds are fine and doing well.
I have nearly 1000 birds and have a fine place, building 130 feet long, 14 feet wide, cut into
units, south front, matched lumber outside and in. I used a certain building paper all over
outside, tar paper inside. I intend to raise 10,000 birds and put up more buildings. Hog rings
are the thing to use to weave the wire netting. I put fine wire netting, half-inch mesh, one foot
wide, the entire length of building on the joist over the sills before floor is putdown. No rats
can get in.—F. E. B., Iowa.

FOUR HUNDRED PAIRS BRED FROM SIXTEEN PAIRS PLYMOUTH ROCK HOMERS IN
THREE YEARS, AND 700 SQUABS SOLD. I purchased 16 pairs Plymouth Rock Homers
from your company in July, 1905. I have about 800 birds now (October, 1908). I have sold
about 700 squabs, nearly all for $3.50 per dozen, but of late I have had hard luck with rats.
They have not been breeding well for about two months. I have lost quite a number from
going light and dumping around. I thought perhaps they needed some of your health grit or
something of that kind and I enclose an order for your health grit.—H. S., Michigan.

BETTER THAN OTHERS. Last spring
I bought 52 pairs of Plymouth Rock Extra
Homers from you and like them better than
any I have. They have done better than
birds I paid more for, and I want to get some
more of them, but I have no room. I want
to sell 100 pairs which I bought in Connecticut.
C. B., Connecticut.

RAPID BREEDING IN VIRGINIA CLI-
MATE. One or two of my pairs lay every
seven weeks. The others all do _ better.
One pair lays every month. The squabs
that I raise average one pound. I feed
mostly corn, wheat, barley, and small grains
of whole corn. Sometimes I crumble up
toast for them.—P. S., Va.

LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY

271

MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS

CALIFORNIA SQUAB HOUSE.
The breeder is doing very well in this unimposing place.

SQUABS SELLING BRISKLY FROM A LARGE FLOCK OF PLYMOUTH ROCK HOMERS IN

CALIFORNIA.
is speaking well for Plymouth Rock Homers.
as there is a big demand for squabs.
Homers.—W. I., California.

MANUAL PROVEN TRUE BY EXPERI-
ENCE. Irecommend your firm and addressed
an envelope to you yesterday morning for a
man over in Calhoun, Tennessee, just over
the river from Charleston. I think you will
land him as a customer. I like your Manual
very much as I take it alongside my ex-
perience with your birds. The simple truth
shines forth on every page, and if there is
any criticism I can offer, it is pertaining to
the limited index, which is not really a fault
for in searching for a certain point one reviews
points that he cannot know too well.—
P. E. O., Tennessee.

Note. Sometime we hope to have a full
index for this book. If this paragraph meets
the eye of a squab raiser who is also em-
ployed in a library or publishing house and
has done indexing, I wish he or she would
write me.—E. C. R

I have 30 pairs in a pen and can count 24, 26 and 30 nests ia a pea, so that
I have raised only 20 pairs from them for breeders,
If I had $3000 I would put $2000 of it into Plymouth Rock

EVERY PAIR AT WORK IN THREE
WEEKS FROM DELIVERY. On July 29
the Plymouth Rock Extras reached us. We
put them into the pigeon house immediately
and were more than surprised at the readiness
with which they adapted themselves to their
new surroundings. We are delighted and
are planning to order more birds just as soon
as we have a place ready for them. Our
boy would like to know how our record
compares with others. Every pair at work
in three weeks time. Is that equal to the
usual standard?—E. S., Pennsylvania.

TRIED THEM ONE YEAR AND WANTS
MORE. Please send me price-list of the
Extra Plymouth Rock Homers. I bought
some of you a year ago and I like them fine,
qe some more at the same price.—L. V.,

inois.

LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY
272

MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS

SMALL OPENINGS UNDER THE WINDOWS.

This photograph of the plant of a Pennsylvania breeder, shows small openings from which boards extend to the
ground. In winter weather or at any time when it is not desired to open the closed windows, this small opening
in each pen can be used. Some breeders have a rope and pulley attached to the slide of such an opening, manage
the opening and closing by pulling on the rope from the passageway, and do not have to enter the squab house.

OLD TWO-ROOM COTTAGE CONVERTED INTO A SQUAB HOUSE. BEST BIRDS IN
15 YEARS’ EXPERIENCE. After having so many letters from you, reading your Manual
and then looking at your photo, I really feel that I am well acquainted with you. I received
your last letter several days azo and would have written you sooner, but for a rush in business.
I am highly pleased with all the birds purchased from you and especially the last shipment you
made me. Those birds are the very handsomest I have ever seen and have been admired by
every one that has seen them, They are getting down to work now. My house and pencost
me very little and yet Ihave almost an ideal home for my birds. Away backin my garden I have
an old two-room cottage with gable roof covered with shingles. This I have turned into a home
for my birds. The rooms are about 10 by 10 and eight feet high, or maybe a little larger. One
of them I have almost filled with nest boxes (as you make them) and the other I keep for feed,
etc. My pen is 24 feet long, 12 feet wide and about 18 feet high, taking in one side of the roof.
In your Manual you do not recommend using the roof, but I have gone against you in this
one thing and am allowing mine toenjoy the roof. I donot use poles of any kind in my pen. I
have three running boards all the way around and find that much better than the poles. The
floor of the flying pen is covered with good coarse sand taken from an island in the river here
and I feed them as you direct in your Manual.

I have raised birds for the last 15 years, but have never had such success as I am now having.
I keep them more for pleasure than anything else, but of course later on will begin selling
offafew. Dr. Robinson tells me that he is meeting with success also. He has asked me several
times to go down and see his birds, but I live way out of town and hardly ever stop around

his place.

do. As Ihave written you before, it is a pleasure to do business with you,
F. E. M., Virginia.

the same remark to me several days ago.

FIRST PURCHASE LEADS TO A SECOND.
Enclosed find remittance for which please
send your special offer No. 1. For your
information, I will say that the birds I pur-
chased of you have done well and of course
their record recommends you to me for more.
I quote you to my customers and friends.
We have five pens and will keep this lot
separate to note their points, for we are
trying for 2000 pairs and as fast as money
comes to us we will buy.—G. B. D., Alabama.

Anything I can do for you in the way of directing a customer to you I will gladly

Dr. Robinson made

FAIR METHODS. It is certainly a pleas-
ure to do business with your firm. I must
express myself at the fairness of your methods.
I wish you success and assuring you you will
hear from me again.—L. L. J., Pennsylvania.

RAPID REPRODUCTION IN ILLINOIS.
The 15 pairs I got from you in the spring have
done finely. I have raised (September)
about 50 pairs of young ones. They are all
very good.—B. F., Illinois.

LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY

273

MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS

A PAIR OF SQUABS FROM PLYMOUTH ROCK EXTRAS.

These squabs, weigh a pound apiece as you see them on the platter.

IN TWO AND ONE-HALF YEARS THIS ILLINOIS CUSTOMER BRED A FLOCK OF 650
FROM 12 PAIRS EXTRA PLYMOUTH ROCK HOMERS, ALSO SELLING SQUABS. On
March 13, 1906, I ordered 12 pairs of your Extra Plymouth Rock Homers. I kept a record of
them all the first year and found the best pair hatched the tenth pair of squabs on April 11, 1907,
the average being nearly seven pairs of squabs to each pair of breeders. I consider this pretty
good for the first year.

In the winter and spring of 1907, I built a new loft 50 feet long, 12 feet wide, divided into
five pens with orange crates which I used for nests. Each pen has a wire run 10 x 20 feet.
facing the south. The whole building is covered with roofing. I now (October, 1908) have 650
birds altogether. About 400 of them are mated and I presume the rest of them will be mated by
next spring. The first ten squabs raised from your birds I sold for $1 each when about six
weeks old to a party here who was very anxious to buy them. Since then I have been keeping
all the choicest squabs for breeders and the smallest squabs I have been shipping to market with
the squabs of the common pigeons which we have breeding squabs around the barns. The
last two months I have been shipping all of the squabs to the Chicago market, as I now have
birds enough for my building capacity. My intention is to sell squabs for a while, then I may
put up more buildings and start on a larger scale if evervthing looks satisfactory. I am at
present getting from $2 to $2.50 per dozen for the squabs from the commission men in Chicago.
In some of the large hotels they are paying forty cents each for squabs weighing 9 to 10 pounds
to the dozen. I have not started to sell to the hotels yet. My best squabs weigh about 10
pounds to the dozen.

Corn and wheat are the staple articles of feed, and twice a week I feed Kaffir corn, Canada
peas, buckwheat, hemp and some barley. For nesting material I use tobacco stems and there-
fore have not had any trouble with lice or vermin.

Your birds are the largest I have seen as I have been to other squab raisers near here. If
ever any time I purchase more birds, it will be from your plant.—E. M., Illinois.

LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY
274

MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS

EXPERIENCED PIGEON RAISER PAYS A HEARTY TRIBUTE TO THE DEMONSTRATED
SUPERIORITY OF PLYMOUTH ROCK HOMERS On seeing one of your advertisements
I was induced to send for your free squab book and other literature to the extent of purchasing
one of your Manuals. I am always eager to learn of new methods in the pigeon business and
to give a little time experimenting upon “‘ claimed-to-be’’ better stock. On receiving your
publications I began to carefully scan them to see what.new thought or idea I might glean
from them. In some instances I thought you were making rather extravagant claims, as most
advertisements generally do. They praise some of the most worthless articles to the highest
notch, leading folks to purchase something in which they are very often sorely disappointed.

This is not so in your case, for of all the claims you have made for your birds, I can truthfully
say the ‘* half has never been told.’’ In my opinion there are no better. They are as perfect
a piece of squab machinery as nature can create and man improve upon.

How well I am pleased with the birds I bought of you is well attested by the fact that I
am enclosing another order for more of your Extra Plymouth Rock Homers.

In July, 1907, I sent my first order. They were the largest Homers that had ever been in
my neighborhood, as many persons who came to see them attested. Within less than three
weeks after I had placed them in my lofts they had accustomed themselves to the place, several
pairs had laid and set. With machine-like regularity they have given me a pair of eggs on an
average of every five and one-half weeks. I do not mean to say that they have given me a
pair of squabs for every pair of eggs laid. The difference between the eggs laid and the squabs
hatched from them has been so slight that a harsh critic cannot find fault. Some of my first
pairs of squabs from your birds have already laid and set.

I have not allowed any sickness or lice to invade my lofts; I believe the vitality of your birds
is of such strength that with little care and proper feeding one need never have any fear of them.

I have been very carefulas to how Ihave fedthem. My plan of feeding is as follows: Wheat
and corn are my main feed. Each day I feed a relish, Sunday hemp, Monday Canada peas,
Tuesday Kaffir corn, Wednesday millet, Thursday hemp, Friday Kaffir corn, Saturday I feed
a grain which I obtain from my dealer called vetches; the birds relish this very much.

I feed whole corn at all times as most of the cracked corn we get is of an inferior sort, some-
thing which could hardly be sold in the whole grain. My feeding plan may seem a little expen-
sive, but I am after results and as the birds are giving me those results, I feel that they are
amply repaying me for my trouble. One cannot expect to get out of pigeons what they do not
put into them, so with poor feeding one can expect but poor results, J am more than satisfied
with the quantity and quality of the squabs they have given me. My squabs weigh from
12 ounces to 16 ounces apiece, as fat and juicy as they can be. I have some which were ready
to be killed in 25 days.

I have had one bad experience since I have had your birds. On one occasion I was unable
to obtain necessary grain from my regular feed dealer, so I had to purchase of another who
sent me some inferior stuff. My squabs began to show the difference in that they were not
so plump and fat. I soon discarded this and my squabs went back to their original size. Dur-
ing the moulting period your birds showed no visible signs of their being affected by it save
the loss of feathers. They appeared as though there was no strain attached to it. During
the cold weather they have done equally as well as in the warm weather.

It is not my intention to lead any one into believing that all he has to do is to purchase Ply-
mouth Rock Homers, put them into his loft regardless of care and proper feeding, and they will
prove a success. But I do claim that with little care they will give the same if not better
results than they have given me. Ihave sold some of my squabs for as high as one dollar a pair,
and got as high as $5.50 a dozen for some.

My opinion of the squab business is that it is yet in its swaddling clothes with every indication
of asuccessful growth. The demand for the large, plump squab is daily increasing. Breeders
with such stock as the Plymouth Rock are the only ones who will be able to supply this demand.
I have the greatest of hope in the business. It is one of the greatest investments of today.
In my opinion there are but a few honest investments which give better returns for money,
at least I have found none better.

I am in the squab business now as a side issue. I look for it in the near future to pay me
larger returns than the salary I am now getting, which is $1100 a year.

My present plant is composed of three lofts with a capacity of nearly 300 pairs of birds,
I have other Homers than yours and have compared the two to see which give the better
results. I must confess that I have A No. 1 birds, but yours excel them by far in the number
and size of squabs.

I shall in a little while have only your birds on hand as I have already learned that they
are in a class by themselves and as an investment no stock can equal them. Enclosed find
my order, wishing you much success.—H. N. B., District of Columbia.

UNTTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY
275

MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS

SQUAB BUILDING IN BRITISH COLUMBIA.

This looks like a view in tropical Florida but it is not; quite the opposite _It.is the plant of one of our customers
in Northwest Canada, British Columbia, being on the edge of a clearing the foreground showing underbrush.
There is an excellent market for squabs in British Columbia, same as everywhere else.

CANADIAN MARKET GROWING. NO HOMERS IN THIS ONTARIO TOWN TO COMPARE
WITH HIS. SQUABS WORTH $3.50 A DOZEN. The first part of October, 1907, I ordered
one dozen pair of Extra Plymouth Rock Homers and was surprised at the promptness of your
shipment. But I had everything ready and liberated the birds in their new home. As it was
their moulting season when I received them, they did not lay for nearly four weeks, but when
they did begin they worked like Trojans. One pair has laid 12 eggs in the six months I have
had them, and I had a pair of squabs that weighed over two pounds, 28 days old. The market
quotations zive such and such a price for squabs weighing 10 pounds to the. dozen, but do not
quote 11 and 12-pound squabs. Iam confident that with care in selecting breeders from your
stock, one could get squabs up to 10-pound mark every time. There are no birds in town to
cemabete with mine. Everybody that sees them comments on their trim, business-like appearance.

have gained a little experience now, and intend buildinz pizeon houses to accommodate
about 400 breeding pairs. If things continue as they are now, I may go into the business for a
living. Your Manual has helped mea great deal. Before I read it I knew practically nothing
about pigeons, but now I pride myself as being a fairly good amateur. I am offered $3.50 per
dozen for killed squabs, but am keeping mine for breeding purposes. Our Canadian market is
not so good as the American market, but Canadians are fast learning what good eating squabs
are, and in a few years the market will be much better I have had some experience with hens,
and know how hard it is to raise a flock successfully, but hens are not to be compared with your
pigeons for money-making and simplicity of raising. ‘

I have had no sickness in my flock and haven’t seen a sizn of lice. I spray the pen with
diluted carbolic acid and clean it out every two weeks. I think no one would have lice in his
flock if he kept his pens clean. I do not use the self-feeder at present, but will when my flock
increases. I think it is a first-cliss affair. Your Manual includes and explains everything from
the gravel on the ground of the flying pen to the roof on the pigeon loft. I can honestly recom-
mend your stock to any one going into the squab industry and wish you every success.—G., L.,
Ontario, Canada.

SHOWING A PROFIT. Pigeons are doing A GOOD WORD. I will always speak a
well. They are more than paying for them- good word for your kind treatment and your
selves.—E. W., Missouri fine birds.—J. M. H., South Carolina.

LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY

276

MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS

PROFIT OF $2 ON EACH PAIR OF BREEDERS. COST OF FEED, 75 CENIS A PAIR A
YEAR. In January, 1907, I got the idea of raising squabs. I saw your advertisement in the
Reliable Pouliry ¥ournal, answered it, got your free book, then sent 50 cents for your Manual.
After reading it, I started to fix up an old building for squabs. After fixing the building
which was a cheap one, my squab house had no floor and the roof was poor, but in this dark
and damp place I have never had a sick bird, but I am now so interested in the business that I
am building a unit house according to your plans. After the old building was rigged into a
squab house, I sent in my order for threé pairs of Extra Plymouth Rock Homers, and when they
arrived I was much satisfied with them. On the fifth day, two pairs began nesting and within
a week I had four eggs. Within the next few days the other pair went to work. Not knowing
much about the habits of the birds, I put in most of my time watching them, I became very
interested and the next month sent you an order for six pairs. Since then, a year ago, they
have done so well that in the future I am going to make it a business. I have bought nine pairs
in all and now have 40 pairs that are working, and 52 young. The birds I have raised from
your birds are as fine a lot as I have ever seen.

I have had many calls for breeders and have refused as high as $4 a pair. I have sold a few
dozen squabs to a few families for $3.50 per dozen. I got them started and they are after them
all the time, but I do not care at present to sell at all, as I am increasing my flock. I have
weighed the squabs and find they average 10 pounds to the dozen. I am sure I can make a
profit of $2 on each pair of breeding birds. I have kept close account of the feed and it will
not exceed 75 cents per pair, per year.

I have followed your Manual and think it a good teacher.
without it. I use the self-feeder and drinking fountain and your nest bowls. JI am now feeding
as follows: Corn and wheat in self-feeder, four parts corn and one part wheat. The other
grains I feed like this: Monday millet, Tuesday barley, Wednesday Kaffir corn, Thursday
Canada peas, Friday buckwheat, Saturday broken rice, Sunday hemp seed. I find the birds
like this manner of feeding and they become tame. They will be waiting for you at feeding
time and fly about you, lighting on your shoulders. I use the lump salt, grit and oyster shells.

I cannot say too much for the squab business. It is way ahead of poultry—not so much
work, no young to take care of, and not so much danger of lice. I have never had a louse in
the squab house. I willsay this in comparing squabs with poultry, first compare the advantages
and disadvantages of the growing of market squabs and market poultry. To my mind the
former is to be preferred. The work is lizhter and the details of the business not so great.
The profits are larger for the amount of time and money invested. Artificial incubation and
brooding, which is quite a study in the poultry business, has no part in the squab business,
as the parents attend to all these details and do it better than man possibly could. All the
labor is performed under one cover. In fact, a biz plant can be easily established under a
single roof. There is no loss from hawks or wild animals. After having experience with both
I have decided that for the man who has not the best of health and is limited for land, the squab
business offers better opportunities than the raising of market chickens or ducks. The first
thinz for the beginner is to get the very best breeders and follow your Manual as nearly as
possible and he will come out on top. Iam satisfied with my success and will continue to the
end. You will please find my order for birds and supplies.—F. L., Ilinois.

I don’t think I could get along

FLORIDA EATS THOUSANDS OF DOZENS THIRTY YEARS’ EXPERIENCE. Re-

OF SQUABS IN THE WINTER MONTHS.
The manager of the Royal Poinciana Hotel
of St Augustine, in response to my query
as to the demand for birds, said he saw no
reason why his company could not use
several hundred dozen each week, that they
would like to see more pigeon farms in
Florida. I want to go South the first of next
month and by the last of the month or the
first of November have the birds there so
as to put some squabs on the market in
December.—H. B. J., Indiana.

Note. The Royal Poinciana above men-
* tioned is only one of a chain of Flagler hotels
along the East Coast of Florida and squabs
are eaten in all of them

TEXAS REFERENCE. If any one wants
to know anything about your square dealings,
etc., you have my permission to refer him to
me.—R.S., Texas.

ceived your Manual and as far as I have gone
I find it up to the minute in every respect.
I have learned a number of things about
pigeons in it that I did not know before, and
I think I am pretty well posted on pigeons,
as I have raised them, both common and
fancy, off and on for the past 30 years, but
only for pleasure. Now I think I will go
into it for profit, in a small way at first, but
expect to increase my flock from time to
pre as I have the money to spare.—J. C. M.,
io.

DEMONSTRATION OF EXCELLENCE.
My Extra Plymouth Rock Homers are doing
first rate. I am now at present increasing
my flock as I see that the pigeon business
far surpasses the poultry business. Please
send me a price list of your open leg bands
wih three initials and number on.—L. C. W.,

linois,

LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY

O77

ail

MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS

This _ breeder
whose plant is
pictured at the
left lives in a
thickly-settled
residential neizh-
borhood in Wash-
ington, D.C. The
building in which
his pigeons are
ket is at the rear
end of his resi-
dence lot. It isa
two-story brick
buiiding 20x40
feet and contains
twvo hundred nest
boxes. The two
windows have a
southern ex pos-
ure. The flying
pen, 10x12 feet by
16 feet high, takes
in only one win-
dow. He has bred
Carneaux here.
He has bred all
kinds of pigeons,
he says, but has
never seen such
breeders as our
Carneaux. He has
bred youngsters
from our birds
welzhing nineteen
and t hree-quar-
ters ounces when
twenty days old.

A CITY SQUAB HOUSE,

TWO YOUNG WOMEN TOO BUSY MAKING MONEY WITH SQUABS AND CHICKENS TO
WRITE ALONG LETTER. Please excuse our delay in writing you as we are busy most every
minute of the day raising chickens for our winter layers, and they cause more work than the
pigeons, but we thought the two were a good combination, as we can sell everything we can

raise.. There is a great demand here for squabs, and ours are fine, if I do say it myself.
We are very much pleased with the last lot you sent. They are beauties. All our birds are

good workers.

Sometime in the near future we will write and give you a little of our experience since we
have started in the squab business. This time of year is a busy one for us, getting everything
going for the winter when prices are the highest. We are having much better succe:s this year
than last. Excuse this delay and we will write later—Miss H. L. A. and Miss E. E.S.

FOUR DOLLARS AND EIGHTY CENTS A DOZEN FOR SQUABS IN SPOKANE. _INSIST-

ENT DEMAND. The market for squabs here (Spokane) is good, and I am getting 40 cents apiece
forsquabs, The demand is more than the squab raiserscanfurnish. I thought I would takea
sample of your birds, and they surely have proven good.—M. M., State of Washington.

CANNOT SUPPLY THE DEMANDS FOR SQUABS IN THIS ALABAMA TOWN. My pigeons _
are getting along fine. I cannot very well supply the demands here for squabs and may have to
order more Plymouth Rock Homers soon. Please write me at once as I would like to order as
soon as possible.—C. N., Alabama.
sn Ln See
LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY

278

MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS

LARGE AND PROFITABLE FLOCK BREEDING HIGHEST-GRADE SQUABS, DEVELOPED

IN TWO YEARS FROM A PURCHASE OF ONLY SEVEN PAIRS.

1 became interested in squab raising.

In the early part of 1906

After reading a great deal on the subject, and especially

the ‘‘ National Standard Squab Book,” written by Elmer C, Rice of the Plymouth Rock Squab
Co., I concluded to try my hand at the business, not so much for profit as for relief from the

connning work of my profession.
protitable but most enjoyable.

I was fully convinced that I would find the work not only

1 immediately set to work, at odd times, to fit up for a squab loft the upstairs of a small

barn on the south end of a city lot upon which my residence is located,

At the present time,

I have the upstairs of this barn divided into two breeding pens with one flying pen to the west

and another one to the north.
flying pen as high as the eaves of the barn.
the entire day.

In order to give my birds plenty of sunshine, I built my north
By so constructing it the birds can have sunshine

In February, 1906, I bought of the Plymouth Rock Squab Company the first pigeons I have
ever owned, consisting of seven mated pairs of as fine Homers as can be found in any loft.

All but one pair of these were prolific breeders.
averaging in weight about 13 ounces each.

From one of these pairs I have raised 37 squaks,

Although I have a few times bought elsewhere a pair of pigeons that suited my fancy as to
color, etc., I have failed to find any better ones than those mentioned above.

I have one of your banding outfits with which I make open aluminum bands.

Just before

the youngsters intended for breeders leave the nest, I place on them one of these bands. I

keep a very careful record of each one of these intended breeders.

From this record I can trace

the origin of any of the breeders which I have raised back to their oldest ancestors in my loft.
This record and my mating coop have enabled me to avoid inbreeding.
As a result of the splendid stock of birds with which I started, proper mating and the best

of care, I now (July, 1908,) have a flock of nearly 250 exceptionally good Homers.
Nearly all of them are mated and doing good work.

I have never seen.

A finer flock

From this flock I have sold nearly 500 squabs, and I am now putting into market over 100

per month, besides retaining some of the choicest squabs for breeders.
With the exception of those raised by very young parent

nearly nine pounds to the dozen.

My squabs average

birds, they average over nine pounds to the dozen, while a few go as high as 12 pounds to the

dozen.

From my limited experience in the business, I am fully satisfied that squab raising is not
only very enjoyable work, but also very profitable to the one who starts with first-class birds,
gives them first-class care, uses ordinary good judgment in managing the business, and has
stick-to-it enough to give the business a fair test before giving up.—W. A. G., Ohio.

HIS NEIGHBOR, AN ENGLISH EXPERT,
COMPLIMENTED HIS PLYMOUTH ROCK
HOMERS. My neighbor, an Englishman,
who has raised pigeons all his life from the
time he was a boy in England, complimented
my Plymouth Rock Homers very highly.
One side of his pigeon pen forms one side of
mine, our two houses joining, and we have
a good way to compare the birds, side by
side. He has fine birds (raises his for fliers),
but, although a novice in the business myself
and not authoritative on the matter, I wculd
not trade my pigeons for any he has. It was
evident at the start that the birds you sent
me were well mated, and my neighbor also
remarked how well they seemed to te faired,
and how devoted the pairs were to each other.
I think also, that quite an affection has already
grown up between myself and the birds, of
a reciprocal nature, and I am thoroughly
pleased and satisfied —R. R. M., West
Virginia.

SQUABS SOLD IN OHIO AT AN AVERAGE
PRICE OF $3.36 A DOZEN. My squabs are
doing fine now. We have marketed 724
squabs since October 12, 1907, to June 20,

1908, off 210 pairs of _birds—average price
apiece, 28 cents.—W. H., Ohio.

THIRTEEN-YEAR-OLD BOY CHANGED
HIS BABYHOOD PLAY-HOUSE INTO A
SQUAB HOUSE AT A TOTAL EXPENDI-
TURE OF TWENTY-FIVE CENTS. I
changed an old play-house into a squab house
and built a pen and the whole thing cost me
25 cents for bolts and wire staples. I will
send you sometime some photographs of my
Plymouth Rock Homers and my house, I
follow the instructions in your Manual and
am well satisfied with everything. My papa
ordered the pigeons for me. Your well-
pleased customer.—W. C., Massachusetts,

Note. We print this boy’s letter because
we think he holds the record on cheapest
squab-house construction (or remodeling).
Who can beat it?

STARTED WITH CHEAP HOMERS, BUT
HAD TO KILL THEM OFF AND BUY PLY-
MOUTH ROCKS. I send you draft for $45.
Send the birds as soon as you can. I have
the squab house all ready. Last fall I sent
off for six pairs. then early this spring I sent
for six pairs to another firm (low-priced place).
I have now one pair that is fairly good and one
good cock. I killed the others. I do not
wert any more $1 per pair pigeons.—J. B.,

owa.

OE URI ———————————————————————————————————— rT
LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY
219

MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS

A PAIR OF BIG SQUABS.

These were bred by the Pennsylvania man whose letter is printed on this page. Note the enormous breasts
and their plumpness. They are world-beaters.

STARTED IN TWO HORSE-STALLS. RAPID PROGRESS IN ELEVEN MONTHS. I sent
you my first order for six pairs of Extras, the birds arriving November 23, 1907, all in good
condition with the exception of one, which you replaced later on. I selected the two horse-
stalls in the barn as a fit place for keeping pigeons and put in the floor, windows, nests, etc.,
according to your Manual. I succeeded in getting the first pair to hatch within a month’s time.
It was very cold, which somewhat hindered them in their breeding. The remaininz birds were
all at work soon after the first and I became greatly interested in them. 1 had great confidence
in this new venture and after they were all at work, I first conceived how fast they bred.

In the month of January, 1908, I sent my second order for eizht pairs of Extras, these birds
arriving January 25, 1908, in good condition with the exception of one, which you so generously
replaced later on. This second lot of birds were all at work within two weeks after liberation.
They commenced to hatch so rapidly that J find I have at this date, October 11, 1908, about
200 birds inall. These birds include the original 14 pairs and their offsprines. My birds are all
banded and I keep a careful account of each pair. I have seen quite a few birds in town classed
as Homers which do not near compare with the birds I bought of you. My pizeons can be seen
any time and people are surprised to find such a fine lot of birds. The birds which I bought of
you and tkeir offsprings wi!l easily average from seven to nine pairs a year, and some have
hatched for the tenth time in less than a vear. Some of the nests had three eges in them on
two or three occasions. These eggs were all hatched out and I took the third young one and put
it in the nest of good feedine birds who raised it to a good size. ; j

I have weizhed some of my squabs and find them one pound and over, some occasionally being
under one pound. :

After having read your Manual thorouchlv I determined to make the feed question one of the
principal considerations. I use the self-feeder which you describe and recommend. _I mix corn
(which includes cracked corn) and wheat in the proportions which you state in your Manual and
keep the self-feeder alwavs plentifully supplied with it, so that the crops of their young are we
supplied. I also feed the dainties such as millet, buckwheat, peas, hemp seed and sunflower
seeds, throwing lettuce, cabbage or parsley into the pen twice a week. The birds always have
rock-salt, codfish and oystershell before them. The pens are re-graveled every six weeks and

LEETERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY
280

MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS

the birds are always in good health.

I scald the drinking fountains several times a week and

clean the apartments every week. The bathpans are filled daily so that they can keep free

from vermin.
few weeks.

I have not as yet been seriously troubled with lice for I disinfect thoroughly every
f I have tried to follow your Manual in every way possible and the results testify to
its great value as the book of all books on this subject.

If a person has never engaged in this

pleasant pursuit he need but buy a Manual and follow its teachings and success is sure to crown

his efforts.

It takes patience from the start and those who think of get-rich-quick schemes

had better not start in this industry.—H. F.S., Pennsylvania.

HER BIRDS IN CALIFORNIA LIKE FINE
TWIGS FOR NEST BUILDING BETTER
THAN STRAW. Wehavenow 28 mated pairs
and I have another pair in the mating coop,
also saw a pair in the squab pen making up
to each other this morning. We are very
much interested in the work and intend to
continue until we have about 2000 birds if we
can. Of course we will soon begin to sell
some, but we wish to have enough to supply
one certain place before we do, as we think
by so doing we can build up a better trade
and get a better price for our birds. Several
have offered to buy but we have sold none yet.
Every one says our birds are the prettiest
and best cared for they ever have seen.
They think we take unnecessary pains with
them, but we think it pays to do so. We
started in March last (1907) so none of our
squabs is more than nine months old and they
all mate up at about four or five months.
The oldest ones have had several pairs of
squabs of their own. We have followed the
Manual and think it all right. We feed
wheat, corn, cracked corn, Kaffir corn, mixed,
as a daily feed and three times a week Canada
peas and hemp seed with now and then a
little rice. We have running water in our
pens and we use eucalyptus and pepper twigs
for the nest building, as they seem to like
the fine twigs better than straw. We keep
oystershell and charcoal and rock salt where
they can get it, and put fresh gravel in the
pens every now and then. We wish to keep
about 50 pairs in each unit, so we have our
first one almost full. We expect to buy more
breeders as soon as we can and not depend
altogether on our own, but we wanted to get
a start and be able to handle a few pairs
properly before we tried so many. Wishing
you success and prosperity——Mrs. W. W.,
California.

WORTHY OF ENTIRE CONFIDENCE.
Enclosed find postal money order for which
please send Extra Plymouth Rock Homers,
according to your Special Offer No.3. This
is my third order. The National Standard
Squab Book is as nearly perfect as it can be
and has given me both pleasure and satis-
faction. Your improvements and additions
are admirable. I am ordering from you be-
cause you are I thin‘ entirely reliable. gen-
erous and worthy of my entire confidence.
My plans are not _ quite matured but they
mean more Extra Plymouth Rock Homers.—
Mrs. H. A. C., Georgia.

SELLING SQUABS AT GOOD PRICES AND
BUYING MORE MATED PAIRS. I pur-
chased of your company six pairs of vour
Extra Plymouth Rock Homers the 13th of
June, 1907, and six pairs the 27th of the same
month and had no trouble in getting them to
work. Some of them started to nest two
days after I received them. I now (May,
1908), have 60 mated pairs and have been
selling squabs right along for $3 and $3.50
adozen. I have some pairs that hatch every
month. I have one pair that hatch three
birds quite often and raise them all. I have
some squabs that weigh one pound at four
weeks of aze. They average from nine to 11
pounds to the dozen. I have sold some pairs
for $1.25 a pair. I feed the best of grain,
such as whole corn, red wheat, Kaffir corn,
millet, hemp seed and Canada peas and
cracked eorn, and use the self-feecer fer the
wheat and corn as shown in your Manual, and
like it. I like your Manual and would not be-
without it. I have had no sickness or lice
in my flock as I use plenty of lime, and keep
my house well whitewashed inside and out-
side. I have been in the first stores in
Pittsburg and in several pigecn houses around
here-and I have seen none to compare with
mine. I have some young birds finer than
the parent birds. I like the birds very much
and the business, or I would not be sending™
for more birds. Your birds are more than
you claim them to be, for my birds have:
shownso. It will pay me better to buy mated
birds that will hatch right off than it would
to wait on the young for breeders, as I can
be selling squabs all that time.—J. H. S.,
Pennsylvania.

BEST IN A LIFE TIME. I have read your
book with much interest. It is by far the
best I have ever seen on the subject of pigeon
raising. I have kept pigeons all my life,
or at least for 40 years, from the common to
the high-priced carrier, and at present have
a coop of some dozen different varieties, all
of which I propose disposinz of and putting
in the Plymouth Rock Homers. See enclosed.
order.—W. W. B., New Jersey.

LARGEST HOMERS EVER SEEN. The
Plymouth Rock Homers I bought of you
last season are doing far better than I had
anticipated. Every one who has seen them,
without an exception, says they are the
largest Homers they have ever seen.—B. E.,
District of Columbia.

—EE ss
LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY
231

MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS

KNOWS WHERE TO GET RELIABLE
BIRDS. I know where to come for reliable
birds, having bought my Extra Plymouth
Rock Homers from you. See enclosed order.
The Extra Homers I bought of you June 1
have made a good record. I knew absolutely
nothing about pigeons and had never seen a
first-class bird until I got yours. Have
depended entirely on your Manual for my
knowledge.—Mrs. R. O., Indiana.

MORE THAN DOUBLED. The pigeons
we bought of you in September are doing
nicely. They have more than doubled their

numnber and our young stock have commenced

AN ODD SQUAB HOUSE.

This shows the small plant of the Massachusetts
breeder whose letter is printed above and beneath the
picture.

laying. One pizeon suddenly became lame
after his arrival here, and after trying to cure
him we finally killed him. We have dis-
covered no more lameness in our flock.—
S. W., Massachusetts.

SOME WEIGH ONE POUND AT THREE
WEEKS. My Plymouth Rock Extras are all
doing nicely and are raising squabs that aver-
age a pound at four weeks. Some of them will
weigh a pound at three weeks.—P. E.,
Pennsylvania.

SET BACK BY POOR WHEAT. [I started
with six pairs. Got along fine until I got
hold of a lot of poor wheat which made my
pigeons very sick. This happened in the
latter part of June, ’07. I had by this time
in all 25 or 30 birds, of which only five birds
survived. I did not buy more pigeons until
I had my pens remodeled so as to hold more
birds. Got them fixed up all right and boutht
17 birds of you, six pairs and five hens.
They mated in about two weeks, raised about
seven pairs in October, November nine
pairs, December 10 pairs, January 11 pairs,
February nine pairs, and I have ten eggs for
this month.

I do not feed wheat as you told me not to.
I cannot get a good grade of wheat so I feed
all Kaffir corn or a little cracked corn mixed
with it.

I have followed your Manual in every way
and find it an excellent book, as I did not
know a thing about pigeons at all.

They do not pay as good prices here for
squabs as they do in the North and East
but they pay well considering the fact that
people out in this part of the country do not
know much about good squabs. They have
been used to breeding the common pigeons’
squabs which weigh about one-half as much as
the squabs I raise. I had five out of the nest
the 28th that weighed one and three-quarter
pounds apiece. They are very fine birds.
Fort Worth is growing every year very fast.
We have 7500 people. I hope I will be able
to convince the hotel people that they are
worth more than 40 cents to 60 cents a pair.
My flock is growing every day and I will order
more birds before long.—J. S. W., Texas.

KNEW ENCUGH ABOUT PIGEONS TO
APPRECIATE THE BOOK. Your squab
book is the best on that subject I have ever
read. It covers the ground completely
and makes everything plain and clear enough
for a child to understand. A number of
years ago I bred and flew Homers successfully
for about five years. This experience en-
abled me to understand and appreciate your
book better than if I had no knowledge of
pigeon raising. I will be glad to return
the old Manual and receive new one. I will
do so about January first, as I like to look
into the book now and then and do not wish
to be without one.

I note that the Pu%ttsburch Dispatch is
quoting squabs at $4.50 to $5.00, seconds at
$3.70 per dozen.—A. E. C., Pennsylvania.

WORTH ALL COMBINED. We think
your Manual is the best in its line. We have
tread many books regarding squab breeding,
but none has given us the satisfaction your
Manual has. We would not trade your
Manual for the whole bunch. Your book is

so clear that a child can understand it.—
H. & F. B., Ohio.

LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY
282

MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS

COST HIM ABOUT EIGHTY CENTS A
PAIR A YEAR. My birds bought of you work
well, raising a pair about every six weeks.
I have about 40 young ones now that are
beginning to mate. One pair have raised
one pair of nice squabs already. I would
have had more now, but the rats killed quite
a few. I have not sold any yet, have been
saving them for stock. I have had several
chances to sell some for breeders, but I
thought I would rather keep them myself.
I have not had any trouble with lice or sick-
ness so far. I always keep the lofts cleaned
out. I feed mostly cracked corn, Kaffir corn
and wheat, with buckwheat mixed in when
I can get it. About three times a week I
throw in some red millet, they are always
looking for it. I have followed the Manual
in regard to feeding. In the winter I feed
more corn than wheat, and in the summer
more wheat than corn. I think it has cost
me about 70 or 80 cents a pair for the year.
I made a self-feeder like the one outlined in
the Manual and think it isallrizht. Feed has
been hizh here for quite a while. I think
anybody can make money raising pigeons
if they tend to business and read their Manual.
I think it is all right. I like to work around
the lofts and watch the old ones take care of
the young. I have two sections, one to
keep the old ones in and the other for the
young. I keep all my pigeons banded. I
use the open legbands. I like them better
than the others. Part of the birds seem to
like to build on the floor better than in the
nest bowls. I use clean straw for them to
make nests.—E. L. Y., Illinois.

NEARLY ALL HIS PLYMOUTH ROCK
SQUABS WEIGH ONE POUND EACH.
I would like to say that your Plymouth Rock
Homers are fine birds. The second week I
got them they started to work, although it was
last February and very cold -weather. I
have now over 40 young ones and I sold some
also. I certainly would not have any other
kind of a pigeon about me. It used to worry
me for fear I could not get my squabs to
weigh up to some of your customers, who say
in your National Standard Squab Book that they
have squabs weighing 10 to 12 pounds to the
dozen. Now I have some that weigh more
than that. I have had some that weighed
14 ounces, but most all weigh a pound apiece.
I am going into the pigeon business on a large
scale, and every one of my birds will be from
you, as soon as I get a place where I can
enlarge my plant.—C. H. P., Pennsylvania.

BUILDS A NEW HOUSE AFTER FIFTEEN
MONTHS’ EXPERIENCE WITH A TRIAL
LOT. Fifteen months ago I bought six
pairs of Plymouth Rock Homers of you.
They are doing splendid. I think I will want
another small lot when I have my new house
done that Iam building.—W. A. R., Maryland.

HAD SUCCESS WITH HIS BIRDS FOL-
LOWING PLYMOUTH ROCK METHODS.
Please send me some of your pigeon literature
for 1908 if youhave any. I bought one of your
Manuals in 1907 and am very much pleased
with it and I would not part with it for five
dollars. I have had success with my birds
since I had it and recommend it to all my
friends. It is full of facts that are true,
and is written so that any one can understand
it that reads it. I love pigeons and I like
to see others make a success with them.—
E. H., Maryland.

CLEVELAND (OHIO) MARKET. Monday,
October 19,1908, I was offered $2.50 a dozen
for squabs just taken off the nest, not killed.
It has been stated in this city (Cleveland)
that squabs will go up as high as $3 a dozen
wholesale-—W. E. P., Ohio.

TOBACCO STEMS.

Used for nesting material. You should not use
these stems if you are going to sell the manure to
tanneries because they do not want manure containing
tobacco stems, as the stems stain the hides. If you
are not going to sell the manure to tanneries but to
gardeners and florists you can use tobacco stems as
they are an excellent preventive against lice.

WOMAN’S SUCCESS LEADS TO AN-
OTHER ORDER. Some time last winter
I was at Spring City, Tennessee, and advised
a woman to order some of your pigeons.
They having proven very satisfactory to her,
and upon her recommendation after a trial,
I am enclosing you herewith New York
exchange for $30 for which please send me
as early as possible your Special Offer No. 1,
Extra Plymouth Rock Homers, etc.—J. M. C.,
North Carolina.

DOING WONDERS IN VERMONT. Our
birds are doing fine and for the care they
have had have done wonders since we got
them. We find very few inbreeding. If you
have any new literature, please advise us.—

J.O.S., Vermout.

LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY
283

MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS

SQUABS AS FAT AS AN OLD HEN. I
have 100 pairs of Plymouth Rock Homers
and am well pleased with them. I dressed
16 Homer squabs yesterday that averaged
just a pound apiece. Several were only 26
days old. My principal feed is cracked and
whole corn, red wheat and millet seed, also
feed some Kaffir corn and think well of it.
I use tobacco stems for nesting material.

My squabs are as fat as an old hen at four
weeks. My birds are healthy, snappy and
strong and working fine. In banding squabs
or young birds before leaving nest how can
I tell male from female, as I want to know
which lez to place band on?—H. R., Ohio.

Answer. You cannot tell at that age.

Put the band on either leg and transfer it to
the correct lez when the bird discloses its
sex by its actions at four to five months.

LUMP OF ROCK SALT.

This kind of salt and no other should be fed to
pigeons. By peckinz at it they get off enough and
cannot harm themselves by eating too much. If you
feed our Health Grit you do not need to provide this
rock salt.

A BOY’S PLEASURE. You have treated
me very nice. Iam fully satisfied with what
birds I have got from you. I have done
everything you recommend in your Manual.
The red checkers raised one pair of squabs
which weizhed almost two pounds when
three weeks old. I would like very much to
order some of your specials, but I_am only
12 years old and just starting out. Iam also
a cripple, not being able to do very much
myself, consequently I must depend entirel:
on my father for assistance. I do not like
to ask too much of him. I feel that he does
all he can for my pleasure. My education
is from him, as I have never been able to go
to school.—E. D., Illinois.

HAD EXPERIENCE WITH COMMON
PIGEONS, POOR HOMERS AND PLYMOUTH.
ROCK HOMERS. I had a notion that the
common pigeons would do as well in raising
and raise as large squabs as the Homers.
would, but I was greatly mistaken as you will
see. I kept my common pigeons for about
four or five months, which was ecnou7th for me
because it cost more to feed them than I got
for my squabs, so I sold out all of my common
pigeons and bought some Homers. These
Homers I got from men who were selling for
75 cents and $1.50 a pair which Cid no: do
much better than my common pi eons, so I got
thoroughly disgusted with pigeons and sold
out again. About two weeks later I saw your
advertisement, which was the s.ar.ing of
my success. I liked your advertisement
and sent off for your catalogue. What
I found in your catalogue was true and it
sounded like the truth. I lixed the cata-
logue so well that I sent for your Manual,
which you sell for 50 cents, which is not a
hundredth of its value. After I read the
Manual I ordered some of your Extra Homers.
I thought you would give me good birds the
first time and bad birds the second time, but
the second order was filled with as good birds
as the first. I got my first birds from you in
the winter, about February, 1908. By mail
you sent me a slip of the most valuable
information that I ever read or will read in
my life.

I kept fresh water before my birds all the
time. I cid not let the birds drink the
bathing water at all. In the winter time
the water would freeze at nizht but fresh
water was put in every morning. My pigeons
did better in the winter than in the summer.

I feed my pizeons wheat, cracked corn,
hemp seed and about a double handful a week
of Kaffir corn and sunflower seed, which
altogether is about the most digestible and
fattening for the squabs. keep salt,
charcoal, grit and oystershell before them all
the time. I give my pigeons about four or
five heads of lettuce every week. I followed
your Manuzl in every way possible. In a
few days I will send you a third order for
your Extra Homers.—P. A., North Carolina.

BUSY WORKING ALL THE TIME. As
you, no doubt, remember, I bought 15 pairs
of your Plymouth Rock Homers last March.
Am very well pleased with them. My
Homers are doin fine, busy workinz all the
time. When I want more Homers will place
the order with you.—H. J., Ohio.

SELLING SQUABS REGULARLY FROM
A SPLENDID FLOCK OF BREEDERS. In
Februar 7, 1906, I bought a few pairs of very
good pigeons from you, from which I have
raised a splendid flock of breeders from which
I have been selling squabs regularly for the
last eizht months.—G. A. W., Ohio.

LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTII ROCK SQUAB COMPANY
284

MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS

HEAD OF SORGHUM SEED.

This is fed largely to pigeons by our customers in the Southern States. The birds are very fond of it. The

]

berries are brown in color and a little smaller than Kaffir corn.

When dried, this head of sorghum cane may be

thrown directly into the squab house and the birds will peck the berries off the stalk.

AFTER HE HAD TRIED PLYMOUTH
ROCK HOMERS HE DISPOSED OF HIS
OTHER PIGEONS BOUGHT OF OTHERS.
I am sending you a small order for 24 pairs
Extra. Please ship birds as soon as possible.
The birds are doing well I got of you 60 days
ago. I have disposed of all my other pigeons
bought o1 others and only have what birds
I bought of you. I intend to keep buying
until I get what stock I need. I had a local
trade but I let it go, because I would not sell
squabs from Plymouth Rock Homers at the
same price I sold former squabs. I will have
a four to six dozen capacity plant and would
ask for the address of some firm in Pittsburg
or New York City to whom I could sell a
couple of five dozen shipments, just to keep
from housing them in my loft. The main

oint is to get in touch with the market.
Forcier to sell my squabs and buy breeding
stock of a mature age, but I do not want to
spoil the market or give them away to the
local trade for 40 cents a pair. You need not
be afraid to give me the name of your nearest
fancy squab buyer.

My shipping boxes are being made of white
enamel inside and white painted hard wood
outside. The white enamel box is to fit
in the white wood box, allowing enough room
for ice. The boxes are to be returned to me
at my expense. I hope you will consider
the proposition. Now I have tried many
squab companies and if you people will do
anyway right I will buy all the stock I can
from you.—R. B., Pennsylvania.

A WOMAN’S SHORT AND SATISFACTORY
MESSAGE. The pigeons I got from you
several years ag> have been most satisfactory.
—Josephine S. H., Massachusetts.

RECEIVING FIFTY-FIVE CENTS A PAIR
FOR SQUABS. Our No. 1 Plymouth Rock
Homers breed squabs weighing eight pounds
to the dozen and we are receiving 55 cents
a pair for them. We have found your
Manual a great help and have followed it
almost entirely, and never pick it up without
seeing something that we missed on previous
readings. We are feeding from your self-
feeder a mixture of whole corn, cracked corn
and wheat, varying the proportion as we
notice they scatter one grain or another,
but usually about one-third each. Then we
throw to them on the floor different mixtures
of millet, Kaffir corn, Canada peas, hemp
seed and rice. On the whole we are well
pleased with the birds and the business and
we hope to increase our stock as rapidly as
possible.—H. J. B., Pennsylvania.

EVERYTHING TRUE IN MANUAL. I
have your Manual. It is complete and you
make no false statements. Everything you
say is true, and if any one is wishing to start,
I would advise them to get a hundred pairs;
don’t start with a few. Our last order was
small because we do not know whether we
will stay in this town or not, but when we
are permanently located we will order a hun-
dred or more pairs.—R. M., Iowa.

BREEDER OF COMMON PIGEONS CON-
VERTED BY OBSERVATION OF PLYMOUTH
ROCK HOMERS. Enclosed find order for
some of your best Extras. Your Manual
came a few days ago. It is all that you claim
for it. Have had a good deal of experience
with common pigeons, but have seen your
Plymouth Rock Homers at work and they
are “‘ the thinz.’’—R. D., Texas.

eS
LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY

285

HEALTH GRIT.

This is a photograph of our Health Grit, for which we have an enormous sale. _ It will pay for itself many times
over, increasing both the number and the size of the squabs and also keeping the whole flock in first-class conditicn.
The above photograph shows clearly the small shells and the gravel and charcoal which are in the grit. There are
half a dozen ingredients in the grit, including medicinal substances. The formula is a trade secret. Wereceive
hundreds of letters praising this grit Nearly all of our large customers, almost without a single exception, feed
it constant y to their flocks. The value of this grit is well indicated by the following letter received from a customer
in Connecticut in May, 1908: ‘‘ Please send enclosed order for your Health Grit as soon as possible as we have
lost a few pigeons lately I think it is because I got out of the grit. They are crazy about it and were healthy
when they had it.”’

286

MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS

1. RED WHEAT. 2. CANADA PEAS.

On this page and on the pages that follow we print pictures reproduced from direct photographs of grain

used in squab raising; also grit, shells, etc.

3. HEMPSEED.

These pictures have come out very well and will give our readers

scattered over this continent and in other parts of the world a clear idea of what we are talking about.
In the above picture (the first of the series) No. 1 is a sample of good red wheat, showing the plumpness of the

berries. No. 2, Canada peas. No. 3, hempseed.

ENLARGED PLANT AND FLOCK. Seven
-months ago we bought one dozen pairs of your
Extra Plymouth Rock Homers. We now
have 78 young. Ten pairs of young have
mated and we find them to be larger than their
parents. Our squabs at four weeks weigh
from 12 ounces to 15 ounces apiece. We
keep constantly before them pure fresh water
and we feed from a self-feeder made from
your pattern, filled with two parts whole
corn and one part red wheat, then at noon
we feed some dainty placed on a flat board
with raised edges, alternating between
Kaffir corn, buckwheat and hemp seed with
tice on Sunday. We keep a cash account of
everything and find at present prices we are
able to keep our birds at the rate of $1 per
pair peryear. Wehavesurveyeda place for a
pigeon house of five units to be built on our
plan and hope before many months to be
doing business on a paying basis. I am
fully convinced there is money in it. Your
Manual is just fine and cannot be beat as far
as I know. It has been the secret of our
successful start so far. We have to refer
to it very often. We wish you even greater
success than in the past.—A. L. H., New
York.

RECEIVES TWENTY CENTS EACH FOR
SQUABS ALIVE AND FINDS THAT THIS

PRICE PAYS. I started in April, 1906, with
24 pairs of Plymouth Rock Homers. They
got to work in about three weeks. The

squabs weigh eight to nine pounds a dozen.
I sell the squabs alive at four weeks old for
20 cents each. I have not sold any live
breeders, but I have had chances and re-
ferred them to you. I have fed as your
Manual says. I have no trouble with lice.

I like my birds and think there is money
in them, but one has to have a large flock to
do much. I intend to keep at it and this
spring will build me three more pens, as I
now have three and I want to get 500 pairs,
and will send for more later. Your Manual
is all right and very plain in every way. Iuse
egg boxes for nests, tobacco stems and straw.
—B. A. L., Connecticut.

YES, WE ARE CONVINCED AND THANK
YOU. I bought my first lot of birds from
you. Since I have bought elsewhere, but
I believe you are the most reliable to deal
with and this order will confirm my belief
and convince another, too.—F. P. S., Mas-
sachusetts.

LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY
287

MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS

* <
*
y Zs
d
-
*
.
SY

4, WOOD SCREWS.

5. KAFFIR: CORN.

In this picture we show in the first group a lot of common wood screws seven-eizhths of an inch long.

6. SORGHUM CANE SEED.
(These

are the screws which we furnish with every order for nest bowls, for screwing the bowls to the bottoms of the nest
boxes.) Our object in printing the screws is to afford the eye of the reader a measure of comparison with these
different grains. For example, in the above photograph the sample No. 5 is Kaffir corn. By comparing the
Kaffir corn with the screws, the eye of the observer forms a correct estimate of the size of the Kaffir corn and also

the other grains in the other pictures.
6 is sorghum cane seed, full size.

QUICKLY AT WORK IN MONTANA. I
think we will send for Special Offer No. 7 and
extra supplies this month. Our birds (100
pairs) received May 17, have done very well.
Some pairs are setting (August) for the third
time. Have a four-unit house in course of
construction, part of which we will fill with
selected young from our own flock. I have
sold about five dozen squabs and it is three
months today since the birds were received,
and have about 100 young in the squab
house, which we expect to keep for breeders.—
S. A. F., Montana.

SUCCESS TOLD BY REPEATED ORDERS
FROM IOWA. I send you money order for
$150 for which send me Extra Plymouth
Rock Homers as per your Special Offer No. 7.
I would like birds in place of supplies which
I think amount to $24.98, making 238 birds
according to the offer. I would like to get
650 mated birds in three shipments and will
send you an order every two weeks until that
number is supplied. In November, 1907,
T bought of you 12 pairs No. 1 and 12 pairs
Extra.—R. I. E., Iowa.

These photographs show the actual sizes of the objects.
A reduced photograph of a head of sorghum cane is shown on page 285.

The grain in No.

FIFTY CENTS A PAIR ALIVE. I amsell-
inz my squabs to a local cafe and am receiv-
inz°50 cents per pair alive. If you think I
can do better than that in larger cities,
kindly send me the names of some firms who
are in the market for heavy squabs. the
average weight being 10 pounds to the dozen.
Also please send me all your latest circulars.
Hoping to have a prompt reply and wishing
you all the success that you deserve.—
P. A. W., Pennsylvania.

PRAISE FROM AN OLD BREEDER.
The Manual is “ non plus ultra,’’ without a
peer, can’t be beat. I read it through twice
and still I find something interesting each
time I pick it up again. have raised
Belgium Homers since a small boy.—H. T.,
Pennsylvania.

ALL WE CLAIMED FOR THEM. If I
had the room and money, I would like to buy
100 pairs from you, as the No 1 birds I bought
from you are all you claimed for them and if
the Extras are so much better, they certainly
must be fine. —G. R. J., West Virginia.

Ss ee
LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY

288

MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS

7. WHOLE CORN.

No. 7 is common yellow whole corn.

8. COARSE CRACKED.

No. 8 is coarse-cracked corn sifted and No. 9 is fine-cracked corn sifted.
(See the chapter on feed in this Manual for full instructions.)

9. FINE CRACKED.

As arule the coarse-cracked corn No. 8 should be

fed instead of the fine-cracked corn No. 9. This No. 9 sample of corn is what is known as chick-cracked corn. It

is good for little chicks.

HIS SMALLEST PLYMOUTH ROCK
SQUAB WEIGHS THREE-QUARTERS OF A
POUND AT THE AGE OF THREE WEEKS.
My birds are very tame,so much so that when
I go into the coop with hemp seed or other
dainties and hold out my hand, they fly right
on it and eat. I was weighing my squabs
eyesterday, and the smallest one I have at

resent weighs three-quarters of a pound.
t was three weeks old yesterday.—G. A. W.,
New Jersey.

HOT SELLERS. I want to know if it
is too late for me to send for pigeons on that
Special Offer. If it is not too late, when I
hear from you I will forward the money.
I am having good luck with the pigeons I
bought of you last year and am selling the
squabs as fast as I get them.—T. N., British
Columbia.

WE SELL TO HUNDREDS OF FANCIERS
TO BREED FLYERS. Although I am not
interested much in squab breeding I am
interested in flying. A dealer in my neighbor-
hood has a few of your birds and finds them
pretty good for flying so I intend to try some.—
L.S. B., Pennsylvania.

THREE PAIRS SHOW WHAT THEY
ARE GOOD FOR. Ever since I have had
your birds they have bred remarkably well,
one pair raising eleven pairs of fine squabs
in one year. Not one pair that I bought of
you or raised myself has raised less than
nine pairs of prime market squabs per year.
I think that isa fair record. Besides eating
plenty of squabs, I have worked up a flock
of 30 pairs of prime breeders from the origi-
nal small lot of three pairs—R. E. F.,
Michigan.

GOOD PRICES FOR SQUABS IN PENNSYL-
VANIA. Squabs have been quoted at $4
to $4.25 per dozen, seven pounds to the dozen,
in our papers here. I donot know what mine
weizh as I have not weighed any of them, but
feel satisfied that they will go more than that
as they are large —A. A. R., Pennsylvania.

EVERY WORD TRUTH. A friend of mine
gave me one of your National Standard Squab
Books the other day and I have read it through
and think it is every word truth, having
raised pigeons a long time, but never for
the market, so think I know a little about it.—
R. H., Iowa.

LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY

289

MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS

10. WHITE WHEAT. 11.

No. 10 is good white wheat.
11 shows a poor quality of red wheat.

POOR RED WHEAT. 12.

WHEAT SCREENINGS

(It is all right to feed white wheat to pigeons if you cannot get red wheat.) No.
The berries vary in size, showing that the wheat is a mixture, and sprinkled

through them can be seen oats and elevator sweepings. No. 12 is an even poorer kind of wheat known as wheat

sereenings.

This is the refuse of a wheat elevator, including sweepings, broken grain, hulls, rat manure, ete.

Such

sweepings or screenings are not a profitable feed for pigeons. They are fed quite largely by many people who buy
the cheapest they can get of anything, but a flock fed on this will be out of condition and will raise poor squabs.

WHITE PLYMOUTH ROCK HOMERS
WORTH FIVE DOLLARS A PAIR. My
partner sent to the Plymouth Rock Squab
Company for a pair of your white Homers
and when he got them they were dandy ones.
They were worth the money. When he sent
for them, we just wanted to see if they were
good, and we sent for five more pairs at
$2.75 a pair. We got them safely and now
V oaldat sell them for a V.—F. L., New

ork.

RAISED THREE YEARS FOR FAMILY
USE. Isaw your advertisement in the Ladies
Home Fournal and will be glad if you will
send me one of your free 1908 books on squab
We bought pigeons of you about

raising.
three vears ago. They have been very
satisfactory. We raise them for family use

only.—Mrs. J. G. P., Virginia.

WOULD PAY TEN DOLLARS FOR THIS
BOOK. I would not be without your Manual
no, not if it cost me $10 to get one, for it gives
me more instruction, pleasure and satisfacti Qn
than I can express.—L. A. W.. Georgia.

WANTS ONLY THE SQUABS WHICH
PLYMOUTH ROCK EXTRAS BREED. I
am mailing you $20 for which I want Extra
fancy Plymouth Rock Homer breeders.
I am breeding about 100 pairs of Homers
that produce squabs that weigh about nines
and one-half pounds, but the demand is for
the largest. So send me something good.
Mr. Chase, my neighbor, bought a few pairs
of you about one year ago and has been hay-
ing very good success.—E. E. T., Missouri.

RECOMMENDED BY A FRIEND. Will
you please send me price list and literature
about the raising of squabs? A friend of ours
recommended your company to us, as his
son-in-law purchased some pigeons of you
last spring and they are very satisfactory.—
W. H., State of Washington.

ONE DOLLAR A PAIR FOR PLYMOUTH
ROCK SQUABS IN PITTSBURG. I am
getting $1 per pair for all the squabs I can
raise, and will have another order for breeding
stock as soon as I can arrange for larger
quarters — H. R., Pennsylvania.

Mesh doe SiGe eeet pe eee ee ee
LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY
290

MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS

15. SUNFLOWER SEEDS.

13. BARLEY. 14. OATS.

No. 13 is barley, which may be fed if plentiful and cheap. No. 14 is oats, which may be fed if plentiful : and
cheap, but they are not generally fed here in the East because the squab raiser gets more for his money in other
grains. No. 15 is sunflower seeds Sunflower seeds grow freely without attention almost everywhere. ‘The
heads when dried may be thrown directly into the squab pen and the birds will peck the seeds out of the heads.
Sunflower seeds sell at retail for from six to eight cents a pound, sometimes more. Nearly every drug store sells
them for parrot feed. The supply comes mostly from the West, although a great deal is exported from Copen-
hagen, Denmark. To buy sunflower seeds and feed them to pigeons is not profitable for the squab raiser, because
hempseed sells for less money, namely five cents a pound, and hempseed is better than sunflower seeds for the birds.

GOT THIS BOOK.FROM A LIBRARY AND
STUDIED IT STEADILY FOR A MONTH.
I am just starting in the pigeon business and
I would like you to give me a few starting
points. I went to the library to get a pigeon
book and I found a book which you published
and I read that book every day for two weeks,
and then I took it back and had it renewed
for two more weeks and I still have it.—A. K.,
Indiana.

PLYMOUTH ROCKS KNOWN IN UTAH.
Some man asked a question in a daily paper
in Salt Lake. In answering him they
boomed you up to the clouds. They praised
your company so much that I thought I
would write you for a catalogue—H. S.,

Utah.

FOUR DOLLARS AND A HALF A DOZEN
FOR PLYMOUTH ROCKS IN NEW JERSEY.
My squabs all average nine to 10 pounds to
the dozen. Am I doing well to get 75 cents
a pair ?—Mrs. M.C.C., New Jersey.

PLYMOUTH ROCKS THE ONLY KIND
WORTH WHILE. I hope later on to do
away with all except what I am purchasing
of you and get all Plymouth Rocks, as I am
convinced they are the only kind worth while.
I will leave the selection entirely with you,
feeling sure you will send the best you have.—
Mrs. D. W. A., Georgia.

SQUABS IN ARKANSAS. The squab
business is a new enterprise in this section.
If I can work it up I will build another house
and order more birds from you. I have a
friend who is thinking of buying a lot from
you. When he sees mine I am sure he will
decide at once. Thank you for your prompt-
ness and square dealings.—C. W., Arkansas.

MANUAL WORTH TEN TIMES HALF A
DOLLAR. I received your National Standard
Squab Book and find every time I pick it up
something new in it. It is worth ten times
its cost. I would not let any one have it for
what I paid for it.—P. J. L., Pennsylvania.

LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY
291

MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS

16. AMERICAN MILLET. iT

SIBERIAN MILLET.

18. GOLDEN MILLET.

The above are samples of millet. No. 16 is the ordinary American millet. No. 17 is the Siberian (red) millet.

No. 18 is the golden (yellow) millet.

FOUR YEARS’ BREEDING IN IOWA.
I am about to save the pigeon manure and
sell it to a tannery at Milwaukee that is
nearest tome. They will buy it if there is no
foreign matter in it. They object to tobacco
stems. Please tell me what I could use so as
to be able to sell it.

If you remember, I purchased a few pairs
of Extras from you over four years ago. Iam
shipping squabs to Chicago and doing fairly
well considering the high price of feed
here.—J. C., Iowa.

Answer. Use straw.

OLD CALIFORNIA CUSTOMER HEARD
FROM AGAIN. We had 100 pairs of you
once, but being obliged to move away on
business sold them. We shall get more
breeders before long and would like to know
what you have to say in 1908.—F. B. M.,
California.

SIX-FOLD INCREASE IN ONE YEAR.
September 21, 1907, I received six pairs of

your Extra Plymouth Rock Homers. I have
now (September, 1908) 75 squabs. This is
a fair increase for the old birds. My pigeons

are the finest lot in Kankakee.—J. W.,

Illinois.

All of these are good pigeon foods.

NO RACE SUICIDE HERE. We cannot
hold our pigeons back. We returned from
California four months ago bringing our nine
pairs with us and we now have 52. I would
like to have a price list of your birds again.
We are counting on buying about 100 pairs,
probably next spring. One little hen you
sent is a wonder. She does not know any-
thing about race suicide. I have a good mind
to send her to President Roosevelt.—A. B. M.,
Missouri.

IN BRITISH COLUMBIA. Two years ago
I sent for your circulars, but I could not then
see my way to try the business, but after
seeing the success a friend of mine is making
of it in Victoria, I am tempted to try it as
I now have the necessary room and leisure.—
W. M. L., British Columbia.

BOOSTED IN SOUTH DAKOTA. .I am
giving your birds a good boost all around here
and I think vou will soon be receiving some
orders.—G. B., South Dakota.

HOTEL TAKES ALL. My birds are doing
fine. I am getting $3 per dozen for squabs
and the hotel takes all I can breed.—W. C.,
West Virginia.

———
LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY
292

MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS

19. RICE UNHULLED.

No. 19 is a sample of rice with the brown hulls on.

20. RICE. 2

BUCKWHEAT.

No. 20 shows the same rice with the hulls taken off. This,

the unhulled kind, is what should be fed to pigeons as needed to correct diarrhoea, or as desirable where it is cheap

and plentiful. Do not cook rice to feed to pigeons,
grain, uncooked. No. 21 is buckwheat.

SOME PEOPLE , THINK SQUABS ARE
YOUNG BANTAM CHICKENS. My Ply-
mouth Rock Homers arrived in fine condition

and in three weeks were all nesting. I now
have 97 birds with them and their young.
The young that hatched in February and
March laid in August, so I think I did well.
I have not seen any that could compare with
them. Others that see them say they are a
fine lot of birds. Each pair has averaged a
pair every six weeks, except in the moulting
time when they dropped off laying for a
while. The squabs that I raise weigh from
three-quarters to one pound before they leave
their nests.

Mr. Haganbothan saw my birds and sent
for 12 pairs from you. They have been doing
fine since he got them.

I have fed principally cracked corn and
wheat, buckwheat and mixed feeds, changing
from one to another. I do not think it a good
plan to feed lone the same grains. In moult-
ing time I feed corn, whole rice and a few
peas and poultry powder. This is my first
experience in the pigeon business. I have
one of your Manuals and have followed it
mostly. For a tonic I give them a table-

You feed the white raw grains same as you do any other

spoonful of vinegar in the water once a week
and some poultry powder, which I think is a
good help to producing eggs. The birds
are not much care—only a few minutes in the
morning and evening.

Your Manual is a great help to those in the
pigeon business. If the loft is kept clean,
with fresh water and change of feed there will
be no sick birds or lice. To keep lice out,
take slaked lime and wood ashes and sprinkle
in loft. I have not been bothered with them.
The cost of the birds per pair is something
like 65 cents per pair per year.

I shall keep most of my birds that I raise
this year and by next year will commence to
sell some squabs. They sell from 25 cents to
40 cents apiece and I could sell them to good
advantage. Some people do not know what
squabs are and think they are young Bantam
chicks.—J. L. M., Indiana.

GETTING ALONG VERY WELL IN
FLORIDA. Please find enclosed check in
payment for 200 fibre nest bowls. We are
getting along very well with the pigeons.
We have between 300 and 400 young birds.
I think I should build another house and
fly.—H. B. L., Florida.

————————————————
LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY
293

MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS

22. GRANITE GRIT.

finer granite or quartz grit. No.

these poultry grits will do the pigeons more harm than good and are useless expense.

better.

HOW A LOUISIANA SQUAB BREEDER

BUYS HIS GRAIN. PRICES FOR SQUABS
IN HIS STATE ARE GOOD. I resigned my
position with the railroad company and have
moved to my home and you will please
address me here. I have been very busy
wetting in shape for my birds and I now have
them comfortably located in a nice house
14 by 24. They are getting to work nicely
and as they are now in their permanent
quarters and will not have to be disturbed
any more, I expect soon to have a large flock
of them. My birds have been moved three
times in the last 90 days, but are all in fine
condition, which shows they are thrifty and
will do well under most any kind of circum-
stances.

I am buying wheat and Kaffir corn from
Kansas City, Missouri. I get Kaffir corn at
98 cents per hundredweight f.o.b. Kansas
City and wheat at $1 per bushel. The freight
rate here is about 70 cents, so Kaffir corn does
not cost me much more than corn chops.
I pay $1.50 per sack for chops delivered here.

Every one who sees my Homers says they
are the finest they ever saw. I have orders
now for about 50 pairs at $1 per pair at
weanling age. f

Quotations for squabs.this week in my

23. QUARTZ GRIT.

Here are samples of grits which never should be fed to pigeons. ) §
24 is the same material, either granite, quartz or mica crushed finer.

if
3
e2
‘=
t

24. SAME CRUSHED.

No. 23 isa
All of
Ordinary sand or gravel is

No. 22 is a coarse granite grit.

markets are $4adozen. (This price is offered
by commission men.) The hotels and cafes
will pay from $1 to $1.50 more.—G. W. T.,
Louisiana.

FIRST EXPERIMENT, THEN THE REAL
THING. The first lot that I bought from
you was an experiment, a success. I will
enlarge this spring if not sooner.—J. F. C.,
Wiscousin.

EIGHT DAYS OLD, WEIGHT HALF A
POUND. I had a squab that weighed one-
half a pound when it was eight days old from
the Homers I got from you a few weeks ago.
How is that?—R. B. W., Ohio.

PLYMOUTH ROCK HOMERS THE
BEST IN THIS NEW JERSEY TOWN. Mine
are fine birds, the best in the town, there are
none like them.—L. K., New Jersey.

TEXAS WOMAN’S WORK. Something
more than a year agoI purchased six pairs of
pigeons from you. I have quite a flock now,
having been successful.—Mrs. R. E. B., Texas.

RAPID PROGRESS IN ELEVEN WEEKS.
I bought 12 pairs of No. 1 Plymouth Rock
Homers and received them April 11. I now
(July 6) have 33 young ones.—E. L. F., Iowa.

LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY
294

MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS

25. HEALTH GRIT. 26. COARSE OYSTER SHELL. 27. PIGEON OYSTER SHELL

No. 25 is another view of our Health Grit same as the larger picture on page 286. No. 26 is a sample of large

oyetes abel such as is sold for poultry. It is too large for pigeons. The correct size for pigeons is shown in sample
No. 27.

BEING DEAF, SHE WAS HANDICAPPED IN BUSINESS, BUT SQUAB RAISING SOLVED
THE PROBLEM. My birds bought of you several years ago are doing splendidly and paying
me amply for the care and cost given them. I have found your National Squab Book of the
greatest practical value. I like the business better than anything I ever tried. Being deaf,
I found it especially hard to get hold of a business I could manage myself, but in squabraising
one is not thrown so much in contact with the world and one is able to feel independent. I
began last fall and had several months of discouragement at first, failing to find a satisfactory
market. As there is a good demand for good birds at all times I succeeded in making a per-
manent arrangement with a summer resort, they agreeing to take all I could send at $4 per
dozen, and pay express charges, too. My birds generally weigh 10 pounds to the dozen and are
fine-looking birds. At four weeks they are hard to tell from the parents.

I have only 50 or 60 birds but have just sent off 24 squabs, have 36 in the house and about
two dozen eggs. I think that is doing a very brisk business for so small a flock. I have gone
in regard to feed almost exactly by your Manual, indeed I have followed it in every respect
and could not have managed without it. I have had no sickness except once, when I left the
birds in charge of some one who did not treat them properly, and once when I was without grit
for several weeks. Both times they had diarrhcea and were all fearfully thin, what you call
“soing light,” I believe. Occasionally the parents desert the squabs before they are big
enough to kill and begin on a new family; but these cases have been rare.—Miss B. R., Virginia.

PRACTICAL NEW YORK MARKET MEN SUCCESSFUL WITH PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUABS.
In looking over your new Manual (1908) I noticed a letter from a firm that does business in
front of our store. It is ‘‘ Heineman & Co.” Iam personally acquainted with them and told
them I had bought pigeons from you. William Heineman wished me to mention his name to
you when I wrote again, so I have taken this opportunity to do so. I feel amply repaid for
having bought my birds of you and I will place my future orders for stock with you. Just
as soon as I am able to branch out more I shall send for more birds. Thank you for your
ereat kindness and clean business dealings with me and wish you still further success in your
business.—R. L., New York.

en EEE EE SEEEE EEE ESE EEE
LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY
295

MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS

28. MIXED GRAIN. 29. MIXED GRAIN. - 30. MIXED GRAIN.

The above are samples of mixed pigeon grain. No. 28 is a good mixture. No 30 contains good grains but also
has oyster shells and grit in it. No. 29 contains an even larger proportion of granite grit and oyster shells and
the grains are poorer. The reason why some grain dealers put oyster shells and grit into their mixtures is that
these two substances cost them less than half of what grain costs, and by selling the mixture at the price of
good grain, thev sell grit and oyster shells at the price of grain. If the breeder wishes to mix grit and oyster shells
with his grain, it is much cheaper for him to buy them separately and do his own mixinz.

SELLS SQUABS FOR THREE DOLLARS A DOZEN TO A MAN WHO CALLS AND TAKES
THEM ALIVE OUT OF THE NESTS. Since February each pair of my Plymouth Rock Homers
has thrown five pairs of squabs, all weighing 10 and 11 pounds to the dozen. Am a great

believer in feed, ie., quality and variety, and feed each morning equal quantities of cracked
corn, red wheat, and Kaffir corn. In the afternoon I substitute Canada peas three times a
week and hemp seed twice for red wheat, and this mixture has kept my birds in good working

The self-feeder which I made according to your instructions was somewhat of a failure in
my case. The birds managed to scatter an enormous amount of feed on the floor, causing a
great waste, which I have obviated by the use of troughs. I feed twice a day and have by
observation got the quantity needed to satisfy them down very fine. Very little grain is tossed
out of the troughs, which are six feet long by 12 inches wide with one and one-half inch rims.
Was very careful to see if there was any falling off in the weight of squabs when I made the
change from self-feeder to trough, but none was noticeable. Have followed your instructions
otherwise and must say they have worked out beautifully. Your Manual has proven a veritable
storehouse of practical information and advice. Some time ago I bought some birds from
a friend which he purchased from and must admit that the squabs from your birds are
whiter meat. From present indications, I am going to get at least one pair of squabs more per
pair of breeders from your birds than from my other stock. Hereafter it’s your stock for me.
I keep a card file system which enables me to tell in a moment just what every pair in my
lofts is doing. The squabs raised from your stock are all throwing healthy offsprings at four
and a half months of age, which I think is very young for birds to go to work.

I am selling my squabs now to a party who takes them out of the nest, saving me the killing
and dressing, and pays me $3 a dozen for them. In the fall and winter I will get from $4 to
$5.50 a dozen for them, and all the market I can supply.—A. D., New Jersey.

LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY
296

MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS

FIRST-CLASS MARKET FOR GOOD SQUABS AND PLYMOUTH ROCK HOMERS IN IOWA.
I received six pairs from you two years ago and started to raise a flock from them. I purchased
your Manual and followed it in every detail as far as possible and will state I have had fine
luck. My flock now consists of 50 good mated pairs and they are working very well. I have
sold some squabs and a few older birds. I receive $2 per pair for old and 75 cents per pair for
squabs. I can safely say I have made a good profit on my purchase, as I paid $10 for six pairs
of your birds direct from you.. My order was sent in with Mr. J. Haas’s as three of us took six
pairs each. Two of us are still in the business, but he was compelled to sell out on account of
movinzaway. I think that the squab business is one of the best. If one follows the instructions
of your Manual he will succeed far ahead of anticipations. 1 am well pleased with my success,
and now I am enjoying the benefit of my old birds, as I have squabs most of the time for my
own table use and sell to customers here in the city. In the spring I will increase my flock.

As far as sickness is concerned, will say that I have not had any. My flock is in the best of
health and ha; no vermin. Others will fare the same as I have if they will follow the instruc-
tions of your Manual in regard to care and feeding birds, also in keeping fresh water in pens.
I have a hydrant in my yards and turn it on so as to keep a flowing stream at all times so I
do not have any trouble in this way at all. I have my birds all marked so that if any one of
them should happen to be killed or die I can pick out the mate and pair it off with another.
This is also a very profitable plan so as to keep all workers in one pen. I have had no trouble
in sellinz my squabs as the market is always open for Homers. There is a vast difference
between the common pigeons and your Plymouth Rocks. There is a man here who raises the
common pigeons which he sells for $1.75 per dozen, but there is no comparison between the
two, as the Homers from your farm are so far ahead, and the consumers of the squabs say they
would rather pay more and get good birds. We feel that there will be no opposition from him
in the squab business as our price has not been kicked on yet, nor do I think it will be. I
will send you a small order for some more birds in the spring as I want to increase my flock from
your birds. I again thank you for past favors and will do as much as I can to push the squab
business agd to hold up prices. If you have an opportunity to refer any of your customers to
me, you can feel assured I will say your firm is square and will do as you say. I would be
pleased at any time to help you. I will do you some good here as our stock of old birds is
not for sale. Our squabs are all ordered ahead of time, so let me know, as there is a fine big
eS ae for your Homers and your birds will meet with the approval of any and all.—

. G.S., Iowa.

SPLENDID FIELD IN COLORADO. ONE HOTEL TAKING MORE THAN THIS LARGE
PLANT CAN SUPPLY. The writer would like to know the names of one or two good poultry
journals in which we can place an advertisement for partner in increase plant, which is at
present 2000; 1200 of these birds are from your plant. Would like to procure 500 pairs from
you to infuse new blood into our flock. Perhaps you might know of one who has some experi-
ence in this line who would like to come to Colorado or Denver. There is a splendid field here
for the business. We have but one customer, a hotel, which we attempt tosupply. This hotel
consumes 20 to 30 dozen a week. They pay us $3.60 a dozen dressed. Denver has many
hotels and restaurants besides a great demand from the dining-car service from here to the coast.
I have been in this business 14 months. I sent for your squab book four years ago and have
gradually been drifting into the business. My wife looks after every detail of the plant while
I have been working at the tin trade, which I soon hope to abandon and take up the squab
business exclusively. We have solved the problem of keeping down the mites and have little
or no disease among the birds. I hope in the next two years to have a squab plant worthy of
the name. Any advice you can give to help the cause will be appreciated. If possible, would
like to have the name of some party who would come West to engage in the business, with
whom we might correspond.—H. J. D., Colorado.

CHICKEN RAISER OF FIVE YEARS’ EXPERIENCE IS PLEASED WITH HIS SQUAB
WORK. The last lot of Extra Plymouth Rock Homers came in fine shape. Some of them
started to work at once. Five pairs have eggs and are setting on them, and six pairs now have
nests. The first 25 pairs I received from you, June 12, 1908. I will take a snapshot of my
place when I get my big squab house up. It is going to be a dandy for 300 pairs. You will get
the order from me for the Extras. I think they are grand birds, and the squabs are so large
they are bigger than chickens. I feed good grain and hemp seed and some rice. I clean my
house once a week and sprinkle lice killer in the nest boxes.

I have raised chickens for five years but squabs have got them down and out as far asI have
seen. There are other little jobs of work you could do on the place with squabs, whereas if
you have 600 chickens you have to attend to them from daylight to dark, and then some.

I must say one word for your squab book, I think it is just grand. I would not take $10
for it, and not have one, and I don’t see how any one could get along without it, even if he
was an old-timer at the squab business.—J. B. B., Missouri.

LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY
297

MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS

A SOUTH CAROLINA PLANT.

What this breeder has accomplished here he tells in the letter printed on this page.

GOING TO MAKE IT A REGULAR BUSINESS. NESTING MATERIAL IN THE MANURE.
A little over a year ago I bought 12 pairs of Extra Plymouth Rock Homers from you. Now
I have over 100 birds in my houses and have started to sell some squabs. I am more than
pleased with my birds, they are doing fine. After a while I expect I will have to get a few more
from you so as to mix in some new blood.

My birds have averaged nine pairs of squabs to the pair for the year. I find the squabs at the
killing age weighing from 13 to 15 ounces per bird, and for what birds I have sold, which has
been only a few, I have received $3 per dozen. Ihave been holding most of my birds for stock,
as it was my intention at the beginning to raise a stock before entering the market. I am
feeding a scratch feed with a little hempseed about once a week. My birds have been perfectly
healthy. Out of the original 12 pairs I have lost only four birds. It costs at an average of
five cents a month per bird and I have in my houses 130 birds; which I consider a very good
increase. Iam more than pleased with the birds, and intend to go into it on a business basis,
making it a regular business, and I do not see why it should not be a success.

My houses are of the plainest kind, costing about $125. They will accommodate 300 birds

Ihave one pair of birds that I have raised, which lav four eggs to the setting. This is the
first incident of its kind that I have ever heard of. They will set on these four eggs for about
10 days, and then throw the eggs out, one bv one, in consequence of which I lose the setting.
These birds have done this thing on three occasions. Two of the eggs would be fertile and two
infertile. I at first thoucht that perhaps some other pair had laid in the nest with these, but
after watching carefully I found that the eggs came from the one pair of birds.

The manure from the birds is amounting to something and I would like to get the address
of some good party who will take it off my hands so that I could communicate with them.
Would you kindly advise how to get rid of the nesting material or do you let it go in with the
manure ?—T. L. O., South Carolina.

Answer. Straw and feathers caked in with the manure are acceptable to the tanners.
They do not like to get manure in which is a large amount of discarded tobacco stems, as these

stain the hides.

EE
LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY
298

MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS

NOTE HOW THIS BREEDER BUILDS HIS SELF-FEEDERS. On December 20, 1907, six
pairs of No. 1 Plymouth Rock Homers were shipped to me. I lost some squabs caused by the
old ones eating green sprouts and from cats, but as soon as I made the floor tight and mended
the wire on the flying pen I had no more trouble. Now (September, 1908) I have 42 old and
young, with those I raised mating up and starting to build their nests and lay. My birds are
all in rugged health and are doing well, breeding fat, plump squabs. I have compared them
with other breeders, but mine are far better. _ :

I give them plenty of fresh water for bathing and drinking and scald out the pans and drink-
‘ing fountains with hot water once a week. I save the manure, as it has a ready sale and helps
to pay the feed bill. I clean the nest bowls and floor once a week, sprinkle slaked lime over the
floor, sprinkle a little insect powder on thesquabs, and vermin does not bother them, I
feed cracked corn and wheat, one-third wheat to two-thirds corn for winter, and for
summer one-third corn to two-thirds wheat. In addition, I feed rice, barley, millet,
sunflower seeds, Kaffir corn and Canada peas with a little hemp seed as dainties. I put a small
trough below the holes of the self-feeder on each side. In this way, the grain which falls out is
caught by the trough and there is little waste. - I also have a protected box divided in halves.
In one side I put health grit, in the other oyster shells. All the covers for my self-feeders are
three inches wider than the feeders. This prevents soiling the grain, as pigeons are very par-
ticular about clean grain.

My squabs weigh eight pounds to the dozen. My birds have bred at the rate of from seven t
nine pairs a year and one pair has bred ten pairs per year. The cost of feeding averages five
cents per pair per month.

I think well of the squab business and expect before long to buy more as it is a profitable
business, considering the small capital invested. I use egg crates and orange boxes’as I have
found them best and cheapest. The unit system is best as it is easier to keep track of several
small flocks rather than one large one.

A person breeding pigeons must study and learn their birds to make a success of it.

I have read and re-read your squab book and think for clearness of description, plain explana-
tions, and good clear illustrations it is the best live-stock book I have ever seen. When in doubt,
consult the Manual.—J. Y. E., West Virginia.

FLOCK INCREASED FROM SIXTY TO THREE HUNDRED AND SIXTY IN EIGHT MONTHS.
I got my flock of 30 pairs of Extras into their permanent quarters in February. I now (October
5, 1908) have about 360 head of the finest young birds you ever saw. I have just put my flock
through the moult and they have begun to work now in good shape. I have squabs now in my
house that were raised by my young birds (the ones which I raised myself) and their second pair
of squabs weighed over one pound each at four weeks of age. Is not that good work for the sec-
ond pair that young birds raise? What do you think of my increase in stock from 60 head to 360
head in eight months; is that good work or not?

I can get orders for all squabs I can raise at $3 per dozen f.o.b. cars here, but I have sold
ony one dozen and J got $4.50 for them. I do not care to sell any until I get a big flock of

reeders.

Iam making some arrangements now to build squab houses and I want to get about 150 or
200 pairs of breeders from you in the spring; as I want to get into shape to fill orders. I had
an order the first of this month for ten dozen per week at $3 per dozen. This would have been
a standing order for all winter if I could have handled it. I have one pair of young birds that
laid four eggs, hatched and raised all of them. Has that ever happened in your flock? Write
me what you think of my success and advise what price you will make me on an order for 100
pairs of Extras.—G. W. T., Louisiana.

FAMILY TRADE BRINGS HIM AS HIGH AS EIGHT DOLLARS A DOZEN FOR PLYMOUTH
ROCK SQUABS. Enclosed you will find check and order for pigeons and supplies for $116.29.
Please ship sundries by freight at once and the pigeons on July 23. The birds I got of you in
February, 1908, are doing finely. Have raised three and four pairs each, squabs weighing at
25 days from 14 to 19 ounces alive. I have several pairs more, all raised from your Extras, so
I have about 155 birds altogether now. I am clearing out the chicken pens and filling them
with pigeons, as I am fully convinced they are a much better paying proposition than the
chickens.

Several other firms have written me for orders, but as you took such pains with my little
drib, and the birds have done so well, you people get the rest of the orders. I have the largest
binds in the city, and they attract much attention from the hundreds of visitors at my poultry
yards.

The Manual isa gem. It is plain enough for any one and I really think I have it memorized.
Have several other works on pigeons, but have laid them away. They are not in the same class.

The market is good here, my birds bringing from $4.50 to $8.00 a dozen, all family orders.
I have worked them right into my chicken and egg customers. Could sell 50 pairs a day if I
had them.—J. A., Pennsylvania.

————————— ee
LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY
299

EXPERIENCE OF PROMINENT WASHINGTON PUBLIC MAN
BREEDING PLYMOUTH ROCK HOMERS

I wish you would send me an outfit of your Extra
Plymouth Rock Homers, mated and banded. I want
to see how they will turn out. I have already
quite a large lot of pigeons Duty they anesugue=
so poorly that I do not expect to keepertmemaaa
expect better results from the ones wha cheers

The letters from customers printed in this book are evidence of the wide-
spread interest on the American continent in squab breeding not only for
revenue and for one’s table, but also as a pastime and instructive hobby.
It will not be forgotten that the master mind of Charles Darwin evolved
‘The Origin of Species’ from pigeon breeding. The ideas he conceived and
the laws he discovered might have been worked out with other animals, but
not within the span of his lifetime, with the thoroughness he accomplished,
because pigeons breed rapidly, and in other respects are ideal for experiment.

Prominent in political life at Washington are customers who give part of
their spare time enthusiastically to this work. One of these ordered of us
in January, 1908, as indicated by the letter printed at the top of this page.
The next letter was as follows:

IT am greatly pleased with the birds sent me, and
they seem to be all that you have said in resane
GO! ems

We wrote him in December, 1908, to interest him in our Carneaux, and
received the following letter:

i have your letter of some days aso an) “erga cds
the Homers you Sent mé. They were very pine eran
I was well pleased with them. One disaster after
another has followed these birds until now I have
none left. First, an owl got in among them Vand
pulled heads off, which was followed by some other
misfortune. I shall never ‘experiment here ~egum
with them, but when I “retire from the Lela wom
Labors and go back home, TF certainly aniendaae
keep pigeons. I thank you very much for cadiiame
my attention to your new Plymouth Rock Carneaux.

We are not at liberty to print the writer's name. We call attention to
this to point the moral that serious-minded men of large affairs turn to
squab raising with lively and sustained interest. (Incidentally, another
moral is, Beware of owls !)

3800

MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS

WON THE PRIZES IN
TEXAS. My pigeons took
first, second and third
prizesand | credit it much
to your good stock that
helped me.—I. R., Texas.

IMITATION GRITS A
FAILURE. Enclosed find

money order for which
please send me 100 pounds
of your health grit and 100
pounds of oyster shells,
pigeon size. I have tried
other health grits that are
sold nearer mv city but
find my birds will not touch
them.—_H E. M., New
York.

READY MARKET IN
MONTANA. I haveabout

90 young and have sold
about 125 squabs. I can
get $3.00 a dozen plucked
and notrouble aboutselling
them. I have paid as high
as $2 per hundredweight
for wheat but am now
getting wheat at $1.15
per hundredweight ; corn
$1.90.—L. E, Y., Montana.

ORDINARY QUARTERS.
The Pennsylvania customer whose letter is printed on this page is doing well here.

SEVEN PAIRS QUICKLY AT WORK. ORDERING EVERY MONTH. The seven pairs of
Plymouth Rock Homers arrived on April 24 in first-class order. Five nests are finished (May 7),
one has two eggs and there are two other nests in the course of construction, which speaks
mighty well for your stock, Ithink. I expect to send you an order the latter part of this month
and intend buying every month. In that way I will not feel the investment so much.

One could not ask for better stock than you sent me. I am well pleased and shall be glad
to boost your stock among my friends. My neighbor is more than ever chagrined at the job
lot that was shipped him from the southern part of the State and will undoubtedly send you
an order before long. Thank you for the pains you must have taken in selecting my birds.

(Later. August, 1908.) I write you to give you the address of a gentleman who is going
into the squab business.- You can use my name or not, just as you desire, but one thing you
can use to him ismy recommendation. When I return from my vacation, September 1, I intend
placing another order for 10 pairs more of Extra Plymouth Rocks. My birds have done fine
and as long as I get such birds from you, you can expect my order and all others I can throw
your way. There isall sorts of rivalry here on account of the show in January.—J. B.,
Pennsylvania.

YEAR’S TRIAL SATISFACTORY, AND at the business, and I am sure as soon as the

GOING AHEAD. I thought you might be year is up, we will place another order with
pa : = you, as your birds have been greatly admired

interested to know that the birds we pur- by other raisers here, and they have done what
chased of you last January have turned out you said they would. We have had no trouble
finely, we havinz lost but two, and this on in selling the squabs, which have ranged from
account of flying against the wire, breaking ten to thirteen ounces each, receiving in nearly
their necks. We decided to give the birds every case from 50 cents to 75 cents per pair.—
a thorough trial for a year, being novices C. W. C., Pennsylvania.

LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY
301

MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS

TEXAS WOMAN DELIGHTED WITH HER
PROJECT. I am enclosing an order for
some Homers intended for a Christmas pres-
ent to my young nephew, and wish you to
ship the birds so as to arrive about the 24th.
In March last I bought of you six pairs of
Plymouth Rock Homers. My flock now
(December) numbers 25 pairs, the first birds
hatching the 16th of April, and I have seven
hens due to hatch on the 17th of this month.
I think my success has been creditable and to
me very satisfactory. I have lost less than
half a dozen young ones, and believe the loss
of these was due to a lack of rock salt in the
fly. My aim is to increase the flock to 100
before beginning to market the squabs.
Squabs sell in our market for 25 cents each
and are scarce and in demand. My pen
consists of a house 8x8 feet in which the birds
roost, lay and hatch. Connected with the
house I have a fly eight feet wide, 20 feet long
and eight feet high; with which accommoda-
tion the birds seem perfectly contented.
Many of them seem to know me and are not
afraid when I go among them. I feed twice
a day, about 8 a.m and 3 p.m., giving them
what they will eat of whole and cracked corn,
wheat, millet and Kaffir corn, when pro-
curable. Occasionally I throw in bits of
cabbage leaves which they seem to relish
very much. I have your Manual and have
followed instructions as nearly as circum-
stances would permit, and with it as a guide
and reasonable attention, do not see how
any one could fail to succeed in a pleasant
and pleasing pursuit. I believe it also
profitable, even in my small way. I bought
your fibre nest bowls and have them screwed
to pieces that slip into the egg crates that you
mentioned in your Manual. This makes
cleaning the bowls and boxes a very easy
matter. I intend in the near future to build
another pen, divide my flock and test the
question of “‘ pigeons for profit.” Thus far
I am delighted with the project, but love for
my birds may interfere with selling squabs
for slaughter. My squabs weigh on an
average of three-quarters of a pound, live
weight, at about three weeks of age. I have
had neither sickness nor lice, and on the whole
am most highly pleased with my birds.—
Mrs. R. E. B., Texas.

USES A WATER FOUNTAIN WHICH HE
MADE FROMA BOTTLE. In February (1908)
I became interested in Homers and thinking
they would give better results than common
pigeons, I sold my flock of common birds
and sent you an order for three pairs of
Plymouth Rock Extra Homers. Three days
later I received them. Some friends of mine
had Homer pigeons which they considered
excellent birds, but they could not beat mine.
My friends have been anxious to get some
of my Homers, but I intend to keep all I
raise until I have quite a flock.

Up to date (October) one pair has raised
six pairs of squabs since I received them.
The other two pairs have done nearly as well.
The common pigeons I had generally stopped
breeding during the moulting season, but your
Homers kept right on.

I feed what is called here ‘‘ scratch feed,’’
composed of buckwheat, peas, Kaffir corn,
sunflower seed, cracked corn, wheat and
several other grains. I also give a tonic every
Sunday with a little hemp seed. I use a
feeder which I made, as shown in your
Manual, and a water fountain which I made
from a bottle. I have followed your Manual

Ar ae:
HOME MADE.

For this little plant the breeder has utilized what
he had; expending hardly a dollar. He has done very
well in these rough and ready quarters, however, as his
letter here printed shows. (See letter of M. J. H.,
New York.)

in caring for my birds and think it is an excel-
lent book. Sometime in the future I intend
to give you another order.

I send by this mail a picture of my place
and birds. The small pen is where I keep my
young stock until they mate. The one with
the Homer in the window is where my working
birds are kept.—M. J. H., New York.

LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY
302

MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS

READ THIS STORY BY A BREEDER OF FIFTEEN YEARS’ EXPERIENCE. On May 7,
1908, I received 24 pairs-of your Extra Homers. The birds arrived in fine shape, every one of
them i in perfect condition. On my way to the express office I met several friends that had seen
the birds taken off the train, and they told me they had never seen sucha fine lot of pigeons
as they were (and they are people who know what a pigeon is when they see one) and to say
that I was surprised when I saw them is putting it mild, although I have had about 15 years’
experience in breeding, training and trapping pigeons for shooting matches, where two oppon-
ents hire trappers, one against the other. (I hope you won't think I am boasting, but 1 am
considered one of the best trappers in this part of the country.) I must admit that I never saw
any finer looking pigeons than they are.

I have had several people visit my coops that have bought birds from different squab com-
panies, and they told me they were ashamed to own their birds after seeing 1 mine. Their breed-
ing qualities cannot be beat. I received the birds on May 7, and by June 7, only one month in
a strange coop, I had 10 pairs of squabs and as many pairs of eggs, and am ‘proud to state that
several pairs have kept up a pair of squabs a month. This is the second of October and one
pair has her fifth pair of eggs. Others have a nest built for their fifth pair. Of course, they
ane not all doing as good for on account of the moulting season some of them have been a little
slow.

I weighed the first pair of squabs I got when they were four weeks old. They weighed two
pounds all but one ounce. To date (October 2) I have 155 young ones banded and there are
three pairs of young ones mated. I tell you there will be something doing now that the young
ones have started.

I believe the secret of my success has been in following the instructions given in your Manual.
I keep plenty of good feed before them at all times. I give them fresh water in their fountains
once a day and their bathpans three or four times a day. I consider it a pleasure to attend
to their every want because I love them. When I have a moment to spare I am with them.

If there is any part of this letter you would like to use for the benefit of your business, help
yourself. Believe me, yours and the pigeons’ friend.—J. D., Pennsylvania.

GOOD FOUNDATION STOCK AND GOOD CARE. NEVER LOST A BIRD. Believing your
interest to be still with your birds even after they are sold, will give my experience with a
dozen pairs of Extra Homers. [I received the birds June 26, 1907, and two days after the first
pair went towork. At the end of the second week they had all got busy. The first batch came
out very successfully, losing but one egg. I selected what I thought to be the best squabs and
sold the rest, a practice I have since followed.

My grain bill for the last six months averages seventy cents a pair. I have
averaged three dollars a dozen for squabs.

I have had quite a demand for the breeders and all have remarked on the unusual size and
appearance of my birds. I have always kept your grit, oyster shell and fine cracked charcoal
before the birds at alltimes. I have used your self-feeder from the start and find it a great help.
I use automatic fountains, which I scald and scrub with sand once a week. I feed cracked
corn, Kaffir corn, red wheat, buckwheat, peas and a little hemp and rice. I ‘have never lost a
bird and at the present time (January, 1908) have raised 119 squabs. This good fortune is due
entirely to good, healthy foundation stock and absolute cleanliness in the lofts —H. A. H.,
Massachusetts.

ON THE SQUARE. I am certainly very favorably impressed with your methods and
frankness in doing business. You are not only a good business manager, but a moral
force as well. Live up to and maintain as high a standard as possible and you are bound
tosucceed. It is as true now as ever it was that ‘‘Honesty is the best policy.” I wish
you all the success you deserve, and this is a good deal.—J. D., Connecticut.

LOUISIANA CUSTOMER CONVINCED BY BEST AUTHORITY. I think your Manual
EXPERIENCE. I was somewhat skeptical is the best authority on pigeons that can be
at first, but my own experience has taught :

gotten up. I kept pigeons for 15 years, but

Manure not sold.

me that success awaits all who will buy

breeders of you and you can refer anybody you
wish to me as a satisfied customer, and I| will
tell them all that your Plymouth Rock Extras
will come up to the standard. For breeding
qualities and size of squabs they cannot be
beat. I will advise you later on as to the
January shipment. I want to _ increase
my flock as rapidly as my financial circum-
stances will admit until I get 2000 pairs.—
T. H., Louisiana.

must admit that I never knew how to care
for them until I got your book. I bought
24 pairs of your Extras on May 7, 1908, and
am pleased to state that they are doing fine.
Up to the present date (September, 1908)
I have 126 young ones banded and they are
allin fine shape. Some of the young ones are
beginning to mate. I am not able to make
room fast enough for them.—J. H., Pennsyl-
vania.

LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY

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