The Wilmingtonian., 1886-08-21
PRICETWOC GENTS.
HOMING PIGEONS.

IL lldS always ubCl d uAdlltl Va Np'ANSA ~
the writer that that most attractive and In
crative business of breeding aud training
homing pigeons has not found Whining
tonian to take it up thoroughly.
When Mr. Samuel F. Belts freed the
Brooklyn and New Jersey homers sent here
by Mrs Starr last week the idea of the pleas
ure and advantage Of pigeon breeding was
again brought to mind
Perhaps tho readers OF the WuMINGToN-
IAN are not aware that i. S. Starr, IS Coult-
land street, New York is one Of the most
famous writers on fancy reeds in the world.
Mrs. +. S. Starr, who is widow lady, is
the editor Of more than on. Fauciers' mag
azne Probably she is the best informed
OF any writer in this country upon the sub
jeet of the pigeon Her advice and opinion
is always sought by the most prominent
breeders aud fanccrs 81 th,s country. Her
opinion is almost flual court of APPEAL on
this ard the kindred subject OF fancy fowls.
Mrs. Ssalr is also an excellent Judge, and
her decision is always invoked in New York
among the members of the New York Fan
cers Club, the largest club OF this nature
in America, when the members hold their
annual exhibition at Madison Square Gar
dens.
The writer remembers seeing some re.
markable birds at the exhibitions in New
York. Imagine single pair of Jacobins
for which $500 was paid Yet this is cool
fact. The writer saw the birds and the buy
err They were imported from the North of
ireland. Along with this ragal pair of fancy
pigeons were four or five young birds for
which an additional payment of $3.50 was
made, making total $3.50 for half dozen
pigeons!
OF course the above is fancy piice for
fancy birds. But did Wilmingrouiaus have
any idea of what a furore or fever the com
petition for the premium ior the best b rds
at ap exhibition creates in the minds of rival
exhibitors there would be little surprise at
seeing those high prises paid.
There is the closest contention at pigeon
show and somt times bitter acrimony is seen
among the exhibitors.
1t is very hard for man who has been
studying for two or three successive seasons
to perfect certain points in the breeding of
his birds to liud that the judges have given
the blue ribbon to a neghbor from some far
away State or even territory, as Cor instance
Arizona where some premiums have been
taken, and TO find also that his unknown
rival has been working diligently just on the
identical line that he himself has taken and
has beaten him perhaps by only half poiut
in possible hundred marks or credits.
There are few more prCcarous lotteries
than fancy breeding. The slightest inatten-
tion may nullify the result of months prob
ably years, of care. Still the business i, one
of the most intensely absorbing nat ire. 1t
is not an exaggeraton to state that the iiv-
airy among fancy breeders is not excelled
in any other direction.
Close akin to this is fancy fowl breeding.
1t is pity that we have no fancy breeders
in Wilmington,
There is no more renumcraii,e ,e calling In
existence than this.
1t is needed here too. This assertion may
be proved any market day by taking stroll
down King street and simply looking at the
miserable table fowl exposed for sale.
They are small and from their general ap-
pearance anything but what they might be.
We wonder whether the neighboring far
mers are aware of the fact that there is
premium price obtainabe for better table
fowl, that is fowl of better breed than the
barn-doors and dunghills usually exposed
for sale. Ave they aware that it is
just expensive to raise Gunghill as a we'll
bred fowl, aud that the latter both as table
food aud the eggs Of the fancy breed gain
better prices
There are breeders in New England and
tho West who make larger incomes in this
business than a United States Senator.
Personal.