The herald., 1896-09-13
loft; but otherwise their wings must be

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clipped.
The most interesting part of the hobby
is to. train the birds. This is accom-
plished by simply taking the birds out
IN a covered basketand letting them go,
when they will do their best to find their
way home.
Authorities differ greatly on this
point, but it will be found that if the birds
are kept to one direction they will do at
least somewhat better than if flown one
day from the, north and the next from
the west, etc.
Some birds will disgust the fancier
by alighting on some near building be-
fore starting. Some very good birds have
been known to do this, however such
ones should be discarded.
The training of homers depends much
on what strain they are-some birds can
be flown twenty miles the second toss
when only three or four months old;
others would be lost, half that distance,
but if trained at easy stages would fly
from a much longer distance than the
former
AS a general rule the following is
pretty near correct:
Start the birds when four months old
from a point one block away; second
fourth day, two miles; fifth day, five
miles; sixth day, ten miles; tenth day,
twenty miles; fifteenth day, thirty five
, miles; twentieth day. sixty miles:
twenty seventh day, 100 miles; forty
first day, IT'S miles. Here it is best to lay
off the young birds until the next sea-
son, when they should be started again
at the minute station, but to give
them test, or if they are old birds.
over a year old, then go on as follows.
Fifty-ffth day. 300 miles; SEVENTEEN
day. 500 miles. i.l
Some authorities claim that birds do
their best when five years old, but re-
Gently a homer in Belgium that was
twenty years old won sixth prize in a
race of over 600 miles. 80 -S.i "a
Never liberate homer in g. fog, rainy
weather or unfavorable winds unless
you wish to give them a severe test:
however, if they have been over the
same route several times, and they are
in good trim condition, then fog does
not cut much figure for short distances.
Don't liberate them on full crop, and
for short distances don't feed them ut
all. The moulting season (summer) is
a bad time to test their speed. If speed
is not wanted then the birds need not be
given any attention as to feed or
weather, for they generally get home
some time.
On arrival they should be inclined to
enter the loft at once. If they look
scared and. will not enter it is because
the intelligent little racer misunder-
stands you and thinks you take him
away because he is not wanted home.
To remedy this, treat him to a little
hemp seed and corn and keep him inside
two or three days at time, when he
will learn that home is good place.
While training their diet should con-
sist chiefly of hard red wheat with lit
tie corn mixed; better still, mix in Can
ada peas. vetches and tares. Have reg
ular hours for feeding two or three
times a day. and always whistle GER
tain way. which will call in the ones
outside.
If managed properly the care and
training need not in the least disturb
your more important business affairs,
no more than 1t does our numerous New
Jersey and Pennsylvania fanciers, who
are in all kinds Of business.
Then, II ct any time It becomes tn