Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1908-03-26
Politics 10 Literature, Local and General News.
Delphi nd in Raising Antwerp Homers
For Sale as Breeders, and Squads
IDA M. JACKSON. Delphi, IND.


pairs of pigeons and each pair pro-
duced nine pairs of young each year,
and you sold them for 81 a dozen.
Figure 1t all out. deducting the cost
of their living, and see II 1t isn't
astonishing.
After four years. experience Miss
Blythe is of the opinion that squad
raising is second to no other business.
provided 1t is conducted on common
sense principles. She advised not
to get confused over the great mass Of
highly colored literature '''at floods
tn: market to-day relative to this in
dustry, but to start in small way,
60 slowly and learn the business
Miss Blythe has not as yet gone very
extensively into the squad business,
although she is making preparations
to do so. She has been giving the
most OF her attention to the shipping
OF mated pairs as foundation stock
for other breeding lofts. Quite re-
Gently she made several shipments to
Colorado and Michigan. She has also
had inquiries about her birds from
old Mexico from reliable purchasers.
Here are a few of the necessary
things every beginner must heed II
he would be successful with pigeons:
Have suitable place prepared for
your birds in which to liberate them
on arrival. Possibly you have shed
or loft that with proper arrangement
will do nicely. There must be two
nests for each working pair, because
the mother often begins laying again
before the squads are out Of the nest.
A large shallow pan for bathing and
plenty of fresh water for drinking are
among the necessities. Keep their
quarters thoroughly clean and spray
with a good disinfectant every week.
Protect all windows with netting and
give them a chance for sun bath
and fresh air by erecting a large
sly" connected with their quarters.
The most important point of all is
the purchase of your foundation
stock. Buy of responsible dealers.
and buy only mated pairs; otherwise
you may get more males than
females, or vice versa. because there
is no sure way to tell the sexes apart
Even IL there were an equal number
of males and females they may never
make pairs. They may mate or they
may not.
When these birds mate 1t Is for
life, unless forced to separate. There
are no divorces in "Pigeon Loft"
The father bird takes his share Of the
labors of housekeeping with cheer
full spirit. He doesn't criticise his
mates dress or conduct. either. You
never hear him say. "My dear, I see
speck of dust on your left wing;
better 60 down to the pool and take
bath" On the contrary, about 8
o'clock any morning you may hear
him telling her that there is fine
lecture in pigeon English out in the
"fy," and as she darts off gracefully
he calls after her: "Stay as long as
you want to, dear; I'll keep the eggs
warm
There are doubtless still vast possi-
bilities awaiting development In the
pigeon industry. II our native pas
senger pigeon (the bird that once was
as the sands of the seas for numbers,
AMI which was as ruthlessly slaugh-
tered as the buffalo) were obtainable
for cross breeding purposes, what
might not be done in the way Of pro-
ducing new varieties? According to
the tales of early settlers these birds
were prolific beyond belief.
Pigeon breeding mas been engaged
in throughout Europe and Eastern
countries for centuries; at present 1t
is scarcely more than a pastime in
the United States. OF the three
hundred varieties of pigeons none has
the popular interest or value reached
by the carrier or homing breed. which
is trained to return to its home from
great distances, and Is utilized for
carrying messages. York Trib-
! une.