Club Minutes: Sandy Spring Pigeon Club, 1910-1913

As their first business, they were instructed to arrange for a special meeting, to which a visiting pigeon keeper was to be invited to speak.

Papers by Stanley Wetherald and Wm. Cook extended to next meeting; paper assigned to Robt. Wetherald. Adjourned to Edward Snowdens.

8. May 27, 1910.

After adjourning from Shoemaker's, May 13th, we met at the home of Edward Snowden. Owing to the tardiness of the secretary, the questions were first taken up. The two most important were two that are often repeated but concerning which then is frequent differences of opinion, "What to feed in summer?" and "Is crushed corn desirable for this purpose". Rather mow wheat than corn, and crushed corn only when fresh was the prevailing opinion. Our guest, [Sand?] Thomas asked what kind of birds to keep. The majority recommended [straight?] Homers, Carneau if you can afford them. The secretary was then instructed to prepare minutes of future meetings, and read the same as a part of the regular order of business, Stanley Wetherald reported the National Association of Boy Pigeon Papers as consisting of twenty members and that we might join as individuals but

not as a club. Reuben Brigham then followed with a talk on "The First [wick?] of a Pigeon in the Egg" and illustrated it with [miubaled?] hen eggs. Wm. Cook failed to present his paper and Jack Bentley's paper on "Parlor Tumblers" was postponed. Papers were assigned to Harold and Douglas Gilpin. The club then adjourned at an early hour and spent the rest of a very pleasant evening finding out, "who built the Ark".

9. June 10, 1910.

We adjourned from Edward Snowdens, May 27th, and met at Wetheralds. Altho a very nasty night, members turned out in full strength, together with me visits, Francis Miller, further proof of the saying, "It's always fair weather, when good fellows get together." The minutes of the last meeting were read and approved. The case of Wm. Cook, who it seems has failed to live up to his opportunities as a member, was taken up and a committee appointed to interview him and report at the next meeting.

The committee on the show had no special report but an unofficial [?] to join the [H?] [?] was discussed. The secretary was directed to [sew?] and appointed for the committee with Mr Hicks of [Rockville?].

After considerable discussion, a more [parts?] factory

arrangement for regulating the use of the corn grinder, was agreed upon. Each investor is to have charge of the machine two weeks at a time and to be responsible for the same during that time. The list is to be in alphabetical order; Jack Bentley to have it until June 24th.

Two interesting papers, on "How To Prepare Squabs For Market" and "How To Sell Them" were read by Harold and Douglas Gilpin.

Questions;

Can squabs of the same age be [gotten?] in large numbers by [hasking?] up the old birds and starting them even? Must think not; too much difference in breeding speed.

Will it harm to use [white] wash containing carbolic acid on the nest? Probably not

What is not likely to get from a blue cock and a red hen? The young are likely to be most any color according to their ancestors.

Which would you feed to keep pigeons in good conditions, hemp seed or [heffies] corn? Hemp seed and [heffies] corn have two different uses; hemp seed should be fed sparingly as a [toxic?] [heffies] corn is to be used like corn and wheat for variety. We think hemp seed is the feed for keeping birds fit.

What prices have club members gotten for squabs? About 40 to 604 @ pair; better [prices?] for larger birds.

The secretary read two selections from the Pigeon News, one, " [?] to tell the sixes apart" and the other, an account of a mammoth pigeon farm in California, which sounded much like an advertising scheme and the moral of which was, "Ask Johnson; He [knows?] "nothing like that on my family tree," says [ Curt? ], but who knows "mighty oaks from little acorns grow."

Papers for next time assigned to Edward Janney and Prior Johnson. Adjourned to meet at Gilpins, June. 24th

10. June 24, 1910

Adjourned from Wetheralds June 10th and met at Gilpins. In the absence of the secretary, Stanley Wetherald was appointed. Reading of minutes was followed by a communication from the secretary addressed to and read by Pres. Bentley. He recommended that owing to a complaint on the part of parents, the club should make it a point to [tuck?] up their social gathering at an earlier hour. He requested to be relieved of his office, owing to the fact

it was frequently difficult for him to arrive at the meetings promptly, necessitating a change in the order of business.

The club voted to relieve the secretary of the duties of treasures, Robert Wetherald being elected to that office. Notice was ordered sent to the secretary requesting that he continue for the present to fill his position with the understanding that the club make allowance for necessary tardiness

Edward Janney read a paper on, "The Raising of Squabs For Breeders. " Prior Johnson asked that his paper be post poned until a later date.

Questions new as follows. How much sand should be uses in the floor of the pigeon home? Three or four inches.

Is a lite roof too hot to have a fly pen on? Yes, but not if boards or dirt cover it.

Is it safe to mate first cousins together ? Yes.

Are club members raising their squabs for market or for breeders? For breeders because they do not [ ? ] [? ] at present.

Paper assigned for next meeting, "The Squab; From The Egg to First Weeks, " at Shoemaker; "Farm First Weeks & Six Months" - Geo. Marshall. To have charge of corn grinder, Reuben Brigham. Adjourned to Jack Bentleys July 8th.