The diet for a pigeon should include legumes (peas and vetch), seeds, cereal grains, green foods, and grit. The seeds and grains are fed as an ordinary diet in the form of a feed mixture, but grit is fed separately. Feed must be of a specific grade and mixture to assure the pigeon of proper growth, a generally healthy condition, and enough energy to endure the hardships of messenger flights. Pigeon feed, which is a perishable item, must be grown under prescribed conditions from the finest quality seed, harvested, cleaned, stored, and then mixed when required. When harvested, grain or seed is likely to contain many impurities like chaff, weed seeds, weevils, or other injurious insects, kernels which are dead or damaged, and excessive moisture. Practically all of these impurities must be removed before the feed is suitable for use. Mixing must be accomplished under conditions that will insure uniformity. The word “feed” as used below will refer to either mixed feed, grain, or seeds, as applicable. A single grain or seed will be referred to as a “kernel.” _a._ SUITABLE FEED. Feed should— (1) Be sound and have a natural odor, without traces of sour, musty, or foreign odors. (2) Be well matured and of good natural color, without a noticeable amount of dead or damaged kernels. (3) Be free of dirt, dust, or foreign material, beyond a slight trace. (4) Be free from live weevils or other insects and the defects caused by them. (5) Be free-flowing, without traces of webbyness. (6) Not contain excessive moisture as determined by the field test described in _b_ (5) below. _b._ DEFECTIVE PIGEON FEED. Defects in feed can be recognized by smell, visual inspection, or laboratory test. Feed is unsuitable for use if it has any of the following defects: (1) _Unsound._ This condition may be detected by a sour or musty odor or by an “off color” appearance. (2) _Foreign materials._ Chaff, dirt, dust, stones, etc., can be detected by visual inspection. (3) _Webbyness._ When feed has been, or is infected, with injurious insects it is likely to be webby. The feed will cling together in small balls by webs similar to cobwebs. It may also have an objectionable odor. (4) _Dead or damaged kernels._ Kernels that have sprouted, been bored by insects, or are discolored as a result of frost, fermentation, or immaturity, can be detected by a visual inspection.