212 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doe. 



laid on tamped cinder or crushed stone, the entire depth of the 

 foundation trench being three feet. 



The shed roof type of construction is used with nine foot studding 

 in front and four and one-half foot studding in back. All studding 

 and rafters are 2x4 hemlock or yellow pine. A 2x4 girder runs the 

 length of the building supporting the rafters and itself being sup- 

 ported every ten feet by 4x4 posts, resting on concrete piers. The 

 plates should be made 2x4 material doubled and joints broken. 



All outside walls and roof to be single boarded, preferably of 

 eight or six-inch tongued and grooved yellow pine; white pine can 

 be used, but is much more expensive. The roof and back wall should 

 be covered with a good roofing paper; all joints should be carefully 

 lapped and cemented. 



The muslin curtains in the front wall are hinged at the top and 

 can be lifted up. The 3x5 glass sash are hinged at the side and 

 open as indicated on the floor plan. One window in each pen should 

 be so constructed that part of the wall will open when desired, thus 

 making a combination door and window. This will greatly facilitate 

 cleaning and filling hoppers, etc., in an extremely long house. (This 

 general arrangements of openings was first recommended by Cornell 

 University). 



The dropping boards, perches, and nests are best arranged on the 

 back wall, the perches being hinged to the wall so that they may be 

 hooked up when cleaning, the nests being darkened by a hinged 

 door in front which may be let down when it is desired to remove 

 the eggs. 



The dividing partition between the units is built of board and 

 extends from the back wall to within six feet of the front wall; the 

 remaining space is left entirely open. This protects the birds from 

 any drafts when on the roosts. When desired portable light wire 

 partitions may be used to separate the units. A large dry mash 

 hopper should be built into this middle partition. If four or more 

 units are built, it is only necessary to have a hopper in the center 

 of each two units, the other dividing partition being utilized for 

 nesting space. This hopper should be on a general style with a 

 wooden cover at the center. There is an elevated platform under 

 the muslin front which provides room for the water fountain and 

 grit and shell hoppers. 



When the house is completed concrete floor should be laid, and 

 should consist of three distinct layers. First a layer of about six 

 to ten inches of cinders or coarse gravel tamped thoroughly to serve 

 for drainage purposes to keep the soil moisture away from the bot- 

 tom of the floor. Next a rough coat of concrete about four inches 

 thick, and over this a finished coat of two parts of sand to one of 

 cement, troweled smooth and rounded at tlie corners. Where there 

 is danger of much moisture coming up from below it is advisable to 

 put a layer of tarred building paper between the rough and finish 

 coat of cement. It should be nailed down with flat-headed nails, 

 and the heads of the latter should be left sticking out about one-quar- 

 ter of an inch to hold the top coat. 



Such a floor is moisture-proof, rat-proof, vermin-proof, and easily 

 and quickly cleaned. 



