FOUNTAINS AND SHRUBS 261 



Pans for fountains. Simple and effective bird- 

 baths may be made of almost any shallow recep- 

 tacle, such as large flower-pot saucers, pans of vari- 

 ous kinds, wash-boiler covers, etc. Sand and gravel 

 should be placed in these so as to give a range in 

 depth of water from a half-inch or less at the edge to 

 about three inches in the center; or shelving rocks 

 may be placed in the basin; these would render easier 

 the change of water, which should be renewed each 

 day, and would furnish a better standing-place for 

 the birds than the smooth edge of the pan. The 

 pan may be fastened in a crotch of a tree, or placed 

 on a post or window-sill, high enough to be out of 

 the reach of cats. It is preferable to place it where it 

 will be partially shaded to prevent the water from 

 becoming warm. 



Concrete fountains on the lawn. One of the most 

 satisfactory types of fountain is one made of con- 

 crete sunk in the ground. To make this, a hole 

 about three feet across is dug out, gradually sloping 

 from the edge to a depth of five or six inches in the 

 middle. This is plastered over with a mixture of 

 Portland cement and sand, in the proportion of one 

 to four, thick enough to leave the center about three 

 inches deep and to slope gradually from there to the 

 edge. If the water leaks through too rapidly, another 

 thin coating may be placed over this, made by mix- 

 ing about equal parts of sand and cement. 



This may be located near shrubbery where it will 



