24 Early Experiences. 



MATERIALS. 



Wire Netting: Fr)r I'^jiichcs, Waxbills, etc., tliis must 

 be ot lialf-inrl) mrsh, this i \ ustially sto-^ked in widths of one, 

 one and :< hall, two, three and four feet. S e that you get 

 half-inch nicsh as homc makers' half-inch is fully fis'e eighths 

 of an inch in the mesh. If a quantity is required it is best 

 to order it direc't from tlie maker, and six fe"t wide. Vou can 

 so obtain it in 23 or 50 yard rolls. 



Framing: For this the required quani'y o'' 2in. x 2in. 

 and 2in. x lin. spruce must be obtni'ied. 



Shed-walls: Doubh.^ boards w'th felt between of ei'^ber 

 half-inch matchboarding or unpliir.ei spruce boards of same 

 thickness. ' ' 



Stakes foi- frame uprights and in ernal standards (roof 

 supports) ; chestnut is the be st wood for these as it lasts well, 

 when in the ground. The^e can be cheaply procured froin 

 any inaker of garden rustic-work, pergolas, etc., and shoidd be 

 about four inches in diameter. 



Corrugated iron sheets: If these are u-e:! !'or founda- 

 tions, such can often be purchased from the lo al builder, 

 second-hand, very cheaply. 



All wood to go into the gron id must first receive three 

 coats of creoso e or the port'oi o stakes, etc, b?'ow ground 

 level be soaked in it for not less than twenty-four hours. 



Well, having constilted the " powers that be " and 

 chosen the site, which should have a S. or S.^^^ aspect, the 

 next step is its preparation. First comes the foundation — vermin 

 must be considered, if rats have ever been seen or heard of in 

 your vicinity provision must be made to keep them out. This 

 is not a difficult task ; first dig a trench two feet deep all 

 round the site, and put in wire netting, or better still cor- 

 rugated iron sheets, fi'.l in the trench, not forgetting to rani the 

 soil down firmly ; the netting or corrugated iron sheets must 

 stand at least 3in. or 4in. above the ground level. The 

 next step is to obtain some stakes, chestnut arc best; these 

 should be not less than four inches in diameter, and of a 

 height sufhcient to allow at least a foot above the head of an 



