42 THE HOME. POUETRY BOOK 
of scantling nailed to the wall at each end will sup- 
port them. Some amateurs have adopted the plan 
of supporting the dropping boards on wooden horses, 
so that the wall may be kept free even of braces, 
thus lessening the number of cracks in which in- 
sects can hide. 
Other poultry keepers have abandoned dropping 
boards entirely, but set a board upright in the floor 
to confine the droppings to the rear of the house. 
Practical poultry keepers find that this plan greatly 
lightens the labor as there are no dropping boards to 
clean, and that by keeping a little earth, peat or 
old litter under the perches, there is no trouble from 
odors if the accumulation is removed every month 
or two. Probably the average amateur will con- 
sider it neater to use dropping boards and he can 
perhaps handle the manure to better advantage. 
Still, they have no place in some of the portable 
houses now being exploited as especially adapted 
to the needs of the amateur. If boards are used, 
coal ashes, peat or dry earth should be dusted over 
them to act as an absorbent. Wood ashes should 
not be used if it is desired to retain the fertilizing 
qualities of the manure. 
Nests twelve inches square and as high are sery- 
