310 FARMING FOR LADIES. [chap. xt. ' 



a circular shape, divided into three floors for 

 separate nests, and which may be conve- 

 niently made out of a beer-hogshead, is as 

 good as any for a small number ; besides of- 

 fering a pleasing object from the garden, and 

 an excellent poirit-de-vue for the pigeons : or 

 those erected over the Queen's poultry-house 

 at Windsor, and the rabbitry at Swanscombe, 

 as depicted in the following Chapter. We, 

 however, prefer them to be somewhat more 

 roomy, as affording more convenience for 

 cleaning them : the pigeons, though dislik- 

 ing foul air, being yet far from cleanly in 

 their nfests. We are, indeed, aware that 

 many of those small pigeon-houses which do 

 not admit of personal inspection, are only 

 occasionally cleaned, perhaps once in three 

 months, by having the floor scraped with a 

 hoe which is thrust through the hole, and that 

 nests are in these seldom provided, and yet 

 that the birds are there generally healthy. 



In putting up the dove-cot, it should be 

 observed that, if of a square form, the south- 

 west aspect is the best front ; but, whether 

 round or square, it should have a pent-house 

 roof, to guard it fi-om the rain, and a broad 



