312 FARMING FOR LADIES. [chap. xv. 



of whatever size you please, at the mere ex- 

 pense of putting up the boarding, and may 

 be provided with a door, communicating with 

 the loft, for the convenience of cleansing ; 

 which is of such importance that whole coveys 

 have deserted their cotes where that has been 

 neglected. This can also be more easily at- 

 tended to when thus placed, than in any 

 small cote which can only be reached by a 

 ladder. If large and lofty enough, it is a 

 good plan to place a sort of table in the 

 centre of the cote for the young squeakers 

 to fly upon ; and underneath, on both sides, 

 nests may be made of laths, allowing room 

 enough for the stock to run about : the nests 

 being in every case large enough to admit of 

 two rooms — one for the young squabs, and 

 the other for the old hen ; as she makes pre- 

 paration for a new brood before the last are 

 fledged. 



The loft may also be provided with a small 

 trap — moved by a pivot to open and shut at 

 will — in the roof of the cote, over which an 

 enclosure may be made with laths for airing 

 the squeakers before they are properly able 

 to fly, as well as for confining pigeons which 



