26 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



rafters are 2 by 4 hemlock or yellow pine. A 2 by 6 girder 

 runs the length of the building supporting the rafters on con- 

 crete piers. The plates should be of 2 by 4 material doubled 

 and joints broken. 



All outside walls and roof should be single boarded, prefer- 

 ably of 8 or 6-inch tongued and grooved yellow pine; white 

 pine can be used, but is much more expensive. The roof and 

 back wall should be covered with a good roofing paper; all 

 joints should be carefully lapped and cemented. 



The muslin curtains in the front wall are hinged at the top 

 and can be lifted up. The 3 by 5 glass is hinged at the side 

 and open. One window in each pen should be so constructed 

 that part of the wall will open when desired, thus making a 

 combination door and window. This will greatly facilitate 

 cleaning and filling hoppers, etc., in an extremely long house. 



The dropping boards, perches and nests are best arranged 

 on the back wall, the perches being hinged to the wall so that 

 they may be hooked up when cleaning, the nests being darkened 

 by a hinged door in front which may be let down when it is 

 desired to remove the eggs. 



The dividing partition between the units is built of boards, 

 and extends from the back wall to within 6 feet of the front 

 wall; the remaining space is left entirely open. This protects 

 the birds from any drafts when on the roosts. When desired, 

 portable light wire partitions may be used to separate the 

 units. A large dry mash hopper should be built into this 

 middle partition. If four or five units are built, it is only 

 necessary to have a hopper in the center of each two units, 

 the other dividing partition being utilized for nesting space. 

 This hopper should be constructed with a wooden cover hing- 

 ing at the center. There is a slatted elevated platform under 

 the muslin front which provides room for the water fountain 

 and grit and shell hoppers. 



When the house is completed, a concrete floor should be 

 laid, and should consist of three distinct layers. First comes 

 a layer of about 6 to 10 inches of cinders or coarse gravel 

 tamped thoroughly to serve for drainage purposes, to keep 

 the soil moisture away from the bottom of the floor. Next 

 comes a rough coat of concrete about 4 inches thick, and over 



