PRACTICAL BOOK OF GARDEN ARCHITECTURE 



manner that the birds can pick off small particles 

 without displacing the whole. When a deciduous 

 tree is chosen for the food table, the antics of the 

 eager birds may be plainly watched during the 

 winter feeding, and the object lesson is clearly taught 

 to passers-by who stop to admire this practical and 

 beneficial form of garden decoration. 



The "food house" in its evolution has assumed 

 many interesting forms, all more or less decorative. 

 Its usual position is standing rather high on a band- 

 or wire-protected pole or post. An overhanging roof 

 of thatch or bark or slender ornamental branches, 

 on the rain-proof foundation, may be varied ac- 

 cording to the taste of the garden craftsman, or 

 may be in keeping with the roofing of tea rooms and 

 summer-houses. These feeding places sometimes 

 have the appearance of elaborate bird houses, but 

 closer inspection shows that they are simply big, 

 square platforms, arranged one above another, to 

 hold the different varieties of food, with a generous 

 roof to shelter the whole. 



For extremely decorative food houses, stately 

 pillars support the different platforms and the roof. 

 The round white columns are in Colonial form, and 

 the platforms are finished with a bit of upright mold- 

 ing surrounding the edge, to keep the food in place. 

 The roofs are also of simple Colonial design. For 



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