BIRD BASINS AND FEEDING TABLES 



tarian devices followed with little difficulty. Beauty 

 of form may also be closely followed, although it 

 may be unwise to attempt to copy in concrete the 

 decorative carvings and inscriptions. Experts in 

 wood carving will find a delightful field of experi- 

 mental work in contriving beautifully executed ped- 

 estals and fountain bowls, with an interior basin of 

 concrete or stone-ware. When kept well painted, 

 the woodwork will last indefinitely. Tall rustic 

 pedestals, of curious forms, supporting rustic and 

 bark-covered basins, are equally desirable. 



For the low basins, to stand on the ground in some 

 sheltered garden retreat (with the necessary wire 

 enclosure), concrete may be used in many pleasing 

 forms. One of the most interesting that has come to 

 my notice is a very wide and comparatively flat or 

 shallow basin that was molded in an old wash-tub. 

 A heavy clay mud was first packed in the bottom of 

 the tub, only an inch deep in the centre, and gradu- 

 ally sloping up nearly to reach the top of the tub at 

 the outer edge. When the stiff, firm clay was well 

 packed down, sand was sprinkled over it. Then a con- 

 crete mixture was made of equal parts of sand and 

 cement, with about one-fourth the quantity of gravel. 

 This was thoroughly mixed with sufficient water to 

 make a heavy plaster, and poured into the tub. An 

 iron pipe was set in the centre of the cement, push- 



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