128 



Popular Science Monthly 



Building an Artistic Bird -House 

 For the Garden 



THE design as shown by the drawing is 

 an attempt to carry out a pergola 

 effect. The general dimensions are II ft. 

 6 in. from center to center of round columns. 

 From the ground to the under side of upper 

 beam is 12 ft. The diameter of columns at 

 base is 1 ft. 5 in., at the top 1 ft. 3 in. 

 The general di- 

 mensions can 

 be changed to 

 suit the partic- 

 ular fancy of 

 the amateur 

 builder, but 

 for satisfaction 

 and to avoid 

 mistakes they 

 ought to be car- 

 ried out as 

 shown. The 

 columns are of 

 wood of built- 

 up construc- 

 tion, and set in 

 the ground not 

 less than 6 ft. 

 That portion in 

 the ground 

 and 6 in. above 

 ground line is 

 thoroughly 

 coated with tar, 

 both inside and 

 outside. The 

 inside of each 

 column, partic- 

 ularly the lower 

 portion, is re- 

 inforced. 



It adds much 

 to the stability 

 if that portion 



A very neat design for several bird-houses set on the cross 

 beam of a structure resembling a pergola over a walk 



of the columns below ground line is in 

 concrete. At the ground line base of the 

 column there is a concrete finish, octagonal 

 in form and about 7 in. high, and on the 

 four sides there is a square block 6 in. high. 

 The edges are slightly rounded. All are 

 built of cement or stone, with suitable 

 foundation. The columns, beams, and other 

 woodwork are of cypress. The column cap 

 is square. On top of each column cap is a 

 wood beam or bracket 4 ft. long, 1 ft. 3 in. 

 wide and 10 in. thick. The ends are shaped 

 as shown. This short beam or bracket is of 

 built-up construction and is laid trans- 



versely to the long beam above. On top 

 of these two wood beams, a longitudinal 

 beam is securely set in place. This beam* 

 is 17 ft. long, 1 ft. 3 in. wide and 1 ft. 1 in. 

 thick, and is of built-up or box construction. 

 The ends are shaped as shown. The top of 

 this beam slopes from the center to each 

 side. The slope is about Y% in. The top is 

 covered with tin, painted on each side. 

 There are sixteen separate compartments 

 or rooms on 

 each side of the 

 beam, also six 

 more on top of 

 the beam in the 

 gables. There 

 is a wood parti- 

 tion dividing 

 the front and 

 the rear, also 

 cross - pieces, 

 giving each 

 compartment 

 about 6 in. by 

 6 in. floor space. 

 The height is 

 the height of 

 the inside of 

 beams, or the 

 gabled roofs as 

 the case may 

 be. 



Each com- 

 partment has 

 an opening 

 with semi- 

 circular top. 

 From the floor 

 to the base of 

 circle it is 2^ 

 i n. high; the 

 width is 2 in. 

 The opening is 

 splayed on the 

 inside, to carry 

 out the drippings during rain storms. 



Outside of each opening is a latticed shelf 

 or ledge 6 in. wide with a 9 in. projection. 

 On top of the beam there are gables. Each 

 gable has two compartments, built in detail 

 the same as specified for the lower compart- 

 ments. The roof of gables is covered with 

 tin. On top of this tin there is wood tile. 

 This tile is thoroughly painted in red and 

 thoroughly sanded. 



The openings at each end of the beam 

 have a small slanting roof. The cross beam 

 extending from column to column is made 

 removable. 



