58 'AVIARIES, BIRD-ROOMS AND CAGES. 



When we board 

 the front, \ve only 

 carry the boards up to 

 half the thickness of 

 the bar marked B, and 

 finish it off by fasten- 

 ing a length "of bead 

 along, called nosing. 



Fig. 34. Section of Sash-bar, and 



_ , . (b) section of nosing. 



This gives a finish to the front, and prevents the rain 

 soaking into the wood and rotting it; or instead of the 

 nosing, we can plane a strip of wood, as shown in 

 F 'g- 34, B. 



In boarding the end we must be careful to cut the 

 sloping top correctly. To do this, it is best to make 

 a template ; that is, a very short piece of the wood cut 

 to fix exactly, and this can be used when marking the 

 lengths intended to be nailed up. If the wood is 

 thoroughly dry, as it should be, it will be a compara- 

 tively easy matter to get the boards tightly together. 

 If it is not dry we shall get wide openings between when 

 the sun and wind thoroughly dry them. In the early 

 spring months, just at the time when we want our house 

 to be snug and warm it will then be just the reverse. 



MAKING THE FLOOR. 



We should now decide about our floor. If we are 

 to have cement, we must first ram the earth down tightly 

 and get it fairly level. We ought to have two or three 

 inches of rough concrete first, and then finish it off with 

 an inch of fine, say one part cement to two parts sharp 

 sand. This should be thoroughly mixed with dry, and 

 then have enough water added to wet it all, but not to 

 make it sloppy. It should be finished off smoothly, and 

 be allowed a day or two to dry; even then it will be 

 advisable to place some rough boards over it for a time, 

 until it thoroughly hardens. This makes a splendid 

 floor of practically everlasting wear, and one which can 

 easily be cleaned with a mop and a pail of water. 



The rough concrete can be made by mixing ballast, 

 rough stones,^ or broken brick rubbish, with cement 

 four or six parts of rubbish to one of pure cement. It 

 should be left rough for a day or two, to set, before 

 finishing off with the layer of finer concrete. 



