230 MAKING OF A FLOWER GARDEN 



length of the inside width of the box must be cut and 

 a slit sawed half way through the middle and a cor- 

 responding slit through the lengthwise piece. This 

 allows the two pieces to fit together, dividing the box 

 into four compartments. The lid should then be 

 nailed in place and an inch hole bored with an auger 

 near the lower right hand comer of each compart- 

 ment. Two of these may be on the front and one on 

 each side of the box, so that one entrance need not 

 be directly over another. Under each opening bore 

 another small one and fit in this a peg for a lighting 

 perch. Each compartment should be large enough 

 for the bird to enter and turn around, as the hen 

 always sits facing the opening when brooding her 

 eggs and fledglings ; this makes for convenience when 

 being fed by her mate. 



A roof that will shed water is more desirable than 

 a flat surface and this may easily be fashioned by 

 cutting two three-cornered or triangular pieces for 

 front and back and nailing them in place and attach- 

 ing straight sides to these to form the slanting roof. 

 Very presentable houses may be constructed in this 

 simple way if a little attention is given to detail in 

 painting. Green makes a good foundation color for 

 box and roof, and the triangular pieces may be striped 

 in green and white with white for the perches. Larger 

 boxes for martins may be made in the same way, mak- 



