62 THE PRACTICAL PIGEON KEEPER. 



box here figured was smaller than usual, being made for six 

 Almond Tumblers ; it measured 20 x 9 X 7|^ inches, and weighed 

 only 4 lbs. 9 ozs. The cover is kept down by a buckled strap, 

 which must be fixed lengthwise to give any comfort in carrying. 

 For larger birds, such as Carriers, a different arrangement 

 would be better if the box is meant for hand-carriage to society 

 meetings, width being more awkward in carrying than length. 

 Instead of putting six birds across, we should prefer to arrange 

 a Carrier-box for four birds, arranged lengthwise as two pairs. 

 For railway use width is of less importance, and the plan 

 figured is simplest ; but it should not be forgotten to adjust 

 the height so that the box will go under the seat. 



A Scotch friend of ours strongly advises home-made papier- 

 mache for boxes, as both stronger and lighter than wood. 

 Those who wish to try this mode of manufacture should 

 dissolve one ounce of Scotch glue in twenty ounces of boiling 

 water, and the last thing before using stir into it, a little at a 

 time, twenty grains of chrome alum dissolved in ten ounces 

 more of hot water. This will entirely prevent the glae being 

 ever afieeted by damp, and keep the whole manufacture hard 

 and stiff; but no more must be prepared than can be used at a 

 time ; as when once cold and stiff, no amount of heat will 

 re-dissolve glue to which chrome alum has been thus added. 

 SuiScient sheets of any waste paper can be glued together 

 with glue thus prepared, and left to dry in a press. 



As a rule, baskets are however most used, and are on the 

 whole preferred by the most experienced exhibitors. They are 

 light, strong, and afford good ventilation. The square-made, 

 oblong butter-baskets do excellently, fitted up as follows. Line 

 the sides only with unbleached linen or calico. Across the 

 middle, a very little below the tops of the two longest sides, fix 

 a strip of wood about three-quarters of an inch wide and half an 

 inch deep, and stitch to the inside of the sides one straight parti- 

 tion of the linen. Stitch other partitions of the same material 



