Furniture 99 



to wander over, and, if they are covered with 

 sifted hard-coal ashes, they give a valuable addi- 

 tion to the daily bill of fare. 



The weight of the argument is greatly in favor 

 of dropping boards. Put them high enough from 

 the floor so you can get tmdemeath for fowls and 

 eggs when you need to. Three feet is enough. 

 The simplest way to support them is to nail a 

 piece of board, about three feet long to the ends 

 of the house, starting close to the back. In the 

 center, a post of two-by-four, three feet and ten 

 inches high, may be stood, three feet from the 

 back wall. Then strips of scantling can be nailed, 

 one at the top, and one three feet from the floor, 

 reaching horizontally to the back wall, one sup- 

 porting the middle of the dropping boards, and 

 the other the roosts. 



Upon these supports the dropping boards, three 

 feet wide, may be nailed. Shove them close to 

 the back of the house, so they fit snug. They 

 must be tongued and grooved, or be planed to fit 

 without a crack. 



Roosts. — The. roosts go about ten inches above 

 the dropping boards. They may be two-by-four, 

 two-by-two, or even of scantling, unless it is frail. 



