summer if a row of shade trees be planted in front of them. 

 They will also be advantageous in keeping the drinking water 

 cool, for the sun's rays soon make water warm and unfit for the 

 birds to drink in a very short time. 



Neatness of a building costs but little, so I would advise 

 having them whitewashed at least every spring. 



Breeding Lofts. 



The building should be built in such a way that an exten- 

 sion could be added if needed. I will give the reader an idea 

 how to construct a building 32 feet in length, 10 feet in width, 

 7 feet high in the rear and 9 feet high in front. Sixteen-foot 

 boards should be used, so as not to allow much waste. This 

 building can be extended any desired length. The illustrations 

 on opposite and following pages give a view of houses, each 

 of which are almost 100 feet in length. For making the frame- 

 work 3x4 hemlock scantling should be used, and for the joists 

 and rafters 2x4 will answer. Both rafters and joists should not 

 be over 2 feet apart. The sides of the building and ends should 

 be stripped with wide laths (upon the outside) to prevent cold 

 and draughts to enter in winter. The roof, should be of hemlock 

 boards a foot wide, over which tack three-ply felt roofing. This 

 sort of roofing will last many years under favorable conditions, 

 and it should be tarred with slag cement (a preparation espe- 

 cially prepared for it) once or twice a year. I find this roof far 

 better than slate, which is entirely too heatening in summer. 

 Slate retains the heat much longer than felt. Shingles, if they 

 are preferred, can be used and answer far better than either of 

 the above, but the cost is somewhat of a hindrance. An opening 

 should be left in the front and back of each pen, near the roof, 

 to allow ventilation; in fact, between each rafter is better, for 

 this will allow the heat which accumulates in summer to be 

 carried off. In winter these openings should all be closed up. 

 Very little ventilation is needed in winter. In each pen a win- 

 dow at least 2x3 should be put midway from the floor to the 

 roof. A double sash will be found better, although one is suffi- 

 cient. These windows should be made so as to be easilj- "slid 

 back when required on the inside. Some every large squab 

 raisers have an attachment arranged to their windows, so that 

 by simply turning a crank all are opened or closed at the same 



