10 



RELATION OF BIRDS TO COTTON BOLL WEEVIL. 



represent the open lower half of windows. A martin box may con- 

 tain almost any desired number of rooms, though boxes with 10 to 20 

 rooms, placed at intervals about the fields or close to the farm labor- 

 ers' houses, would seem to best meet the requirements of the situation. 

 The rooms should be about 5 inches wide, 7 inches high, and 8 inches 

 deep, with entrance holes 2 J- or 3 inches in diameter. There should 

 be only one entrance to each room. A shelf bordered by a railing 

 should be placed beneath each doorway, in order to prevent the young 

 from falling to the ground when they venture out of the compart- 

 ment. Small holes in the shelf 

 will prevent water from running 

 into the doorways. A hole in 

 each gable near the roof should 

 be provided for ventilation. 



Mr. J. Warren Jacobs advises 

 that all exposed portions of the 

 houses be constructed of poplar, 

 with the bottom of f-inch oak. 

 His method of attaching the 

 house to the pole is by means of 

 four angle-irons screwed to the 

 bottom of the box and to the sides 

 of the pole. The pole should be 

 at least 15 feet high, as the birds, 

 through fear of cats, will not nest 

 near the ground. If desired, the 

 pole may be provided with a 

 hinge near the ground or be fitted 

 into a socket in the ground, so 

 that the house can readily be 

 taken down. 



Mr. E. H. Forbush recommends 

 the use of flour barrels for martin 

 houses as being at once cheap and 

 easily obtained. These, if kept painted and properly roofed, he says, 

 will last for years. In fitting up the interior of the barrel a square 

 box should be inserted in the center to furnish a back for the indi- 

 vidual rooms. Large cigar boxes or tin cans may be utilized for the 

 rooms, screwing them to the central box and connecting with the 

 entrance holes by strips of tin or Avood. The pole may pass through 

 the center of the barrel and the roof may be constructed of zinc, sheet 

 iron, or painted canvas. 



The accompanying illustrations show several styles of martin boxes, 

 and other forms will readily suggest themselves. 



Fig. 1 



rimmental martin house. 



