. Circular. Agriculture. bark will not usually peel much earlier than June 20, and then only for a short time. When the tree had been cut down, the trunk was sawed into sections from 10 to 18 inches long, ac- cording to the size of the boxes desired. Only straight sections, free from knots or branches, were used. A limb of the right size, however, may, when cut off, leave a hole in the bark that can be utilized as an entrance for the birds. These domiciles may be made as follows: an incision is made on the side intended for the back of the box, through both outer and inner bark, from the top t
. Circular. Agriculture. bark will not usually peel much earlier than June 20, and then only for a short time. When the tree had been cut down, the trunk was sawed into sections from 10 to 18 inches long, ac- cording to the size of the boxes desired. Only straight sections, free from knots or branches, were used. A limb of the right size, however, may, when cut off, leave a hole in the bark that can be utilized as an entrance for the birds. These domiciles may be made as follows: an incision is made on the side intended for the back of the box, through both outer and inner bark, from the top to the bottom of each section; then, on the opposite side, some two or three inches from the top, there is bored through the bark, with an auger or extension bit, a hole of Fig. 3.—chestnut the size desired for the entrance. If such tools are not at hand, the aperture may be cut with a gouge, a chisel, or even a knife. Next insert a wedge-shaped stick into the incision at the back and under the inner bark, to start it off, and with this implement peel it very carefully. In peeling birch one should be careful not to separate the inner and outer layers of the bark. Caution should be used when work- ing about knots or rough places. The bark will make the sides of the box, and two sections, each an inch thick, sawed from the ends of the barked log, will make the top and bottom. Now the bark is tacked to the bottom and top. The bark will draw apart somewhat at the back in drying, but this aperture may be covered, when the box is put up, by nailing or screwing a short stick or pole over the opening on the back, which stick in turn may Fig. 4.—Birch- be nailed or screwed to the supporting tree, build- ing or pole. To make the roof watertight, a piece of cotton cloth, ^uck or denim may be put on, tacked down over the edge and painted, or a piece of roofing paper may be used. A more permanent covering may be made by using a piece of tin or zinc, as shown in the figure of the chestnut
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, booksubjectagriculture, bookyear
