EXERCISE I. NAIL BOX.

A nail box will be needed in connection with the woodworking exercise. The one shown in figure 18 is equipped with two compartments and a handle; it will be found convenient for use in the school and about the farm.

The material required is one-fourth pound of 8-penny finishing nails and a piece of lumber 1 by 6 inches by 8 feet 6 inches. This piece is cut with finished dimensions as follows:

Cut the pieces called for, allowing inch in width and inch in

length on each one; remember that finished dimensions are given above. Plane one of the surfaces of a side smooth and flat to form the working face and test it with a try square. When finished, mark it with a cross (x). Plane one of the edges square with the working face to form the working edge. Test with the try square. When finished, mark it with a check (V) to designate it as the working edge. Gauge for thickness by setting the

END VIEW

TOP VIEW

FRONT VIEW

FIG. 19.-Working drawing.

marking gauge at inch and marking a line from the working face along the edges. Plane the board down to this gauge line and square the side with the working edge. Gauge for width in the same way, measuring from the working edge. Square a pencil line across the working face and working edge near one end, saw the board just outside this line, and plane carefully to the line. Measure the finished length. Finish the other end of the piece in the same way. Follow the same plan in making the ends and bottom.

To assemble the frame, nail the sides to the end pieces, as shown in the drawing. Plane the edges if necessary to make them fit evenly. Fasten the bottom to the frame. To do this fit the bottom boards to 80746°-Bull. 527-17-2

the edges of the frame, test the corners with a try square to make sure the frame is square, and nail the bottom to the frame.

To make the handle, follow the same directions for squaring up the stock as given for the sides, ends, and bottom.

hole for the handle, as shown by the drawing.

Lay out lines for a
This hole is 1 inch

wide and 5 inches long and is placed 1 inch from the top and midway

from the ends of the piece. Cut out most of the wood from the hole with a chisel or a brace and bit, and with a knife or chisel carefully smooth to the lines and round the TOP BRACE handle. Place the

LEG

SADDLE

-251

-42"

42"

FIG. 20.-Saw horse.

玉

-20"

board that forms the handle in the proper place in the box and nail securely.

To make the partition pieces, square up the stock as previously directed for other pieces. Lay out the lines for shaping the top of the partition pieces, as shown in the drawing, either by hand or with a rule and compass. Cut out most of the wood with a saw, and trim with a knife to the line. Place the

partition pieces in the

box, as shown in the drawing, and nail in place.

Plane off any unevenness that is found, and the box is finished.

EXERCISE II. SAWHORSE.

A pair of sawhorses will be a convenience in making the woodworking articles. Explicit directions for making a very serviceable pair are given in this exercise. Figure 20 gives the necessary drawings.

The lumber required is one piece hard pine 2 by 4 inches by 5 feet, and two pieces white pine 1 by 4 by 16 inches. The lumber should be what is known as No. 1 common S4S. The abbreviations S4S and

S2S are used to designate lumber surfaced on four sides or two sides, respectively. The hardware required for the sawhorse is pound of 8-penny nails and 1 pound of 10-penny nails.

The bill of stock with finished dimensions and the use of the pieces are as follows:

Cut the pieces called for above, allowing inch in width and inch in length for the finishing. It is not necessary to trim the length to the exact measurement.

Next, lay out the saddle and the braces. In laying out the saddle first lay out the shoulder on the ends of the piece, as shown in the drawing. Saw out these shoulders, making them 24 inches wide at the top, 3 inches at the bottom, and 43 inches long. Smooth up the shoulders with a chisel. Lay out the top brace, making one edge 5 inches long and the other 7 inches long, then lay out the bottom brace, making it 15 inches on one edge and 173 inches on the other. Do not cut off the ends until you assemble the parts.

The next step is to assemble the parts. Nail the legs on the beveled shoulders of the saddle. Have the inside edges of the pieces even with the top of the saddle. The outside corners will be sawed off later.

Use 10-penny nails, driving them partly in. Measure 25 inches from the top end and square a line across the face or the edge of the piece. This is the length of the legs. Tack a strip of board across the bottom of the legs to hold them 20 inches apart. Try the top braces to see if they fit. If they do, saw off the ends and nail them in place, using 8-penny nails. If they do not, square them up to fit. Fit the bottom braces in place in the same manner. Saw off the outside corners of the top of the legs and plane them even with the surface of the saddle. Saw off the lower ends of the legs to make the horse stand firmly on the floor.

EXERCISE III. BIRD HOUSE.

The study of birds is an important phase of agricultural work. Birds are the farmers' friends; they destroy insects and weed seeds. In addition, their presence about the farm home helps to make the surroundings attractive. In order that birds may be provided with shelter, houses for them should be built and placed near the school buildings and homes. Figure 21 shows an attractive and easily constructed bird house.

The material required for this house is one piece of clear white pine by 6 inches by 6 feet, S4S, and a small quantity of 1-inch brads or shingle nails. Often a box can be found that will contain enough-inch pieces to make the house. Take the box apart carefully to avoid splitting the wood.

The bill of stock with finished dimensions and the use of the pieces are as follows:

by 41 by 10.

SIDES

2 PIECES OF ROOF

1-4"x10"
1-4×10"

7"

FRONT VIEW

-10"SIDE VIEW FIG. 21.-Bird house.

the hole below the door. The bird alights

Cut and square up the pieces according to the dimensions given above, bevel the sides as shown in the drawings, lay out the door and perch pin hole on one end, as shown in the drawing, bore a -inch hole for the perch pin, bore -inch holes along the inner side of the line laid out for the door, trim to the lines with a knife, lay out and cut the end boards to the proper slant for the roof.

In assembling the parts, nail the sides to the end pieces, using the 1-inch brads or shingle nails, nail bottom to frame, nail on roof boards, whittle a perch pin inch in diameter and 2 inches long and wedge it in on this pin before en

tering the door. Paint the bird house; a dark green or a brown is a good color.

NOTE TO TEACHER.-This exercise may be correlated with drawing, language, or geography, as well as agriculture. Have the pupils make a drawing of the house to scale. Let them design and build other types of houses and put them up at home and about the school yard. See list of references given, especially Farmers' Bulletin 609. Language-lesson topics that may be used are: Birds, the Farmers' Friends, Food of Birds, Nature Study and Birds, and Where Birds Migrate. As a geography lesson have the pupils locate the States to which the birds migrate and study the climatic conditions of these States. As lessons in agriculture make studies of the feeding habits of birds and learn what weed seeds and insects are eaten by birds. Learn methods of keeping crows from taking freshly planted corn.

List of U. S. Department of Agriculture publications on birds.

DEPARTMENT BULLETINS.

No. 107. Birds in Relation to Alfalfa Weevil.

128. Distribution and Migration of North American Rails and Their Allies. 171. Food of Robins and Bluebirds of United States

185. Bird Migration.

187. Preliminary Census of Birds of United States.

205. Eleven Important Wild Duck Foods.

217. Mortality Among Waterfowl Around Great Salt Lake, Utah.

280. Food Habits of the Thrushes of the United States.

292. Distribution and Migration of North American Gulls and Their Allies.

FARMERS' BULLETINS.

No. 493. The English Sparrow as a Pest.

497. Some Common Game, Aquatic, and Rapacious Birds in Relation to Man. 506. Food of Some Well-known Birds of Forest, Farm, and Garden.

609. Bird Houses and How to Build Them.

628. Game Laws for 1914.

621. How to Attract Birds in Northeastern United States.

630. Some Common Birds Useful to the Farmer.

YEARBOOK SEPARATE.

No. 620. American Thrushes Valuable Bird Neighbors.

642. Shore Birds and Their Future.

BIOLOGICAL SURVEY CIRCULAR.

No. 94. Directory of Officials and Organizations Concerned with Protection of Birds and Game. 1913.

EXERCISE IV. SEED GERMINATOR.

In figure 22 is shown a type of seed germinator that is very convenient for testing seed corn. The box is divided into squares by broom wire or cord. Sand or soil is placed in the box, and the kernels are planted in the squares. The rows of squares are numbered one way of the box and lettered the other way. Each square can then be designated by a number and a letter in the same manner as cities and countries are often designated on maps. For example, the upper left hand square is A 1, the upper right hand one, A 10. When corn is to be tested, the ear from which a group of kernels is taken is designated by the same letter and number as the square in which it is planted.