The simplest of these projects are the bird feeders, bird houses, and shelters. They may be built of scrap lumber if you wish, requiring but little initial skill in construction in order to complete them. But if the novice perseveres and does the work carefully, step by step, he will find that many of the principles and practices he uses will train him for more ambitious projects.

The plant-stands and outdoor shelves for summering houseplants on the terrace are practical solutions to an everpresent problem of the indoor gardener. Whether they may be very simple demountable ones or more permanent types, they will assist the gardener to keep his plants in good order during their summer vacation outdoors.

The plant shield shown can probably be adapted to many more uses than those shown here. Every gardener recognizes the need for shielding tender plants from the winter sun and cold blasts of wind. By using a decorative shield (something more pleasant to look at out the window than the torn and ragged strips of sagging burlap sacking one usually sees), the sad winter landscape can be made more appealing. Such shields can be painted any color you wish, making them distinct assets rather than bitter necessities when they are installed in your garden.

The cold frame is another project which may be built with very little tool experience. We recommend buying the glass sash rather than making it-sash is cheap and making it is rather an intricate job-and then constructing the cold frame to fit the sash. Advanced workers may wish to go a step further and build the sash. There are many changes which can be rung on the construction of the frame. Permanent sides of brick, concrete, or other masonry may be used, or a wooden frame made to fit over the top to hold the sash. For using such a frame as a hot bed, permanent masonry sides are recommended because of high temperatures and humidity which may rot the wooden sides of the type we show.