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Show A TREE CLUB HOUSE. Every boy at one time or another builds a shanty In the back yard or a nearby vacant lot, and where one or more trees are available preference is generally given to a tree hut. Not only does a location among the tree branches appeal to the romantic side f the young builder's nature, but recognizing the fact that once the ladder lad-der leading to the entrance has been removed and hidden, the hut is inaccessible inac-cessible to passers-by, there Is a feeling feel-ing of security In knowing that nelth-sr nelth-sr unfriendly boys nor tramps can disturb dis-turb it. The construction of the aerial foundation foun-dation for a tree hut Is the most lm portant part of the work. This of course must be very carefully planned and securely put together. Its form will depend largely upon the size of the hut, but principally upon whether nne, two or three trees are used for supports. Where two or three trees' are close enough together. It is advantageous advan-tageous to build the hut between them; again, a most satisfactory plan Is to construct the hut in the crotch of a large tree, or to build it around the tree, extending brackets from the trunk to all four sides of the platform. The tree club house Illustrated In Fig. 1 has been designed with a two-tree two-tree foundation, as this Is the simplest sim-plest kind to build. Fig. 2 shows a large detail diagram of the foundation framework, and Fig. 3 the first steps In Its construction. If possible to get them, use 2x4s for the framework; otherwise, nail together two pieces of 4-lnch board for each member. First of all, construct your ladder, splicing together pieces of 2x4 for the side rails, and nailing lx2-inch strips '.cross them for rungs. The four pieces of board, A (Fig. 3), should be 8 or 10 Inches wide and 3 A-Tree Clup. mouse that 1! easytBuiu 'eet long, and should be spiked to opposite op-posite sides of the trees with their :ops on an exact level with one another. an-other. Then the horizontal pieces B should be set upon the tops of these md be spiked to the trees, and the oieces C spiked to the bracket blocks near their lower ends. Cut and 'asten the block D between pieces C. The floor, joists should be laid on '.op of horizontal pieces B. One of :hese should be fastened outside of ?ach tree, one inside of each tree, and nne or two in the space between. Then Meees F should be spiked to their ends (Fig. 2). The struts G should be cut of the right length to reach from pieces E to C, and should have notches cut In !.hoir ends for these pieces to fit In (Fig. 4). When these have been securely se-curely spiked in place, cut the floor 1 boards and nail them to the joists. It is easiest to construct the walls of the tree hut in sections, building them on the ground, and then hoisting hoist-ing them Into position by means of a rope thrown up over an upper limb of one of the tree supports. Figs. 5 and 6 show how the wall sections should oe built up. As you will see by these diagrams, the ends of the boards are nailed to board battens; also, that where there is to be a window an extra ex-tra batten must be placed each aide of the opening to nail the boards to. Lay the battens flat upon the ground, at the proper distances apart, connect them temporarily with horizontal strips at top and bottom, and after checking up to see that they are exactly ex-actly parallel, and that their corners are square, turn the frame over and" nail the side boards to the other side. In the case of the end walls, build them up square as shown (Fig. 5); then fit in pieces at the proper angles for the pitch, of the roof, and saw off the corners on a line with them. The bottom board of the end section In which the doorway is made should be extended across the opening for a brace (Fig. 5), and be sawed off after the wall has been fastened In place. Use nails long enough to extend through the boards and battens, and clinch them upon the Inner face of tho battens. The two end walls can be set up in position first, and nailed to the end tree supports; then the side walls can be set up and fastened to them; or one end wall can be set up, then a side wall, then the second end wall, and then the second side wall. Fig. 1 shows how to put on the roof boards, by fastening first one layer in place, about 1 Inches apart, and then lapping another layer of boards over the spaces between the first layer. If you can get some roofing paper you will find It easier to make a tight roof. This can be tacked to a layer of boards spaced several inches apart. The window opening can be made of the right size for an old window sash; but If you cannot find a sash, a wooden wood-en shutter can be used for closing up the opening. Batten together several boards at top and bottom for the door, and fit a diagonal brace between the battens. Hinge the door In place with the diag onal running In the direction shown in Fig. 1. This Is the proper direction for the brace, to keep the door from sagging. The post H (Fig. 2) should be fast, ened at the edge of the platform so you will have something to steady yourself by in descending and ascending. ascend-ing. (Copyright, 1912. by A. Neely Hall.) |