The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

m 4 '^ •< A. A i 4 A- A 4, A -4. 5,.- â- â- <* A ! %. [A •- A \-* K. Some Notes From The Fanii Front By John Russell Hydroponics sounds like some â- ew kind of medical treatment. Actu- ally it's simply a highbrow name for the process of gfrowing fruit, vege- tables and flowers without the use of soil â€" and it's something that's hiteresting more and more people €%.'.•> day. It isn't really new by any means. More than a hundred years ago a European scientist, in a laboratory test proved that plants wiuild grow in nothing but clear water in which soil had been previously soaked. But its development was speeded up terrifically during the war, when large hydroponic farms â- were established to provide fresh vegetables to the troops on soilless rockeries like Iwo Jima and .^?ccn- «ion Islands. Even now American forces in Japan get vegetables grown in tremendous "tank farms" The process is a simple one. Those wishing to start in a small way just punch a little hole or two in th bottom of a cigar box, fill it with fine, clean gravel, put in seeds, give the whole thing a southern exposure and be?in the feeding process. The necessary chemicals can be obtained through many drug firms; and there are also different brands of "ready mixed" plant foods on the market. K little of the mixture in powder form â€" stirred up in ordin- ary water â€" goes a long way, as the liquid caught by means of a drain hole in the bottom of the box, can be used over and over again. You keep the gravel moist until the seeds sprout, after that sprinkle twice a day. Soon the little seedlings are ready to 1 transplanted to your regular garden, and are said to be as healthy and sturdy little fruit, vegetable and flower plants anyone would wish to see. But that is what might be called a half-way hydroponic pro- cess depending, as it does, on the final use of soil. For those who want to go the whole way with gravel, here's how one man â€" told about in Collier's Magazine â€" went about it. He made two boxes, each 30 by 54 inches, and set them at a con- venient height â€" then planted his seeds in the five inches of gravel the boxes held. A pound of pow- dered chemical salts in a gallon of water as his "feeding stock" â€" this being measured out as required at the rate of one ounce of the mix- ture to a gallon sprinkling can of water. Five weeks after the planting he and his family were eating tender string beans. Cucumbers were ripe on the vines in 36 days. The first toniatoc":. started as seedlings, were rearfy for the table in 64 days. .â- Knd he says that the quality of all he grew was incomparably delicious. As a strictly commercial proposi- tion, hyilroponic gardening is still in the experimental stage, although millions of dollars have already been invested and sonie commercial growers have made a cleanup, others have not been so fortunate. Tomatoes, cucumbers and straw- berries are among the favorite crops: and iti many cases superior flavor and appearance are claimed to bring p-.inium prices. However, even if hydroponic gard- ening sliould neve, develop into a real commercial threat for the old- fashioned kind, as a diversion or hobby it's catching like wildfire That's because any home that has a back yard, a roof or even a window sill can i.ow have a garden â€" and one that grows things with a mint- mum of trouble and attention, and with record-breaking speed. And then there's the very old one about the SoJthern farmer who was told that he could get his pigs to market a whole lot faster by adopting some new, time-saving method of feeding. "Wliy should 1 bother?" he "replied disgustedly. "Heck; what's time to a hog?'' Faint Whole Hou5.e in 5 Minutes, 40 Seconds â€" With crowds oheerinfj tlieni on. nieiniiers ot the Brotherhood of Painters. Decorators and Paperhangers slap paint on the Memphis home of Mrs. Jiianita Webb. The painters finished the job in 5 minutes, 40 seconds. The time is believed to be a new world's record. CHRONICLES OF GINGER FARM By Gwendoline V Clarke We are all feeling so much better satisfied now than we were a few days ago because the men have actually been able to get on the land. The hum of the tractor has indeed been a welcome sound after such a cold, wet and backward spring. Xow, although we have nq grain sown the ground is ready and we expect the drill will be doing its job tomorrow â€" that is, if it doesn't rain again. Bob has been running the tractor all the time â€" with his leg still in a cast. It is amazing what can be done once a person is fitted up with a "walk- ing cast", though I am sure it must be a very heavy and tiring tiling to carry around. « * * From what I hear very little has been done in gardens anywiiereâ€" nothing at all right here â€" it has really been too cold and windy to work outside for very long. Our garden, this year, is full of dis- appointments. There are not nearly as many daffodils in bloom as usual" and some of my shrubs are in a sorry plight. Two variegated elders that were so very decorative are just about done. The roots are still living but the long, sweeping branches will have to be cut right down to tlie ground. Some of the other shrubs also look pretty sick, partly due to the winter nibbling of rabbits. Growing things on the south side of the house have been more fortunate. We had asparagus before it appeared in the stores and the rhubarb has been particularly sweet and tender. The taste of asparagus and rhu- barb may have whetted his appetite, anyway Partner has been ambitious- ly planning our veijetablo garden. My. won't it be good to have home- grown vegetables again? .\fter be- ing without a garden last year we shall he doubly appreciative of what we hope to get this summer. But I am afraid that will depend largely on Partner. When I look around the house and see the work ahead of n;o this year I can't see myself putting in much time on the end ot a hoe. 1 can see now it doesn't pay to let two years go by without doing some papering and painting around the house. Xow it loot;-; ;i~ it every room from attic to cellar needs attention â€" and all at the same time. But housecleaniufr has its KC*d points. There were days this week wlien it was so cold and windy I wanted work to do tl-.at would keep me warm. (We don't like CROSSWORD PUZZLE t ». IS. n. 18. 10. 12. 14 IT. SI. <S. 14. St. ST. SS. 41. 44. «S. 4>. • 1. •2 13 14 ACR0S3 Bans Dome^tl* animal Fro»ted Ran awlttly Corroded Mentloa Ireland Adult boy Turn rapidly Having (e*t Blood vessel Farewell Clock dial "Absconder* Harem room I^oKnia CM(I i-ard Kit me Sign VcTlly OolnK up Window framework Sounds Stone Irate Glut Norse capital Malt drink I'rong Kdual Half dosen CmB DOWN Face IiMtrnlBS Barrev nowMbvU JtXfiL .. 4. Mindanao native T. Defensible 5. Pedal part t. Headland 10. Arabian commander 11. Refuse 19. J'or 11. Hindu ro.Ts.TTit 23. Hollows 14. Dude 25. Fuss 26. Elevator carriage 15. Tree 19. Kgga 30. Male child 33. Sea bird S3. Puizles 36 Olothes maker 37 Tastures for 11.1.V .. .1 'â- " 'leBnger â-  â- * ^' -t any 41 Chlckea o.-ure 'J :rt of a t-'.uirch 13. Auction 4... Voyage 4H. V*olcano 47. Oote r.o. Kourth calif The aiwMr to ^ panlt ii £«wlMf« oa fia p*c<>- burning wood in a high wind and our coal supply is just about done, so the house was really cold). I looked around at the kitchen. Cleaning it was not on t'.-.e agenda for that day but I couldn't think of a better job to keep me warm, so I went right at it. Believe me, by the time I had the ceiling, walls and woodwork thoroughly separated from their winter coating of grime and smoke, I was warm all right. It was also an opportune time for another reason â€" the men were so bu.^y in the field they had no time to pay any attention to what I was doing â€" nor to interrupt me. So long as meals appeared on the table as per schedule I might turn the house upside-down, or sleep all day. for all they would know about what I was doing. That nigln I said to Partner â€" "Do you think my kitchen looks any better? " He looked around. "Oh." he said casu- ally. "Have you been cleaning it?" Had I! My hands were proof of that even if the kitchen wasn't. * * * Now what do you think of this little episode? Last Monday Bob and I drove to the city. On the way out to the "pick-up" I stopped to pick a bunch of daffodils for Daughter. Some of them grow practically wild among the grass. Soon after arriving in the city I went to a washroom in one of the stores and upon looking in a mirr ror I was horrified to see. caught up in the net on top of my hat, a bunch of burrs, the kind that grow on those beastly burdocks. "Well.'' I thought, "there is nothing Uke ad- vertising the fact that one comes from the ccmntry!" Bob said â€" "Why worry? I don't suppose city folk would even know what it was in your hat.'' He. by the way. hadn't so much as noticed them. What a man! But when I told Daughter . . . "Mother â€" how awful â€" didn't you even know they were there?" Xo, but I did afterwards I sat in the waiting room for fifteen minutes picking burrs out of that bit of netting on my hat. New, â€" And Useful Too Rain. Today Waiter (putting down plate of soup): "It looks like rain, sir." Diner: "Yes, take it away. I or- dered soup." The following are brief descrip- tions of some of the latest useful novelties and inventions to come upon the market. .\ UXIQUE CEMEXT. Plastics, wood, metal, rubber, leather, crock- ery, glass, mirrors and labels can now be easily made to adhere to them- selves or to each other by means of a versatile cement having a vinyl base. Two years of research has re- sulted in the development of this efricient all-purpose transparent white cement, which is easy to apply and does not affect any material to which it is applied. LOW PRESSURE TIRE. .A new. extra low-pressure tire which is said to increase an automobile's safety and comfort has just been announc- ed. Officials of the company making this tire say that it requires only 2-1 pounds of air pressure, and that it will run cooler than conventional tires. In addition to mjjjting car handling easier, the tires provide bettor and safer steering. SELF FEEDIXG P.\1XT ROLL- ER .A new paintint: tool has just been put on the market. It consists of a patented roller made of plastic, into which is poured a pint of paint- enough to cover half the average wall or ceiling. The cylinder has holes, like a sieve through which the paint "leaks" to saturate the close- fitting nylon roller cover. TIXY BIXOCUL.^RS. Only one fourtli the weight and one third the size of conventional kind, these tiny binocifars will be useful either for spo:t or at the theatre. Housed in magnusium, and weighing but 4'i ounces, the binoculars are said to have a performance equal to those many times the size and weight, WET W.\TER FOR FIRE FIGHTING. .-V newly developed concentration of ori;anic chemicals is of such fast penetrating action that, added to water in small amounts.' it increases, the fire-extinguishing action of the water from 2W) to 4<X) per cent. Xprmal use calls for only 1 part of the penetr;uit to 10(1 parts of water. XOVFL K.EY CH.MN. Made on the principle of the retractable tele- phone cord, this key chain extends to six times its coiled length and, on release, immediately retracts to its original shape. .\ 5' 2 inch coiled length will extend to approximately three feet. KINGSWAY CONTRACTORS ior depend.iMe HOME & INDUSTRIAL INSULATION we speciahze in HOMES SCHOOLS CHURCHES FACTORIES If you have any problems in regard to .saving fuel in winter or having your home cooler iu summer, drop us a ''"e at 1)2 1.1 Dundas St. W., Toronto », Ontario. We will send FREE oomplete information that would cover your problems, or telephone LV. 6J36 and we will furnish FREE of charge, a competent technician any place in Ontario. H. R. DOWNER, Gen. Manager. .1. C. Mc.MULLEN, Pre-ident. TABLE TALKS Mix - Easy â€" New Cake Method Here is the newest, quickeit way to make perfect cakes. It'g "Mix- Easy" because it puts a c«ke to- gether in just two ihort beating steps, saving time, work, and dishes. This new method calls for specially balanced Mix - Easy re- cipes, like the following delicious Happy Day Cake. Preparations. Have the shorten- ing at room temperature. Line bot- toms of pans with paper; greas«. L'se two round 9-inch layer pans, D'j inches deep, or a 13x9x2-inch pan. Start oven for moderate heat (,375 degrees F.). Sift flour once before measuring. (Use standard level measurements.) 2 '4 cups Swans Down flour 3 teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon salt 1 ' 2 cups sugar 'j cup shortening 1 cup milk with vegetable shortening or 1 cup less 2 tablespoons with butter or lard. Step 1. Stir shortening just to soften. Sift in dry ingredients. .\dd about ^4 cup >J the milk and mix until flour i-s dampened. Then beat 2 minutes or 300 strokes. Step 2. Add eggs and remain- ing milk: beat 1 minute longer, or 150 strokes. (Mi-X by hand or at a low speed of electric mixer. Take time out to rest as necessary and scrape bowl and spoon often). Baking. Turn batter into the pans. Bake in moderate oven (375 de- grees F.) about 25 minutes for layers. 35 minutes for oblong cake. Lemon Cake Flavor the Happy Day Cake with 2 teaspoons grated lemon rind, add- ing it to the shortening. Bake in two 9-inch layers. Spread with Orange Mist Frosting, adding chopped dates for filling. Luscious Spice Cake .^dd spices â€" 1 teaspoon cinnamon, '< teaspoon cloves, ]i teaspoon all- spice â€" to flour mixture in Happy Day Cake, .^dd 1 tablespoon mo- lasses to the shortening. Bake in two 9-:nch layer pans as directed. Spread with Lem.on Cream Icing. Picnic Cake Carry this cake to picnic or church supper, right in the pan! Bake Hap- py Day Cake in a 13x9x2-inch pan. While cake is still hot, spread with Praline Topping and bake 5 min- utes longer, as directed. Cool and cut cake in pan. Note: Recipes for Frostings will be given next week. An«w«r To Thi« W««k'f Pum1« jaac! aaa u^ii^i to H i A t I N A ^ i M 1 M <M A N » P 1 * rp» P A -r|f HA if T ( R V III B V e^ i f A c I I p f R » A â- ? I M i T k 9 R T !« N a â-¡ m 1 M â-¡ R 1 6 1 M fr : A 6 1 N 6^N 1 t.\i % D P TP u â- m|a|C7H 6 A f f 6 t ALE T 1 N i V\^i z_ 6 t X & L A j»j SAFES Prolecl ruur BOOKS and CAisB Cra^ nSE and THtETES. Wt bare a eflt and true of Safe, or Cabinet, for aagf porvoBe. Visit ao, or frrite for orlceflu et«.. to Dent. W. J.&-J.TAYLDR UMITEO TORONTO SAFE WORKS us Front St. E.. ToranI* â- â€¢rtablUhrd ItSS Fiery, Itching Toes and Feet Bere is a clean, stainless antlseptle oU that will do mure to help you Kn rid af jour troabje than an thfnir- you've erer osed. Its action is so powerfully penetrating that the Itthlne Is ourckiy stiiiiBe<l: and In a â- hurt time you are rid of thiit hotlier- â- ome, fiery tortun\ The same is true of Barbers Itch. Salt Rheum. Enema other IrritatinB unsichtly skin trniiiiles, Vou can olilain Muoni''« Emer:il(i Oil In the orlKlnal bottle at any mmlerii ilrn» •tore. It is safe to os.' â€" anil failure In any of ticse ailments is r:ire Indeed. WHEN YOU'RE LOW ON ENERGY THEMES NOTHING QUITE UKE UPTONS TEA onlyuptonIs BRISK- TASTING TrA GIVES YOU THAT You've never had a cup of tea like ifpto/j â€" it's so delicious, so rich, so full-bodied, and above all, so exhilarating.' That's Lipton's FLAVOR-LIFTâ€" and only Lipton has it. For it's the blend that makes Liptonâ€" and the blend is Lipton's own secret. Ask for Lipton at yoiir grocer's today! AtSt.S/t/SiCS<7ySâ€"0H^ CUP OR TWO... UVnu'S TEA 8A6S FOR YOU!* 'p C'lipyrtgUt â€" 1 boa J. Uvioo I.hiiltnl JllLL REGGIE By Margarita Y4h yiu HV ".1 ^s^aioamm agg â- ^-^"""^