The Brussels Post, 1948-5-19, Page 7Some Notes From The Farm Front
By John
Hydropenihs souu(ls like some
new kind of medical treatment, Actu-
ally it's simply a highbrow name for
the process of growing fruit, vege-
tables and 111 w ers without the use
of soil --- and it's something that's
interesting more and more people
s\..y day.
It isn't really new by any means,
111 ore than a hundred years ago a
European scientist, in a laboratory
test pr000 d that plants would
g.ow in nothing but clear water in
Ns liich soil had been previously
staked, But its development was
speeded up terrifically during the
war, when large hydroponic farms
were estabihhed to provide fresh
vrretabies to the troops on soilless
rockeries like Iwo Jima and Ascen-
sion Islands. Even now American
formes in Japan get vegetables
grown in tremendous "tank farms"
The process is a simple one, Those
w'iohiug to start in a small way
jest Lomeli a little hole or two in
111 bottom of a cigar box,' fill it with.
fine, clean gravel, put in seeds, give
the whole thing a southern exposure
and begin the feeding process,
The necessary chemicals can be
obtained throe:4h inany drug firms;
and there are also different brands
of "ready mixed" plant foods on the
market, A little of the mixture in
powder form - stirred up in ordin-
ary water - 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 I 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 - told
about in Collier's Magazine - went
about it.
He made two boxes, each 30 by
54 inches, and set them at a con-
venient height - 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" -
this being measured out as required
at tine rate of one ounce of the mix-
ClaVAtDIII&N SleTIO
Coolest trey, sunny scllow and
white are checked together in
Minx Modes suit dress.The
uneven stripe is closed to form
designed pockets.
Russell
ture to a gallon sprinkling can of
water.
rive weeks after the planting he
and his family were eating tender
string beans. Cucumbers were ripe
on the vines in 36 days. The first
tomatoes, started as seedlings, were
ready for the table in 64 days. And
he says that the quality of all he
grew was incomparably delicious.
As a strictly commercial proposi-
tion, hydroponic gardening is still
in the experimental stage, although
millions of dollars have already been
invested and some commercial
growers have made a cleanup.
others have not been so fortunate.
Tomatoes, cucumbers and straw-
berries are among the favorite crops;
and in many cases superior flavor
and appearance are claimed to bring
premium prices,
However, even if hydroponic gard-
ening should never 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 Inas
a back yard, a roof or even a window
sill can now have a garden - and
one that grows things with a mini-
mum of trouble and attention, and
with record-breaking speed.
And then there's the very old
one about the Southern 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. "Why should I
bother?" he replied disgustedly.
"Heck; what's time to a hog?"
So You Think You
Know Your Food?
Some people live to eat - others
eat to live. But all of us do more or
less eating, and are interes"t in
foods and their preparations, So
here is a little Quiz regarding foods
and cookery, which you should find
fairly easy. But no fair looking at
the answers, printed upside-down
underneath, till you've made your
own decisions.
1. Chief Ingredient In Baking
Powder Is -
a. Boracic Acid; b. Yeast; c. Soda
Bicarbonate; d. -Aspirin.
2. When A Recipe Calls For One
Cupful It Is Equal To -
a. 4 Tablesl oonsful; b. 8 Table-
spoonsful; c. 12 Tablespoonsful; d.
16 Tablespoonsful.
3. When You Are Eating Tapioca
You Are Eating -
a. A Grafin From India; b. A Corn
Product; c. Ti -e Root of a Brazilian
Herb; d. A European Berry.
The Fowl That Requires The
Longest Cooking Is -
a. Chicken; b. Duck; c. Goose; d.
Turkey, e
5. Braised Meat Is Meat That Has
Been -
a. Cook.J And Then Baked; b.
Pounded With A Mallet; c. Boiled;
d. Slowly Sintered.
6. Raw Oysters Are In Season -
a. All Year Round; b. Only In
Winter; c. During Months That
Contain The Letter "R"; d. Only
In Spring.
7. If t..1 Order A Puree In A
Restaurant' You Get -
a. Sieved Vegetables; b. Clear Soup;
c. Stew; d. Hash.
8. Sweetbreads Are Prepared From
a. Sheep Kidneys; b. Beef Pancreas;
c. Pigs' Feet; d. Chicken Liver.
9. The Chief Ingredient In A
Souffle Is -
a. Corn Syrup; b, Cream; c. Whites
Of Eggs; d. Marshmallows.
10. Eggs Placed In Boiling Water
Will Be Hard -Boiled In -
a. 4 Minutes; b. 8 Minutes; c. 12
Minutes; d. 16 Minutes.
10 9 1d -S 1E19 10.8 1CVZ 101
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PUZZLE
11. Refuse -- 88. I'ussloe
19, Por 86. Clothes matter
21. Hindu peasant 87, Pastures for
any,
28. IZollows 89, WorefInger
24. Dude 40. Nnt any
Chi-- 26, truss 41. enclosken
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ACROSS 6, Mindanao 26. ISievator 42, Part of a
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6. f,nnurrile 7, Defensible 28. Tree '48. Auction
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12, non Corroded
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18. Corcommander
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16. Ireland Al"
30. scent boy
17. inn rnnldly
18. rrnVing feet
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The chewer o this puzzle is elsewhere on this page.
t;.
Paint Whole House in 5 Minutes, 40 Seconds ---With crowds cheering them on, members of the
Brotherhood of Painters., Decorators and Paperhangers slap paint on the Memphis home of
Mrs. Juanita \\'ebb. Thc painters finished the job in 5 minutes. 40 seconds. The time is believed
to be a new world's record,
CHRONICLES OF GINGER FROM
By. Gwencoline P Clarke
We are all feeling so such better
satisfied now than we were a few
days ago because the men have
actually been able to get on the
land. The huts of the tractor has
indeed been a welcome sound after
such a cold, wet and backward
spring. Now, although we have
no grain sown the ground is ready
and we expect the drill will be
doing its job tomorrow -that is,
if it doesn't rain again. Bob has
been running the tractor all the
time -with his leg still iii 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 thing to
carry around.
* * * •
From what I hear very little Inas
been done in gardens anywhere -
nothing at all right here -it has
really been too cold and windy
to work outside for very long. Our
garden, this year, is full of dis-
appointments. There arc 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 clone. The roots are
still living but the long, sweeping
branches will have to be cut right
down to the 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. \\'e 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 vegetable garden.
My, won't it be good to have home-
grown vegetables again? After be-
ing without a garden last year we
shall be doubly appreciative of
what we hope to get this summer.
But I ant afraid that will depend
largely on Partner. When I loolc
arotind the house and see the work
ahead of me this year I can't see
myself putting in much time on
the end of a Joe.
* * *
1 can see now it doesn't pay to
let two years go by without doing
some papering and painting arotind
Terrarium Is Good
Year -Around Hobby
A good hobby serves a double
purpose. It gives you personal en-
joyment by keeping you busy the
year -around and it provides worth-
while achievement at the same
time.
Since a terrarium is actually a
miniature greenhouse, you can grow
many things in it,' from woodland
ferns to tropical orchids,
Make your own by using a deep
glass dish or fish tank and laying
a pane of glass across the top. Fill
the bottom with several inches of
fibre or other mixture and plant
the ferns and (lowers you' have
*elected.
A booklet has been prepared on
the care of house plants, with a
chapter on terrariums with details
about suitable soil, sir, heat and
other contributing factors
Send THIRTY CENTS (in
coins) for "Success Witlt House
Plants and Flowers" to Room 604,
371 flay Street, Toronto. Print
name, address, booklet title and No
the house. Now it looks as if
every room from attic to cellar
needs Wen tion -and :11 at the same
time. But housecleaning has its
good points. There were days this
week when it was so cold and windy
I wanted work to do that would
keep me warns. (\1'e don't like
burning wood in a high wind and
our coal supply is just about done,
so the house was really cold).
f looked around at the kitchen.
Cleaning it was not on the agenda
for that day but I couldn't think
of a better job to keep me 55 -arm,
so I went right at it. Believe ate,
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 -the sten were so
busy in the field they had no time
to pay any attention to what I was
doing -nor to interrupt me. So
long as meals appeared on the
table as per schedule I night turn
the house upside-down, or sleep all
day, for all they would Blow about
what I was doing. That night I
said to Partner -"Do you think my
• kitchen looks any better?" He
looked around. "Oh," he said casu-
ally, "Have you been cleaning it?"
Had II 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 cf daffodils for
Daughter. Some of them grow
practically wild among the grass.
Soon after arriving in tine city I
went to a washroom in one of the
stores and upon looking in a mir-
ror I was horrified to see, caught np
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 like ad-.
vertising the fact that one comes
from the country!" Bob said -
"Why worry? I don't suppose city
folk would even know what it was
in your hat." He, by the way, hadn't
so such as noticed them, \\'hat a
marl But when I told Daughter
"Mother -how awful -didn't
you even know they were there?"
No, but I did afterwards I sat in
the waiting roots for fifteen minutes
picking burrs out of that bit of
netting on my hat,
New, - And
Usefia l Too
Thr' following are brief descrip-
tions of some of the latest useful
novelties and inventions to come
upon the market.
A UNIQUE CEMENT. Plastics,
wood, metal, rubber, leather, crock-
ery, glass, mirrors and labels can now
he easily made to adhere to them-
• selves or to each other by means of
a versrtile cement having a vinyl
base. Two years of research has re-
sulted in the development of this
efficient 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 24
pounds of air pressure, and that it
will nm cooler than conventional
tires. In addition to. making car
handling easier, the tires provide
better and safer steering:
SELF FEEDING PAINT ROLL-
ER A new painting 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. Thc cylinder has
holes, like a sieve through which the
paint "leaks" to saturate the close -
fitting nylon roller cover.
TINY BINOCULARS. Only one
fourth the weight anti one third the
size of conventional kind, these tiny
binocifars will he useful either for
sport or at the theatre. Housed in
magnesium, and weighing but 4'd
ounces, the binoculars are said to
have a performance equal to those
many times the size and weight.
WET WATER FOR FIRE
FIGHTING. A newly developed
concentration of organic chemicals is
of such fast penetrating action that,
added to water in small amounts, it
increases the fire -extinguishing action
of the water from 200 to 400 per
cent. Normal use calls for only 1
part of the penetrant to 100 parts of
water.
NOVEL KEY CHAIN. 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. A S? i'inch coiled
length will extend to approximatelythree feet.
KINGSWAY CONTRACTORS
for dependable
HOME & INDUSTRIAL INSULATION
we specialize in
HOMES SCHOOLS CHURCHES FACTORIES
If you have any problems in regard to saving fuel in winter or
having your hone cooler in summer, drop us a line at 82111 Dundas
St. W., Toronto 9, Ontario.
We will send FREE complete information that would cover your
problems, or telephone LY. 6tt 6 and we will furnish FREE of
charge, a competent technician any place in Ontario.
J. C. McMULLEN, H. R. DOWNER,
President. Gen, Manager,
TABLE TALKS
Mix - Easy -
New Cake Method
Here is the newest, quickest way
to make perfect cakes, It's "Mix -
Easy" because it puts a cake to-
gether in just two short beating
steps, saving thine, work, and
dishes. This new method calls for
specially balanced Mix - Easy re-
cipes, like the following delicious
Happy Day Cake,
Preparations, slave the shorten-
ing at room temperature. Line bot-
toms of pans with paper; grease.
Ilse two round 9 -inch layer pans,
14 inches deep, or a 13x9x2-inch
pan. Start oven for moderate heat
(375 degrees P.). Sift flour once
before measuring. (Use standard
level measurements.)
23$ caps Swans Down flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
14 cups sugar
4 cup shortening
1 cup milk with vegctahle
shortening or 1 cup less 2
tablespoons with butter or
lard.
Step 1. Stir shortening just to
soften. Sift in dry ingredients. Add
about a;l cup of the milk and rthr
until flour is dampened. Then beat
2 minutes or 300 strokes.
Step 2. Add eggs and remain-
ing milk; beat 1 minute longer, or
150 strokes.
(Mix 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 calve.
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
Add spices -1 teaspoon cinnamon,
teaspoon cloves, t/4 teaspoon all-
spice -to flour mixture in Happy
Day Cake. Add 1 tablespoon mo-
lasses to the shortening. Bake in
two 9 -inch layer pans as directed.
Spread with Lemon Cream Icing,
Picnic Cake
Carry this cake to picnic or church
supper, right in the pan I 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: Rccipes for Frostings will
be given next week.
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SAFES
Protect sour mons one Cada from
FIRE and THIEVES. We hare a slaw
and Expo of Safe, or Cabinet, for atm
Purpose. Visit us, or write for orleoa,
rte.. to Dept. W,
4.&4-J.TAVLDR LIMITED
TORONTO SAFE WORKS
140 Prost St, E., Toronto
Established 1800
Fiery, Itching
Toes and Feet
Here Is a olefin, stainless antiseptic all
that will do more to help you get rid of
:our trouble than an:thins you've ever
lased.
Its action la so powerfully penetrating
that the Stelling is 00101/15 slopped; and
In a abort time you are rid of that bother-
some. fiery torture. The same lo true of
narber'o Ilelb Fait Rheum, Emma -
other Irritating unsightly skin troubles.
the'�originan ran l obtain
tat any modern 011 In
More. it Is safe to use -and failure In
any of these aliments is rare indeed.
WHEN YOU'RE LOW
ON ENERGY
THERE'S NOTHING QUITE
111(1 LIPTON'S TEA
0
ONLYLIPTONS
B RISK -TASTING
TEA GIVES YOU THAT
t
You've never bad a cup of tea like Lipton -it's so delicious, so
rich, so full-bodied, and above all, so exhilarating) That's
Lipton's FLAVOR -LIFT -and only Lipton has it. For it's the
blend tttnt makes Lipton -and the blend is Lipton's own secret.
Ask for Lipton at your grocer's todayl
9147
AIR.ORISKSCJ/S "ONE CUP OR TWO...
LIPTON'S TEA BAGS FOR YOU I w
1.1 PTONjt%'TEA
00pyrIght--Than. J. 1,11100 ldmIted
,011
REGGIE... COME
AND ET MASHED
FOR DINNER 1