Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 92.djvu/614

 598

��Popular Science Moiithhj

��It's Raining, But the Glass Umbrella Keeps the Record Book Dry

THE numbers of the freight cars leav- ing or entering a depot, have to be recorded rain or shine. How to enter figures in a book during wet weather

without blurring the

pages has been a problem.

Now comes the "book umbrella," a small, oblong glass box, open at the un- derside to allow the number-taker to in- sert his hand. Of course, the book is held inside the pro- tecting glass. Clips are provided at the top and bottom to keep the book open at the desired page.

The case, six inches square, is fitted with a strap which can be suspended from the clerk's shoulder. A larger sized "um- brella," made to hold loose, flat sheets, is also obtainable. For night use, an electric light can be affixed to the upper end of the box, and in addi- tion to enabling the user to see to write, it answers the purpose of a lantern to see the necessary data written on the car and to get about the yard.

���The case is light, strong and durable. Clips hold the book open as required

��with

��These Home-Made Tools Save the Cost and Keep of a Horse

WITH the home-made garden tools shown in the accompanying illus- trations a man at San Jacinto, California, cultivates five acres of ground without the

aid of a horse. On

his grounds ornamen- tal shrubs grow. A horse could not be driven close without injuring them. With a similar set of tools a small fruit orchard is also kept in con- dition.

The cultivator con- sists of a number of spikes driven into a three-foot piece of pine, and having their heads flattened to make a cutting edge. The top of the tool is reinforced with an- other piece of wood and a five-foot handle is fitted. A piece of iron gives the neces- sary weight.

A rake similar to

the one described, but

I strip of thin steel cut from a saw

��blade and soldered to the flattened heads of the spikes, is used as a weed cutter. The cutting blade is inserted from two to threeinchesbeiowthesurface of theground and cuts off the weeds from their roots.

���The above set of honi< m .!< < ultivating tools enables one man to cultivate five acres of land without the nccebsily ul keeping a horse, which would spoil his ornamental shrubs

�� �