** Spoon Rest for Kettles [304]

A rest for keeping spoons from slipping into kettles can be made from

[Illustration:  Spoon Rest]

a strip of metal bent as shown in the illustration.  The spring of the metal will make it easy to apply to the kettle.  The spoon placed in the rest will drain back into the kettle.  The cover can be placed on without removing the spoon.  —­Contributed by W. A. Jaquythe, Richmond.  Cal.

** Reason for Bursting of Gun Barrels [304]

Gun barrels do not burst without a cause and usually that cause is one of which the shooter is entirely ignorant, but nevertheless, no one is responsible but himself, says the Sporting Goods Dealer.  Gun barrels can only burst by having some obstruction in the barrel or by overloading with powder.  Any gun barrel can be burst by misuse or by carelessly loading smokeless powder, but no barrel will burst by using factory loaded ammunition, provided there is no obstruction or foreign substance inside the barrel.  When a gun barrel bursts at the breech or chamber, it is caused by an overloaded shell, and when it bursts in the center or near the muzzle, it is caused by some obstruction, such as a dent, snow, water, etc.

** Hand Sled Made of Pipe and Fittings [305]

The accompanying sketch shows how an ordinary hand sled can be made of 3/4-in. pipe and fittings.  Each runner is made of one piece of pipe bent to the proper shape.  This can be accomplished by filling the pipe with melted rosin or lead, then bending to the shape desired, and afterward removing the rosin or lead by heating.  Each joint is turned up tightly and well pinned or brazed.  One of the top crosspieces should have right-hand and left-hand threads or be fitted with a union.  Also, one of the top pieces connecting the rear part to the front part of each runner must be fitted in the same way.  The top is fastened to the two crosspieces.  Such a hand sled can be made in a

[Illustration:  Parts Made of Pipe Fittings]

few hours’ time and, when complete, is much better than a wood sled.  —­Contributed by James E. Noble, Toronto, Ontario.

** Emergency Magnifying Glass [305]

When in need of a microscope in the study of botany, one may be made in the following manner:  Bend a small wire or the stem of a leaf so as to form a small loop not larger than the ordinary drop of water.

Loop Inclosing a Drop of Water

When this is done place a drop of clear water in the loop and the microscope is complete.  This temporary device will prove valuable where a strong magnifying glass is not at hand.  —­Contributed by Arthur E. Joerin, Paris, France.

** Bent-Iron Pipe Rack [305]

Strips of soft iron, 1/4 or 3/16 in. in width and 1/32 in. thick, are used in

[Illustration:  Design of a Rack]

making the pipe rack shown in Fig. 1.  This material can be obtained from any local hardware dealer who carries bar iron in stock.