** Irrigating with Tomato Cans [450]

The following is an easy and effective way to start plants in dry weather:  Sink an ordinary tomato can, with a 1/8-in. hole 1/2 in. from the bottom, in the ground so that the hole will be near the roots of the plant.  Tamp the dirt around both plant and can, and fill the latter with water.  Keep the can filled until the plant is out of danger.  —­Contributed by L. L. Schweiger, Kansas City, Mo.

[Illustration:  Irrigation]

** Fountain for an Ordinary Pen [450]

Take two steel pens, not the straight kind, and place them together, one above the other, in the penholder.

[Illustration:  Two Pens In Holder]

With one dip of ink 60 or 70 words may be written.  This saves time and the arrangement also prevents the ink from dropping off the pen.  —­Contributed by L. M. Lytle, Kerrmoor, Pa.

** Homemade Mousetrap [450]

Bore a 1-in. hole, about 2 in. deep, in a block of wood and drive a small nail with a sharp point at an angle so it will project into the hole about half way between the top and bottom, and in the center of the hole, as shown.

[Illustration:  Hole In Wood Block]

File the end very sharp and bend it down so that when the mouse pushes its head past it in trying to get the bait at the bottom of the hole, the sharp point will catch it when it tries to back out.  Almost anyone can make this trap in a short time, and it will catch the mice as surely as a more elaborate trap.

** Clear Wax Impressions from Seals [450]

A die must be slightly damp to make clear impressions on sealing wax and to keep it from sticking to the wax.  A very handy way to moisten the die is to use a pad made by tacking two pieces of blotting paper and one of

[Illustration:  Blotter Pad]

cloth to a wooden block of suitable size, and saturate the blotters with water before using.  Stamp the die on the pad and then on the hot wax.  The result will be a clear, readable impression.  —­Contributed by Fred Schumacher, Brooklyn, N. Y.

** A Window Stick [450]

Although the windows in factories and houses are usually provided with weights, yet the stick shown in the sketch will be found very handy in case all of the windows are not so equipped.  It is made of a piece of pine wood long

[Illustration:  Notches In Stick]

enough to hold the lower sash at a height even with the bottom of the upper, and about 1-1/2 or 2 in. wide.  Notches may be cut in the stick as shown, each being wide enough to firmly hold the sash.  Thus, with the stick illustrated, the sash may be held at three different heights on the side A, and at still another on the side B.  —­Contributed by Katharine D. Morse, Syracuse, N. Y.

** How to Make a Canoe [451]

A practical and serviceable canoe, one that is inexpensive, can be built by any boy, who can wield hammer and saw, by closely following the instructions and drawings, given in this article.