ASK THE WITCH DOCTOR

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 249, 20 October 1928, Page 2 (Supplement)

ASK THE WITCH DOCTOR

Anxious inQ >: (a) Why .iok nunch ot' dead grass in your band wbei you are running- prevents you from fretting the "stitch." (b) The best remedy for exterminating the borer in a piano or furniture? — (a) This is quite wrong. The" objects held in a runner's hand do not prevent the "stitch," but give him something to grip. The hands always clench when there is any particular muscular strain; thus the cork or rubber being clenched in the hand of the athlete have the effect or tensing the muscles up to the strain taken by tlie other parts of the body, (b) Kerosene rubbed over the furniture or injected into tlie holes seldom fails to exterminate the borer.

Book worm would like to know: (a) Why the signal on a post near the Civic Square goes up and down when the tram cars pass it. —This is a signal, operated from the raised box on the corner of Queen Street and Wellesley Street, which tells the drivers or the ■ tram cars whether or not to proceed past the Intersection.

Jill wants to know: (a) How to make Indian ink? (b) How to make a cardboard pen rest.— (a) I should advise that you buy a bottle of Indian ink from your local stationer, (b) I have handed your second question to Tinkerhell, and she will write an article on it later on.

Btrlpes a&ts: (a) What Is the animal called that is half a giraffe and balf a zebra? (b) What is the name or the tree that squeezes the prey in its tendrils?—(a) This animal is called the Okapi Johnstoni, and hails from East Central Africa, (b) There are several kind 9or carnivorous plants, amongst the more comI man ones being the sundew and tbe venus 1 ny trap.

ping f*ong wouiu lite iu muw; va/ juc meaning? of tbe sign "Signal Cars" seen along some tram routes, (h) ir there is any. difference between sago and tapioca, and" macaroni and vermicelli.—(a) These signs are erected at stopping places where it is possible that a number of people would congregate, not necessarily with tlie intention or boarding a car. The notice is a reminder to them to step out on to tlie street and signal a car, which would otherwise probably go on. Due warning must be given to the motorman in order that It will not be necessary Tor him to pull liis car up with a severe grinding of brakes. (b) A glance at any dictionary would liave put you wise in these matters. Sago is a kind of starch prepared Trom the stems of several species or palm grown in the East Indies, and so differs Jrom tapioca, which is prepared Trom cassava meal. Macaroni is a dough or line wheaten Hour made into tubular rorm, and so slightly differs l'-om the Italian vermicelli, which is prepared Trom flour, yolk or eggs, r ugai and saffron, made into slender tubes or threads.

Gardener asks: (a) When Is the time to plant peas, beans, carrots, parsnips, radishes and lettuce seeds so that they will 1- ready early in December? (b) Mso i.«ne to plant sweet William, nlgella, Canterbury bells and other annual flower seeds?—(a) These vegetables should be sown early in September, .but if the plants are put in now they may be ready In time. Cb) These flowers should be planted now or in early autumn. Thinker's queries are: (a) Wby do vre get so much rain in Auckland? (b) Why does salt go damp berore the rain comes? (a) The reason lor this is that the winds which reach our island have swept across vast tracts or ocean, thus collecting much water vapour, which, when It condenses, rails as rain, (b) Salt absorbs moisture very easily, and thus when tbe air Is charged with vapour the salt absorbs much of it and becomes damp.