THE USEFUL CORK.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 73, 23 February 1938, Page 12

THE USEFUL CORK.

CAN BE ORNAMENTAL, TOO. While some of us simply cannot bring ourselves to cut string, but must, even at tlie risk of a damaged nail, untie the knots, there are others among us who have the same tender feeling towards corks, and cherish in a special bag every one that comes our way. Apart from the convenience of being able to replace at once one that has broken in use, corks are useful in all sorts of ways. Most of us know, for instance, that a large one dipped into knife polish is excellent for occasional use if the knives are not all of the stainless variety, while another big one dipped in paraffin and whitening removes stubborn marks on porcelain sinks.

■ If a picture-eye is screwed into the top of the cork and a string looped through it can hang on some convenient hook or nail and be always handy. Fewer of us seem to realise how easily those unsightly marks oh the wall can be avoided by glueing a disc of cork on the backs of pictures and mirrors at the two bottom corners. Also how much dimming or scratching of polished" surfaces can be prevented by sticking thin slices of cork on the bottoms of trays at the four corners. How many people who enjoy floating flower-heads in a decorative bowl have tried resting them on rounds of cork, which, themselves invisible, save the underneath petals from becoming sodden? If a hole is made with a redhot skewer in the centre of the round a tiny length of stem can be poked through and the life of the flowers prolonged.