A HOME-MADE AQUARIUM.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19349, 9 December 1924, Page 5

A HOME-MADE AQUARIUM.

A small aquarium is both amusing and instructive, and is a possession beloved of all small boys. Willi a large-sized sweet' jar, such as one can buy at any confectioner’s for 2s, a water-tight tin or other receptacle, and two bits of tubing or wick, it is possible to make a really satisfactory aquarium. Arrange (ho glass jar 'in which the tures are to live, either on a stool or some bricks so that the water which syhpons from the jar may run away freely. The receptacle holding the water, which is to drip continually into the glass jar by means of a syphon, must be fixed so that the bottom of it is above the level of the top of the glass jar, otherwise the water will not syphon out of it. Now fill both with water from some pond or pool, and put the water creatures in the lower glass jar with some bits of weed and some sand at the bottom. If the upper jar, tin, or whatever you have chosen can bo fitted with a tap so much the better, but if not the flow of water from it to the lower jar can be regulated by means of a piece of rubber tubing or a length of circular wick. The tube will syphon the water from the upper jar to the lower one when you have once given it a start by sucking the air in it. The pace of the flow can be regulated by a clothes peg. The same arrangement of tube or wick must be fixed in the lower glass jar as well, so that the water as constantly being renewed. The wick has its advantages as a syphon, as there is no chance of the creatures disappearing down it ns there is with the tube.

Of course, the size of the aquarium must be considered when the catching the population for it. For instance, it is not possible to keep any fish larger than a minnow in a sweet jar. but there are an enormous number of really fascinating water creatures which will live quite happily in this home-made affair. A great many of them you will put in with the stones and weed, and only discover afterwards, but among those to be collected are water snails which hang from surface of the water and progress along it exactly as though it were the ceiling.—-The Glasgow Weekly Herald.

THE LINEN CUPBOARD. Many girls who are anticipating sotting up housekeeping in the near future take the opportunity afforded by sales of laying up a store of household linen. Haphazard buying is never economical, and it is never a wise plan to buy a thing 'merely because it is cheap. “Do I really need it?” should be the test question, and if the prospective bride is to answer that question she must know before hand what the requirements of a household really are. Here are some suggestions as to a reasonable minimum. It may perhaps be objected that the estimates of the kitchen requirements are on the liberal side, but really it is better to do with fewer table appointments than be niggardly with the kitchen equipment. Therefore we deal with them first. One dozen tea towels and six linen glass cloths make a good beginning. In regard to the latter, it is _ often possible to pick up remnants of linen and make these at home. The fact that they may be of odd sizes doesn’t really mutter. Ihe important point is that the glass cloths, of which there should bo four, are a necessity if tea towels are not to be spoiled using them for hot dishes. Four pudding cloths, a dozen check dusters, half a dozen selvyt dusters, three knitted mesh dish cloths, three house flannels, three knife cloths, half a dozen lavatory towels, and three dust sheets will lay the foundation of really efficient kitchen equipment. In the napery line, there should be three tablecloths for everyday use, and two fine damask linen for special occasions. Of the smaller tablecloths intended for...breakfast, use, three are required, and also 'the same number of 5 o’clock teacloths. Half a dozen each of table napkins and tea serviettes will serve to begin with if the young housekeeper is modest in her entertaining. Four traycloths and one set of tablecloths, and half a dozen d’oyleys will provide ample for all occasions.

Then comes the all-important question of bed linen. A short and safe rule is to have throe pairs of sheets to each bed, three pillow slips, and a couple of bolster cases. This allows for one set to be in use, one in the laundering, and one in reserve. It is usual to allow three blankets to each bed. and a bedspread for each. There must be at least three bath sheets, a dozen Turkish towels, a dozen huckaback, six roller towels, and two bath mats. —The Daily Chronicle.