Ai-KlL, 102'. 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE 



forming a shelf at each side instead of the 

 enameled drain boards which are so common 

 in the East. Underneath the tiled shelves 

 the space is solidly built in to the floor Avith 

 cupboards, drawers, zinc-lined bins for flour, 

 sugar, etc., and a kneading board which 

 slides out like those in kitclien cabinets. 

 The space underneath the sink is open, of 

 course, for comfort in standing before it; 

 but all the other space is utilized, and being 

 solid to the floor the housekeeper is saved 

 the necessity of sweeping under it. 



Above the tiled drain boards are hung 

 more cupboards at a height which leaves a 

 convenient working surface underneath 

 tliem. Notice that these cupboards are a 

 little narrower than those below on account 

 of the windows over the sink. Instead of 

 tile a composition called woodstone is often 

 used. Above the sink notice the little re- 

 cess iu the tile for a cake of soap. 



This built-in hood, plastered like the rest 

 of the ceiling, is over the range to carry 

 away the odors and steam from cooking. 



Another convenience found in every Cali- 

 fornia home which we have seen is the so- 

 called "cooler." This is a cupboard, shaped 

 much like an ordinary chimney, reaching 

 from floor to ceiling, with shelves of wire 

 netting or slatted wood. There is a screened 

 opening into tliis from the outside, below 

 the level of the floor, and another at the 

 the top or near the top. A current of air is 

 drawn through this at all times, making it 

 a good substitute for the refrigerator in 

 cool or moderate weather and supplement- 

 ing the refrigerator in warm weather. In 

 some of the best coolers is a shallow draw 

 shelf for eggs. These coolers are supposed 

 to be more efficient if they are on a north 

 outside wall, or a shaded wall, but I have 

 seen them in all positions and on inside 

 Avails. If I were going to move back to 

 Ohio, which I am not, that cooler idea 

 should accompany me. 



We liave found both breakfast rooms and 

 breakfast nooks or alcoves, but to my mind 

 the latter are far preferable, saving time and 

 effort and answering every purpose of the 

 separate breakfast room. Having enthused 

 over the one we built in Ohio to the extent 

 of some 2,000 words on this page I am not 

 going to say any more about them now. 



Here is something which you men must 

 not miss. Notice when I open this narrow 

 cupboard door a most convenient ironing 

 board drops doAvn into position all ready 

 for ironing, and notice too that a sm;iil 

 sleeve board is so hinged that it can be 

 dropped down over the larger board when 

 needed. If your wife hasn't this conveni- 

 ence, make her a present of it and see if 

 slie does not pay for it by keeping your best 

 trousers in press. 



This wide cupboard near the range has 

 no shelves. Instead it has rows of strong 

 hooks on ji'hich to hang such utensils as 

 frying pans, stew pans, etc. It is surpris- 

 ing how many kitchen utensils may be hung 



up and how much more accessible they are 

 than when nested on shelves. 



CALIFOENTA homes are sometimes built 

 without bedrooms, having "disappear- 

 ing beds" in living room, dining room 

 or both, but I don't believe there is one in 

 Los Angeles without the "screen porch." 

 By this is not meant the ordinary screen- 

 ed porch of the East. A "screen porch" 

 is the dearest little laundry room and 

 back porch combined you ever saw. It 

 is really a small room opening out of the 

 kitchen with several wide windows pro- 

 tected only by screen. The white enameled 

 laundry tubs are usually place<l under the 

 windows so that the housekeeper can com- 

 fort her soul with a vista of graceful pepper 

 trees, plumy yellow acacias, palms or per- 

 haps a mountain view. In the house Avhere 

 Ave are at present some misguided builder 

 placed the tubs against the blank Avail of 

 tlie house away from the view and light. 

 Many of the better houses liave the screened 

 AvindoAvs protected by removable sash for 

 use in Avinter. 



A broom and cleaner closet is often on 

 the screened porch although it may be in 

 the kitchen. 



DEAR me, I kept you in the kitchen re- 

 gion so long that Ave shall have to hurry 

 through the rest of the house. Three- 

 bedroom bungaloAvs are not as common as 

 those Avith tAvo, but this one has three and 

 they all open in this long, rather narroAV 

 hall Avhich diAddes them from the rest of 

 the house. Opening into this hall are a most 

 couA'enient linen closet Avith Avide sheh-es 

 and draAvers and a large coat closet. The 

 bedrooms Avith their many casement Avin- 

 doAvs are as airy as the a^-erage sleeping 

 porch. Many bedrooms in tliis state liaA-e 

 Pullman AvindoAvs, disappearing doAAm into 

 tlie Avail, and they seem to Avork A^ery well 

 in this climate although not considered prac- 

 tical in the East. Sleeping porches, protect- 

 ed only by canvas curtains Avhich can be 

 drawn up by cords on pulleys, are also very 

 popular and can be used Avith comfort tlie 

 3^ear around. 



Notice that each bedroom has one or more 

 couA^enient clothes closets Avith poles for 

 clothes hangers and plenty of hooks. In 

 some of the more expensive bungalows chif- 

 foniers are built in at one end of the closet 

 under a windoAv. 



The bathrooms in the ncAver bungalows 

 are a joy to the housekeeper. A large pro- 

 portion have beautifully tiled floors, built- 

 in tubs and shoAvers and drawers for tOAvels, 

 fine medicine closets Avith mirrors and ex- 

 ceptionally good fixtures throughout. 



The attic to a southern California house 

 is apt to be an air space only, and tlie tiny 

 basement, if there is any, is a joke to an 

 easterner. As to the garage, it is almost al- 

 Avays present, but if I stopped to take you 

 through it the editor would be charging me 

 regular advertising rates. 



