650 USEFUL REFERENCES 



screen, and applying at the rate of one cartload to every forty square 

 rods. Should the soil be of a dry nature, add 7 Ib of bone-meal to each square 

 rod. If moist, use a similar amount of basic slag. Once a year apply Ib. of 

 nitrate of soda to each square rod in the case of dry soils, and a similar quantity 

 of sulphate of ammonia in that of a moist one. Where the grass is very thin, 

 sow a mixture of grass seeds. 



Rainfall. Th-; depth of rainfall in inches multiplied by 3,630 equals 

 number of cubic feet per square acre ; multiplied by 22,623, equals number of 

 gallons per square acre. 



Thus: 



Inches. Cubic feet per acre. Gallons per acre. Tons per acre 



3,630 = 22,635 = lOl'l 



7,260 = 42,270 -= 202'2 



10,890 = 67,905 = 303'3 



18,150 = 113,174 = 505'5 



Material for (and cost of) Cart wheels. The most generally used 

 woods in Ceylon for making cart wheels are " Hal-milla " ( Bcrrya ammonilla ), 

 " Suriya " (Thcspesia popnlnca) and " Ratu-wa " (Cassia marginata). The 

 usual quantity of two ordinary cart wheels of 4i feet diameter are: 12 pieces for 

 rims @ 50 cents each ; 24 spokes @ 18 cents, two hubs @ Rs. 3, total for two 

 wheels Rs. 16'32. Iron tyres and bushes, about Rs. 10 extra. To this must be 

 added the cost of labour (carpentry), viz., about Rs. 14, in all say Rs. 40. 



To revive flowers, Rinse the stalks in fresh water and put into warm 

 salt-water, to which has been added a few drops of sulphate of ammonia. As. 

 each flower is ready to be placed in the vase of fresh water, snipp off a small 

 portion of the stalk with a sharp pair of scissors. To keep a spray of arranged 

 flowers fresh, place them on damp cotton-wool under a basin. This keeps the 

 air away, and preserves their freshness. It is specially recommended for 

 maiden-hair fern. 



To prepare Skeleton leaves. Mix about one drachm chloride of 

 lime with one pint water, adding sufficient acetic acid to liberate the chlorine. 

 Steep the leaves in this until they are whitened ( about 10 minutes should 

 suffice ), taking care not to leave them in too long. Then put them into clean water 

 and float them out on pieces of paper. Lastly remove the fronds from the 

 paper before they are quite dry, and place them in a book or press. They look 

 best when mounted on black velvet or paper. 



To preserve fern fronds. Reject very young fronds, as they will 

 lose their colour in drying. Place the selected fronds between several sheets 

 of blotting paper, and pass over a moderately heated flat iron for several min- 

 utes. Use only, however, will determine how long to continue the ironing, as 

 ferns vary in the thickness of their fronds. Then place separately in a book, 

 and lay aside for a day or two previous to mounting. To do this, smear the 

 sheet of paper over with liquid gum, lay the reverse side of the frond on the 

 gummed surface, press gently, remove, and place carefully on the paper where 

 you intend it to remain. Finally pass over a piece of blotting paper to remove 

 creases. 



To drive away sparrows from bungalows, etc. Smear a few 

 thin twigs with any sticky substance, as bird-lime, seccotine, or the resinous 



