1914, 
THE RURAL N LC W-YOKKKK 
216 
What to Do With ‘•Hard’’ Water. 
I would like to know what I can do 
to soften “hard” water. My artesian 
well has good drinking water, but for 
washing and bathing purposes it is too 
“hard.” My wife uses soda, ammonia 
and numerous softening agents without 
much benefit, and the use of these agents 
has “cut” her hands and fingers consid¬ 
erably. This latter feature I am more 
desirous of eliminating than anything 
else. Can you help me? A. h. k. 
Bound Brook, N. J. 
The “hardness” of water is usually 
caused by the sulphates and carbonates 
of lime and magnesia. It is due, in the 
case of well water, almost entirely to 
the absorption from the limy or chalky 
strata through which the water flows. 
Deep well waters are more often affected 
than shallow wells, because the water of 
deep wells frequently flows for many 
miles through such a chalky layer, while 
the water of shallow wells has not, as 
a rule, flowed underground for any great 
distance. Much of the hardness—that 
called “temporary” hardness—may be re¬ 
moved by boiling and filtering or strain¬ 
ing. It may also be removed by adding 
lime water and allowing to stand a 
while and then filtering or straining. If, 
however, the hardness is “permanent,” 
there can be nothing done other than 
what you have ali’eady done. That is, 
carbonate of soda (washing soda), borax 
or ammonia must be added and the water 
then boiled and filtered. You may have 
stopped after adding these things, in 
which case not much benefit is found. 
The addition of soda, borax or ammonia 
merely changes the sulphates to carbon¬ 
ates and these carbonates must then be 
removed by boiling and filtering or by 
adding lime water and filtering. If large 
quantities of the water are used, instead 
of filtering, leave the water standing in 
a barrel or other container for 24 hours, 
allowing the precipitate to settle at the 
bottom. B. P. C. 
Fire Extinguishers. 
Can you give the formula for a fire ex- 
tingushing solution using carbon tetra¬ 
chloride as a component part? Was this 
the solution (used in bottles) that was 
so much advertised a number of years 
ago? ^ T. s. B. 
Ilammondsport, N. Y. 
Although I am acquainted with the 
formula? and construction of about 50 
different fire extinguishers, I do not know 
of any containing carbon tetrachloride. 
Your inquiry concerning a much adver¬ 
tised solution of some years ago is too in¬ 
definite for a certain answer. The Bab¬ 
cock extinguisher was much advertised, 
but so were many others. Perhaps the 
Babcock was more spoken of and pushed 
than any other, so I will give its con¬ 
struction. There are two substances con¬ 
tained within the reservoir, an acid, 
usually sulphuric acid, and a second 
chemical, usually a solution of bicarbon¬ 
ate of soda in water. These are kept 
separate normally, but upon inverting 
the reservoir, the acid flows upon the bi¬ 
carbonate and carbonic acid gas is gen¬ 
erated, giving sufficient pressure to throw 
the whole contents from the nozzle of 
the little hose, with a great deal of force. 
Carbonated water is always a splendid 
substance for fire extinguishing purposes, 
because it has not only the effect of 
water in general, but it also liberates 
carbon dioxide which, of itself, is effi¬ 
cient. The idea back of almost all of the 
extinguishers, whether solutions or gren¬ 
ades, is to liberate gas which does not 
support combustion. That is, the supply 
of oxygen is choked off from the fire. 
That is really the only way of stopping 
a fire. It is the purpose of water, but 
when water is thrown on oil, for exam¬ 
ple, the oil floats on the water and still 
burns because it has access to the oxy¬ 
gen of the air, but if sand or earth is 
thrown upon the oil, air supply is cut off 
and the burning ceases. B. P. c. 
How to Tan a Hide. 
Will you give me the proper method 
in preparing muskrat skins and pelts of 
that nature for a coat lining? c. W. M. 
Methuen, Mass. 
The following method has given satis¬ 
faction to many of our readers: It is a 
method applicable to all skins with the 
fur on. First trim off all useless parts, 
then remove all fatty matter from the in¬ 
side. (If the skin is dry, it must first 
be softened by soaking.) Next soak the 
skin for an hour in warm water. After 
this, spread over the inside of the skin, 
by means of a brush, a coating of the 
following mixture: One ounce borax, one 
ounce saltpetre, one ounce glauber salts 
(sulphate of soda). Water sufficient to 
make a thin paste. The coating should 
be heavier on the thicker parts of th^ 
skin; double the skin together, coated 
side inwards, and put it away in a cool 
place. At the end of 24 hours apply, in 
the same manner as before, a coating of a 
mixture consisting of one ounce sal soda, 
one half ounce borax, two ounces hard 
white soap. Melt these together slowly 
by heat, without allowing the mixture to 
boil. After coating the skin with the 
above, fold it together again as before, 
and put it in a warm place for another 
24 hours. At the expiration of this time, 
take four ounces alum, eight ounces salt, 
two ounces saleratus. Dissolve these 
in hot water sufficient in quantity to sat¬ 
urate the skin; when cool enough not to 
scald the hands, soak the skin in it for 
12 hours; then wring it out, and hang 
it up to dry. The soaking and drying 
must be repeated two or three times, un¬ 
til the skin is sufficiently soft. Lastly, 
smooth the inside with fine sand-paper 
and pumice stone. 
Handling Crimson Clover. 
Do you think it will pay us to sow 
Crimson clover with oats eaxly in April? 
The oats are to be cut just as soon as 
fit for hay, the clover later, to be plowed 
in, so that we can grow turnips or other 
root crops. We would top-dress the oats 
lightly with stable manure. The land is 
fairly loaded with humus now. J. I. N. 
New Jersey. 
No, it will not pay to sow Crimson 
clover in the Spring. You would hardly 
get the value of your seed back. This 
is not a Spring clover. It should be 
seeded in late Sximmer if at all. When 
seeded in Spring it will stop growing, 
head up and die when hot weather comes. 
Sow Canada field peas with your oats, 
cut the combined crop for hay or green 
fodder, and plow under the stubble for 
your later crops. 
Which Pump? 
Let Our Pump Expert Help You Decide 
Out of 300 different types of pumps it’s hard to pick the very one you 
need. Get expert advice. Write our Mr. Gould, in charge of our Consulta¬ 
tion Department. He will gladly help you, without charge, without 
obligation. His experience will surely save you money and vexation. 
Before you buy any pump or water system, find out about 
RELIABLE 
Leaders for 65 Years 
Goulds Reliable Pumps outsell any 
other pumps made. They have won 
on sheer merit. Now nn immense 70- 
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facture the hundreds of thousands 
of pumps we send out yearly. 
In buying a Goulds you get the 
newest improvements, the best qual¬ 
ity, and at the low price which our 
multiplied output makes j>ossible. 
The highest-class dealers in every 
looalitysell Goulds Reliable Pumps. 
Look up the one in your town. 
This Book Free 
If you are figuring on installing 
any sort of a water system, if you 
want to know how to have running 
water in home, barn or outbuild¬ 
ings, send for this free book. In it 
is a blank, which, if you fill out 
and return, will bring you back 
detailed information and figures. 
It’s an easy way to learn just what 
size and type of system your farm 
requires. Be sure and write for the 
book today. 
THE GOULDS MANUFACTURING COMPANY 
58 West Fall Street, Seneca Falls, N. Y. 
(32) Largest Man ufacturers of Rumps for Every Pu rpose 
MARKET GARDENER’S PAPER 
Estab. 1907. Twice a month. 
Read fot profit by progressive vege¬ 
table growers. $1.00 a year. The Plus 
Sign is the symbol of oar (asriatee 
that yon will get yonr money’s worth 
sad more, or yoar money hack. Sample 
free if you grow vegetaoles to .ell. 
Address Market Growers Journal 
721 Inter-Son. Bldg., Lonisville, Ky, 
n 
JUST OUT! 
•* 
f 
Make 82000.00 to S4000.00 a year Belling 
the new improved 
AUTOMATIC COMBINATION TOOL 
Combining a lifting jack and eloven 
other much used tools. Breeger, Minn, 
sold 23 in two days. Profit $77.05. Double 
acting—automatic. General Agents— 
write quick for terms, territory offer, etc. 
HARRAH MFG. CO. 8. Bloomfield. In4. 
Reo the Fifth s s w $220 Less 
The New 
Streamline 
Body 
Completely Equipped 
Electric Starter and Lights 
Now $1,175 
Touring Car 
or Roadster 
30 to 35 h. p. 
112-in wheel base 
34x4-in. tires 
Mr. R. E. Olds has now done 
what he aimed at when he brought 
out this final car. By confining 
his output for years to one model, 
he has brought down the cost over 
16 per cent. 
Up to this season, Reo the Fifth 
sold for $1,395 completely equipped, 
with electric starter and elec¬ 
tric lights. Now, with this new 
streamline body, with better equip¬ 
ment, with 36 improvements, the 
price is $1,175 equipped. 
How He Did It 
Three years ago Mr. R. E. Olds 
brought out Reo the Fifth as his 
24th model. He then announced 
—after 25 years of car building— 
that this car marked his limit. 
This new chassis, like every new 
chassis, required an immense in¬ 
vestment. New automatic machin¬ 
ery, new jigs and tools. And 
against each car a charge was 
made to cover this expense. 
This Car jumped at once to an 
enormous sale, and that machin¬ 
ery investment has been all wiped 
out. Now this charge is deducted 
from the price. Also the lower 
tire cost. Also the lower cost of 
electric equipment. As a result, 
we now announce this $220 re¬ 
duction. 
The New Things 
This year we adopt the beautiful 
streamline body. All the leading 
cars, both in Europe and here, are 
now coming to this type. 
All instruments and gauges are set 
flush with the dash. We use a venti¬ 
lating, rain-vision windshield. The 
car comes equipped with electric 
starter, electric lights and electric 
horn. The searchlights have dim¬ 
ming attachment. 
There are in all 36 new features, 
most of them in beauty and equip¬ 
ment. 
An Honest Car 
Reo the Fifth has stood among all 
men as the highest type of an honest 
car. All the steel is made to formula. 
All is analyzed twice. Every driving 
part, as a margin of safety, is given 
50 per cent over-capacity. 
The gears are tested in a crushing 
machine for 75.000 pounds per tooth. 
The springs are tested for 100,000 
vibrations. The car has 15 roller 
bearings, costing five times as much 
as common ball bearings. It has 190 
drop forgings to avoid the risk of 
flaws. 
It is built slowly and carefully, with 
countless tests and inspections. Each 
car is built as though Mr. Olds were 
building it for himself. So the car 
stays new. The upkeep is very small. 
Year after year, when other cars 
grow troublesome and noisy, Reo 
the Fifth keeps new. 
It is built for men who want the 
utmost in a car. Men who want low 
cost of upkeep. Men who buy the 
car to keep. It could be built for 
about $200 less without all these 
precautions. 
And it has our exclusive one-rod 
control. No levers in the way. 
A thousand dealers sell Reo the 
Fifth. Write for name of nearest 
dealer. Also our new catalog. 
Reo Motor Car Company, Lansing, Mich. 
Canadian Factory, St. Catharines, Ont. Canadian Price, $1,575. 
( 222 ) 
