SUGGESTIONS FOR THE MONTH 
. M sFOR THE HOUSE AND GARDEHa £ 
THE HOUSE 
I T is, after all, the change of seasons which gives 
the householder occupation. Where there is 
perpetual summer or unending winter the 
home can be arranged once tor all, but where the 
climates of the torrid, temperate and frigid zones are 
all experienced in a single year it is necessary to 
make special adjustment. When Nature changes 
her gown the house also must be redressed. In 
October how welcome are the carpets and heavy 
curtains, but in May how glad one is to have them 
removed! Perhaps it is the brilliancy of the sun, 
or the brightness of the flowers, which puts all else 
to shame, but surely those things which have worn 
an air of genuine respectability during the winter 
months look quite disreputable when spring arrives. 
Some cynic may suggest that the winter’s wear tells 
then, but it is not only this—the newness of the out¬ 
door world seems to require newness within. If, 
therefore, the house is situated where there is a 
marked change from winter to summer, the house¬ 
holder will feel real joy in displacing all those things 
which suggest warmth and storing them away. If 
the house is a winter home merely there will be much 
to do in the way of packing and cleaning in order to 
close it without injury. Under these conditions the 
utmost caution should be taken to prevent accident 
by either fire or water. No greasy waste, used, for 
example, to polish furniture or floors; no shavings, 
or oily rags, should be left in closets, or elsewhere, 
and the water, gas and electricity should be turned 
off of the house. If, for any reason, this cannot be 
done, have the electric wires all thoroughly examined 
in order to make sure that the insulation is perfect, 
and do not put stoppers in the tub drains, so that if 
a faucet leaks or is left accidentally turned on there 
will be no overflow. Gasoline, cautiously used, and 
newspaper wrappers, are the best preventions 
against moths, and borax put on pantry shelves and 
around water pipes will drive away insects which are 
apt to put in an appearance when the house is 
unoccupied. Pains should also be taken with the 
door and window catches, screw bolts beingprobably 
the best fasteners for the one, and metal pegs run 
through both sashes the safest for the other. These 
are of course the obvious things, but they are the 
ones most frequently overlooked. If, however, the 
merely practical things are done the rest can be left. 
Cleanliness, common-sense, and ordinary caution, 
are all that are needed to safeguard the home against 
all its enemies including dust and common thieves. 
If it is a summer home which is requiring attention 
the problem is reversed and instead of placing it in 
order for a period of vacancy it must be prepared for 
habitation. Little repairs must be made; rugs put 
down—not woolen ones if possible—curtains hung, 
cushions gotten out, and the myriad little things 
done to make the house homelike and comfortable. 
Perhaps, however, it is, after all, an all-the-year- 
round-house, in which case both situations will be 
embodied in one. And whether it be a town or 
country residence it will make little difference, the 
same changes must be made, the same conditions 
coped with. 
Screens must be placed in the windows and doors, 
and without delay. Those of a metal mesh which 
do not rust or require painting are decidedly best and 
least expensive in the end, but the others are very 
acceptable. If it is found when the screens are 
gotten out of the storeroom or cellar that they have 
rusted and they are otherwise in fair condition they 
can be painted and made to look very satisfactory. 
Make the paint very thin and put in plenty of drier 
or it will clog, and while they are still wet do not let 
them come in contact with dust. 
If there are outside shutters it is well to have them 
painted at this tinie, and if the outside shades are 
light in color take them down and put up dull green 
ones instead. Venetian blinds are very good for 
summer use as they screen the light and yet admit 
the air. 
Awnings may be put up at the same tiire the 
screens are put in though they probably will not be 
needed until June. In purchasing these care should 
be taken to get colors which cast an agreeable shade 
as well as those which look well from the outside. 
They should he so hung that they protect the window 
or piazza from the sun and heat but do not cut off 
all the air. They can be a great comfort but they 
may be a nuisance, according to how they are con¬ 
structed and placed. 
The floors naturally will require attention. Matting 
makes a good covering, but the finished floor and 
such rugs as come now for bedroom and cottage use 
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