House and Garden 
an inch beyond the rim when the tire is on the wheel. 
When the shoe is put on it will jam this patch into the 
rim and it will hold very well. It requires patience 
and care to bend this into the clincher ring and catch 
it there, also some pounding of the tire. One can get 
the knack after a few trials and several of these patches 
in the car inspire confidence. There is a blow out 
patch on the market with metal plates to catch under 
the rim which is easier to attach and goes on the out¬ 
side of the tire. This keeps the dirt from working 
into the shoe. A few pieces of rubber cut from worn 
inner tubes, say about four by six inches, should be 
carried for use in mending the inner tube if not too 
badly blown away. These, with a can of Brazilian 
gum or rubber cement, make one sure ot being on the 
way again. 
In putting on a patch of this size, or in tact a smaller 
one, rub the rubber thoroughly with gasoline, both 
patch and tube, allowing it to dry before covering 
with cement and let the cement remain on the patch 
and tube till it gets dull and loses its varnish like 
appearance, some fifteen or twenty minutes, it one 
can manage to wait so long. 
In turning corners at speed, the weight ot the car 
pulls the fabric of the shoe in its weakest direction, 
sideways, and as the turn checks the speed ot the car 
to a great extent anyway, it will be found that a great 
saving of tires can be made by slowing up before 
turning. This will save many half hours spent in 
changing shoes and tubes. 
For suburban use to and from the station a very 
good device is the extra tire already inflated which 
can be clamped against the side of the wheel. This is 
carried on its own rim which has sockets which fix 
it to the spokes and clamps which hook into the rim 
under the regular tire. In case of a puncture it is only 
necessary to jack up and fix it in place, the other tire 
being left in place but the weight of the car being 
carried on the outside tire. This is the work of a very 
few minutes and a great convenience where certainty 
of arrival at the destination on time is of importance. 
The handling of pneumatic tires on the car is not 
such a bugbear if one would give the matter the 
proper attention and practice, although it must be 
confessed the work is anything but cleanly. Always 
carry at least two tire irons, one ot which should be 
about a foot and a half long, to give a good leverage 
where the shoe is hard to start, also an iron lor hold¬ 
ing the shoe well away from the rim to remove valve 
stems and lugs if the style of tire is the clincher. This 
can be combined with the long iron and one style has 
two arms having hooks at the end of each arm the 
others attached to the iron a few inches from one 
end by a swivel. Placing this end on top ot the shoe 
or outer case and hooking the two hooks under the 
edge of it a lift on the other end will raise one side ot 
the tire so that the lugs or valve stem can readily be 
removed. It is generally necessary to work from 
the side, however, on account of the fenders interfer¬ 
ing with the action of the lever so the wheel can be 
turned to bring the iron below the fenders and if 
working alone when the shoe is opened out stand 
sideways to the wheel and press the outer side of the 
leg or knee against the handle which will hold it in 
place leaving both hands free to release the lugs. 
Valves cost little and weigh almost nothing so carry 
a half dozen new ones and when changing tubes, by 
removing the old valve the air will escape faster and a 
new valve insures holding air. In cold weather the 
tube can be patched and stand up well. Many people 
use patches in summer instead of vulcanizing and find 
they hold well. A piece of discarded inner tube, not 
too old though, makes a good patch. Of course 
months may pass with no need of care about the tires 
but there is the chance always of needing the repair 
outfit. 
In driving the car avoid running over anything if 
you can help it. Pieces of wire, tin, sticks, sharp 
stones, boxes, tin cans are all enemies and the front 
wheel may toss them so they will attack the rear 
wheel. Of course one will not take a course like a 
snake, but where the road is wide and clear an inch 
or two either way carries the tire clear of a broken 
bottle or sharp stone standing alone in the way. 
Attention to the small details when the car is in 
good condition will carry the machine through a long 
season with no trouble to speak of and will make un¬ 
necessary the “fool proof” devices which are never so 
good as the ones intended for the use of wise men. 
ITEMS FROM “AUTOMOBILE TOPICS.” 
As a rule there is more talk about good roads 
than anything else. Deeds are what count, and one 
of the reasons why the area of improved roads is 
so much smaller than the total road mileage is 
because there are so few deeds. Governor Gillette, 
of California, dwelt upon this excess of talk in an 
address at the recent good roads convention at 
Stockton, when he said: “In my inaugural address 
I strongly advocated good roads. My opinion has 
not changed. If we merely talk and resolve, we will 
accomplish nothing. We must decide upon a prac¬ 
tical plan and get into harness and see that the plan 
is put into action and carried to successful comple¬ 
tion. There are many rich counties in the State 
which can well afford to improve their highways.” 
A case of the lion and the lamb lying down to¬ 
gether is reported by our Indianapolis correspondent. 
He records that the motorists of Shelbyville, Ind., 
“ pleased with the treatment received at the hands 
of the lawyers and courts,” placed their automobiles 
and drivers at the disposal of the Shelby County Bar 
Association, court and county officials. A run was 
made to Flatrock Cave where a picnic was held. 
