HAPPY COGS

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 31, 6 February 1937, Page 16 (Supplement)

HAPPY COGS

BUSY UTILE SILK MAKERS

Have you, when handling some rare and lovely piece of silk, ever thought of the tiny workers whose skill and energy have helped to make it? The story of the little silkworm stands alone for strangeness and interest. During the early summer months the moth lays her small, purplish eggs, which are immediately put into “cold storage ’’ or ,in other words, into a pit dug well into the cool earth. For more up-to-date culturists it means “packed on ice. ” Japan, China, Italy, Greece, France, and India remain the foremost silk producing countries in the world and while some farmers in these parts raise three or even four crops of cocoons a year, the general practice seems to be to concentrate on a spring crop when the mulberry leaves are at their best. As soon as the leaves begin to ripen the eggs are taken from their cold bed and put into incubators, where, in about a fortnight, they hatch out into ravenous little grubs. In order to cope with their enormous appetites, mulberry trees aro specially cultivated where the silkworms are raised, for it is only the tenderest and juciest leaves that tempt the newly hatched-out giubs. ** A Big Demand for Leaves These precious babies are spread out on trays with their first meal of finely chopped leaves piled in little mounds beside them, after which the trays are arranged on shelves in rooms specially set aside for feeding purposes. Here the grubs chew day after night, only stopping to moult as they grow too big for their skins. In all they moult four times. All this, as you can imagine, keeps the farmer and his family very busy, and each hour sees them bringing basket loads of fresh leaves ready for the sorting sheds and the mincing machines. As the worms grow older their appetites increase, and their piles of food have to be replenished as often as six or seven times a day. At this stage whole leaves take the place of the daintily shredded strips. While they feed they make a queer staccato munching sound which penetrates into every room in the farmhouse. Hut the farmer and his helpers are by this time so used to tho odd, rhythmic music, that they do not lose many night’ Bleep. At last, however, the long awaited signal comes when the silkworm, fed to the limit, raises its head and begins to swing it from left to right. This means that it is ready to start spinning a silken mesh around itself, and in order that it may do so in comfort the farmer places it very carefully on a twig. An Acrobat The worm then turns itself into an acrobat, doubling its back into the shape of a horseshoe with its 16 tiny legs on the outside, at the same time discharging a silk thread from its lower jaw. This thread, so fine that it can scarcely be seen, is wound by the worm around itself witE a steady figure-of-eight movement, the head being turned once every second. The patienco of this tiny spinner has to be seen to be believed, for it takes 3,000,000 turns of the head to build a complete cocoon. Each cocoon is 3000 yards in length, and so smoothly wound that no machine could excel it for neatness. As soon as they are Teady, they are treated to a hot-air process, and from that stage the manufacture of silk begins. First, these yards of fairylike silk are unwound, and this is done by soaking the cocoons in hot water, loosening the ends, and attaching them to a reeling machine. This machine gradually and skillfully unwinds the silken mesh while the cocoon bobs up and down in the water. The strands are . now wound round each other to form a fine silken thread, which then has to be reeled again by a different machine. Finally, the skeins of eilk arrive at the factory, where they are used to make the pure silk stockings and other dainty garments we see in the shops. THB STOLEN CHRISTMAS DINNER Mustang Valley Dear Hub,—Clipperty clop! clipperty flop! here is frisky Whistling Rufus racing into our Page hoping everyone had a jolly time during the holidays. Mac., Frosty and I had our share of Christmas dinner, because the cowboys had it all set out under a big shady chestnut tree, and when no one was about we helped ourselves. Mac took a bag of apples, and Frosty ate all of the sugar out of about twelve basins and I ate a plum pudding and afterwards Frosty and I helped Mac to eat the apples, for as he was walking away the bag broke and apples were everywhere. The cowboys soon found out who were the thieves, for they saw our hoof marks all around the table. As I have to be shod I will close. Jolly Whistling Rufus. My word, you did have a good Christmas dinner, Whistling Rufus. The cowboys wouldn’t be very pleased. What bird is present at every meal? —The swallow.

NATURE STUDY NOTES This is a new corner we are starting this year and one which we hope will prove to very interesting to all. Cogs aro invited to send in paragraphs or any short nature stories about trees, plants, birds, insects, animals or anything which they might find or notice in their rambles. Pohutukawa, Christmas Tree. One of New Zealands most picturesque native plants is tho Pohutukawa, the Christmas tree of which we aro justly proud. This plant which was formerly much moro abundant grows frequently on tho faces of cliffs, with some of its roots fixed in solid rock, while others are given off quite high up the trunk or from the branches. These roots, however do not usually reach the ground. The Pohutukawa tree # is usually from 30 to 70 feet high, with a massive trunk, much-branched, but in places, as on Rangitoto Island, a low shrub. The leaves are opposite, broadly oblong, densely covered underneath with minute matted hairs; the vivid scarlet flowers are arranged in broad, many-flowered groups, which flower from the centre outwards, while the fruit is a woody capsule, about half an inch long. Truly a magnificent sight are these j Pohutukawas, which are at their best at holiday time. Against the rugged coastline and seashore these imposing trees, glowing with their vivid blooms, make a lasting picture. THE FAIRY SWEET SHOP The fairies have a sweet shop Within a quiet dell, And nowhere are there sweetmeats Like those the fairies sell, Big slabs of golden toffeo With nuts inside to chew, Soft, fluffy gums flowers Of clover, rose and dew. And honeysuckle sugar You’ve never seen before, That melts just as you bite it, And makes you want some more. Weo bags of jollied petals And bars of primrose rock, Tho fairies’ forest sweet shop Has such a lovely stock. And if you wish to find it Walk further than you see, Then take the second turning Beyond the hazel tree. Namo it and break it. What is it? Silence. When is a cup of tea angry! When it’s up-set. Why did the man call his rooster Robinson? Because it Crus-so. What is the oldest table in the world? Tho multiplication table. When is an orange not an orange? When it is a little tart. What fruit sounds likely to do the most mischief? The mcdler.

RED ROSE’S HOME Rose Bed. Dear Hub, —I am writing a few lines to tell you all about the rose bed. Every time people walk past the bed they pick ono of my mates. Once I thought they were going to pick me. Rod Rose. What a fright you would get when you were nearly picked, Red Rose. Your home must be a lovely sight in the summer. WHISKY BILL AND HIS CHRISTMAS PRESENT The Ranch, Canada. Dear Hub, —Centenarian and I have been eating green gooseberries and green peas and we are feeling very fit. Now he is trying his hardest to make me laugh at his silly “jokes,” but he can’t. lie is very childish and giggles at everything all the time. Even when I tripped over his beard and his wild goat charged up and trampled it into the mud, he giggled. Some say it is senile decay, but I don’t. I think the old chap is quite sensible and only getting excited about tho Christmas present I promised him —a whisky still and 98 acres of barley which will last him. about a week. 1 am enclosing a photo of myself and ask you to have your eyes shut tightly the first time you look at it and each time after that a little wider, until you can see it without being at all alarmed. In time it will become your chief weapon. Whisky Bill. Thank you for your photograph, Whisky Bill, I was very delighted with it. Poor old Centenarian’s beard must be a trial to him. Why is tho letter W like a quarrel? —Because it makes ill will.

THE HUB REPLIES TE RAUPARAHA.—Thank you for tho parcel, Te Rauparaha, it was lovely. I suppose you have returned to your followers by now.

When is an orange like a bell? — When it is peeled. When is the letter B like fire? When it makes oil boil.

STAMPS 2 WAKITIPU Error, unused, 8c Send postage for bargain price list specially prepared for junior col lectors. Mention your correct age anc receive three air stamps free. Write us— MAORILAND STAMP CO., Palmerston North.

SMILES Smiles will chase Dark frowns away, Like sunshine on A cloudy day. L. M.

THE EARTH WEARS JEWELS At dawn, from out her well-filled treasure chest The Lady Earth selects her gems to wear. Of all her store, white diamonds please her best. While day is young, she-wears them in her hair. By noon, her mood has changed, and so she turns Back to her golden chest, now gems to seek — And chooses sapphires, whoso deep blueness burns Like sunshine on the winding country creek. When teatime comes, she wears a gown of green With matching jewels, emeralds dark and cool, In whose imagined depths there may be seen The deep bright glories of a shaded pool. At dusk, she fastens rubies in her hair, While fireflies flash in the twilight air. Who wears the biggest hat?—The man with the biggest head. Daisy had only dolls to play with till Auntie gave her a puppy. When bedtime came to her mother told her to put the pup to bed in his basket. After a few minutes Daisy surprised her by saying, “I simply can’t undress my puppy, Mother; his clothes haven’t got any buttons.” <S> <£ <S> «> Spelling was not Millie’s strong point but she loved to use long words. One day she amused us all by saying that she knew our dog was pleased to sec her because he was “wagging his narrative! ” <3> <s> <®> *s> A parrot that flew into a suburban house a week ago is still unclaimed. We gather that the householder has no objection to feeding the bird, but ho is rather embarrassed by its habit of persistently talking golf.

CHRISTMAS AT THE RANCH Bar 20 Ranch.. Dear Hub and Cogs,—Hello mates and how are you all? I’m still alive although I ate a huge Christmas dinner, and what a jolly Christmas we cowboys did have. We had several pals from nearby ranches to dinner and between us wo managed to eat the twelve Christmas puddings, which our Chinese friends had cooked. On Christmas Eve we held a concert in one of our big sheds which had been cleaned and decorated for tho occasion. Cowboys and cowgirls from near and far rolled up, for the Bar 20 Boys’ concerts were worth coming to. .Stalky opened the concert with a song called “When the Cactus is in Bloom” and he cun yodel very well. The next item was also another song by Hank and didn’t the crowd yell and clap their hands. We had community singing next which 1 led, with Jonny thumping on the piano. The audience well nigh lifted the roof off tho building. When the Bar 20 Band struck up the people ul! began to dance and after this Buffalj Bill gavo an exhibition of the .Sailor’s Hornpipe. I could feel tho floor shading beneath my feet, for ho is tin* heaviest' sundowner for miles around The concert went off in fine style right up to tho last item which was a playette. I was acting as a trooper and the others were horse thieves and just as I was about to arrest Buck, tho leader; the ricketty stage collapsed and it took quite a while to scramble out of the wood, chairs and other things. Anyway we wero not hurt so we had supper and after that we danced till we could not dance any more. The other cowboys said it was a jolly good convert and they’d come again next year. Bo that was that. The shoot competition was held on New Year’s Day and I’ll tell you about it next time I write. How are you getting on Whisky Bill? L hope you did not over-eat during Christmas.

Cowboy Tommy. I should have liked to attend your concert, Cowboy Tom. It must have been most enjoyable. 1 am anxious to hear about tho shooting competition. A SUGAR GARDEN For this you must fill a saucer with well-wetted moss, and in the centre place on “opened” pine cone. Fill the openings with soil, and sow it with grass or canary seed. If the cone is kept moist, but not really wet, tho seeds will, sprout in a few days. TO A WATER LILY POOL “Pool, will you toil mo your secrets? is there a little fish in the deep shadows — Is there a green frog under the lily pad— Did bumblebee tvet his wings, mistaking reflection for lily? “Tell me, Pool, where are you hiding the star That shone on your breast last night?” “Yes, there are five fishes hiding in the deep shadows; The green frog, so still, balances a bubble on the tip of his nose; On yonder flat rock, bumblebee sits drying his wings. But my star ? Do I not see it twinkling there in your eye?” Kathryn Kruger. RIDDLES Why is a bald head like tho North I*olo?—Because it is a great, bare spot. What is the difference between a horse and a pencil?—Ono is driven and the other is lcade

GAY HOLIDAYS Hukanui. Dear Hub, The holidays have been so gay For your rhyming P. and P., That sometimes I wondered If it was really me. t went to Fox ton one day And had a lovely swim, Kind friends found a “guard” for me And I went out with him To where the angry breaker’s leapt And tossed their foaming spray Above our heads —yes truly, Hub, ’Twas au exciting day. We went on an aeroplane swing Just after dinner, too, And really, Hub, my dinner Went round and round (it flew!) Then I went to Aw r apuni On New Year’s Day, The cycle races were postponed But it turned out 0.K., For we went to Wanganui And though it wasn’t fine We visited the museum And spent a jolly time Looking at the antiques Of days long past, Lots of Maori treasures From every tribe and east. We went up to the water tower, But oh! it rained a lot, I’m sure that on a fine day Wanganui’s a grand spot. We signed the visitors book, And really it was fun, Seeing famous signatures On the pages one by one. We got back to Palmerston Thrills on the screen to see, Also to indulge in A welcome high tea. Ono night we came your way again The speedway thrills to see, And I nearly lost my voice, Hub, L cheered so lustily. Tho first race held me spell bound, L wouldn’t dare to look, But when the second race came off My fears me—forsook. 1 also called to see you, Hub, That was last year, And now tho second month Of the new year ’a here. Oh, Hub, the saddest things befell Your loving P. and P., And awful cold I’ve caught, Hub, And I feel I ought to be, In my snowhite cosy bed, With blankets warm and soft, Last night 1 couldn’t breathe at all, I sneezed a lot and eoughedl It’s such a silly time to have A cold—and i feel blue, Because I think that I may miss The dance here, Hub, —do you? Think I will be better E’re Saturday is here I hope by Saturday morning L have no cause to fear. Oli! I’ve missed uur Page, Hub, I’m glad it’s time again For it to come on Saturdays Bringing sunshine through the rain! L’ve worn my bluo organdie frock A lot of times you see, And for kind advice I’m grateful, Hub, you see. But must close this letter I’ve had the gayest time And of all my jolly outings Would be no room to rhyme—• 1 know that on New Year’s Eve I took a sudden liking To throwing throWdowns At folk hurridly hiking. I dropped them very softly And no. one seemed to tell, Who they came fpom because E’re they, fell I'd be quite a good w’ay on. Powder and Patches.

WHISKY BILL AS A TARGET FOR CENTENARIAN Dear Hub, —I have not written for a long time as I am getting rather old. We have our school conceit on Tuesday and wo break up on Thursday. Wo have a holiday on Monday for King Albert ’a birthday. Whisky Bill and 1 arc going to town on Christmas Eve together in a wagon and won’t we have a good time? We have two lambs out at tho ranch and . were wondering if you could suggest names for them. 1 know Titania very well. Excuse my,bad writing us my beard is growing too long and keeps getting in my way. However Ido not mind because when it is a bit longer J can sell it to tho brush manufacturers in town for a few hundred dollars uko I did last week. I have been learning to shoot and had Whisky Bill as a target but I had to have armour on to protect me from returning flattened out bullets. Ho was very pleased with the results and there were 8,800 bullet holes in his shirt and I only fired 9, r OO and the 200 I found in the fence. Centenarian. I’m glad I wasn’t your target, Centenarian. How would Jack and Jill suit your lambs for names? What a long beard you must have by now. TO-DAY To-day I have a holiday; The merry birds aro singing in the trees, The bees are humming loud their melody, And sunshine glints on dancing fairy leaves.

I wantcred by the rippling, sparkling stream, Where silvery fishes darted to and fro; To-day is mine, to linger and to dream, To-morrow’s far away; I’ll leave it so. A LOADED APPLE TREE Feilding. Dear Hub, —I went to tho pictures to-day and Laurel and Hardy wero in it. I laughed till my sides ached. Thursday morning I was wakened by two cats lighting. I looked round but could not see them, then suddenly J saw them right out on a thin branch of one of our trees. I came eleventh in ray class at school. We went to tho beach last week-end and bought a lovely big schnapper for Is Gd. Wo have a lovely applo tree and it Ss just loaded. I wish I could make my letters like Powder and Patches. Star Twinkle. Laurel and Hardy are very amusing, aren’t they, Star Twinkle? Your apples will soon be ripe now. What coat never has anv buttons?— Y coat of paint.

Fig.—c—An Electric Camion. Here is an amusing little experiment t Make a tube about 20 cm a long by wrapping a piece of thin carton round & stick and gluing tho edge. Now wind three or four layers of thin copper wire—from an old electric bell, if you have one—round the tube, and fix n little cork in one end. Tho cannon is now ready for action. In order to “shoot” you must have an electric battery, and a pin, which is the shell. Slant the cannon as shown in the diagram. Attach one end of the copper wire to ono of the contracts on tho battery, and load the cannon by putting a pin into the tube. Take the other wire in your hand and let it touch the second contact —and the pin will shoot into the air! But remember that it is essential to remove tho

DUCKLINGS AND CHICKENS Maugawhuta. Dear Hub, —I passed in examinations and I am in Std. 5 and my two brothers passed also. Tho weather is. very windy up here. We aro getting a new school and they liavo nearly finished. 1 have a school garden plot, but 1 don’t attend to it very much. Wo have just had a cow in for tho first time and I have to milk her now r , her namo is Darkio because she is black all over. Our cat Whisky has just had three kittens but one died and we had to drown the rest. Wo have four cats and their names qro Whisky, Sado, Tommy and another that hasn’t a name. Wo had two fowls sitting, both with a dozen eggs and there was only one had chickens and she has ouly three. Wo had another black fowl sitting two or three weeks ago and she bached seven chicks. We havo three ducklings and I think two of them will be drakes. Machcre. I am glad you and your brot tiers passed in tho examinations, Machere. It must be fun having a garden plot at school. What plants havo you in it! DO YOU KNOW Why the goldfish swims farther than any other fish? Because it is always swimming round the globe. Why a saw is irritable! Because its teeth are on edge. Why a giraffe’s legs aro long? Because its body is a long way off the ground. And lastly do you know why Denmark is like tho first u in cucumber? Well, of course, because it is between two c’s (seas).

Fig.—b—A Homs-made Pocket Puzzle The picture is a bird’s-eye view ot & motor-car, and I expect you think tho wheels look rather queer—bat it is not without reason, as you will shortly gee. (Jut out tho picture, and stick it on to the bottom of a match-box. If you coloured it, it would be a great improvement! Cut out the five circles, and stick them carefully on to five flat buttons which aro nearly the same size. Put them in tho box, and stick a piece of cellophane over tho top of o box—and tho puzzle is finished! The object is to shake the discs into their proper places in the car—tho four "wheels” in tho corners, and the steering wheel between the man ’» arms. It rounds quite easy—until you try!

copper wire from the contact immediately, in fact so quickly that it makes a spark. If the wire is allowed to remain on the contact, the pin will go half way up the tube and stop there. It is the so-called “induction current” that is responsible for this effect on the pin. Fig—d—A Little Intelligence Test: How Many Pacas? Bobby’s undo said to him.one day; “If you stand five paces away from & seat in the garden, and walk towards it, taking one step backwards for every two you take forwards, how many steps must you take before you reach the seat ’' Bobby went out into the garden, and tried it out practically—and found it quite easy. But see if you can work it out in your head, and you will find it considerably more difficult!

FUN AT THE BEACH Taiigimonna. Dear Hub, —1 am at the beach now Wo came out on Boxing Day. I have been in for six swims so far. Mr Kyle from L’ZO is out hero. Tho other day we were in his dingy and he came along to the beach. (Jhriss was terribly excited and pushed Mary overboard. It was raining heavily here yesterday but it did not stop us swimming. There is a pine track to the ocean beach. The river is very dirty. We went down to-day to the sea and had a good game in tho water. Mum came ia-too. We had fun on the sand hills.. 1 Btar Twinkle. What a lovely holiday you mtist have had at the beach, Star Twinkfe. It is great fun making sand castles,. isa ’* it? A TENT UNDER THE APPLE TRr*E& liungiwuhin. Dear Hub, —Dawson and I have made a tent under the apple trees.’ Dad and Gordon aro going to kill a pig. I have been to Kangiwuhia. We have 'our two cousins staying with us. If \ have time on Wednesday I will pop in to weo you. I received a pair of tennis socks from »St. Nicolas. I havo a pen-friend in Scotland. Isn’t it fun Cogs having pen friends ia other countries, Tui. I think the tent under tho apple tco& is a very good idea, Tui. Your friend in {Scotland must be very ixt# csting. Whv is a Christmas cake like a ea* pet?—Because it need# a Jot of beating. What is the only pain which cveryono makes light of!—A window paue.