ASK THE WITCH DOCTOR

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 230, 28 September 1929, Page 2 (Supplement)

ASK THE WITCH DOCTOR

Stamps aslcs: (a)The value or the following- .stamps: N.Z.. Queen 'Victoria full face, one penny pinlclsb brown, twopence brown, twopence blue, threepence, purple; German stamps of »7H and Empire France blue iO G postes. (b) in which part of London is the Crystal Palace situated? — (a) The first four stamps are worth 1/0 each, the. German and French Id each, (b) The Crystal , Paliicc stands at Sydenham, and was erected in 1352-5 i. Andrea would like to know the age or a Cape or Good Hope liaU'-nenny stamp, grey-green, with a lady sitting on art" anchor, while alongside stands a sheep with curly horns. —The dale of this stamp is 1890. Country Reader would be pleased to know if benzine shrinks tilings washed In it. fvo, benzine docs not make them shrink. Craigievar says: How could I learn how to make, a glider, and what would the material cost? —A series of articles touching on this subject will be conducted in these columns shortly.

Crazy Wolf asks: (a) What wood to use for a bow. (b) How to make a pair of moccasins.—(a) Bows are usually made of lance wood," yew, Hickory or snakewood. Willow will give the necessary spring for a toy bow. (1)) An article on I lie subject appeared last Saturday. Ginge 2 asks: Who invented the Mrst mirror?— Mirrors were discovered the llrst time man saw bis reflection in the still waters of forest ponds. Early mirrors were made usually oi' polished brass. Silver mirrors were introduced by Praxiteles, H2B, B.C. The Venetians made glass mirrors in the 14th century. Scientist wishes to know: (a) Why are pases or air not pulled by the force or gravity? (b) Why is it that if you were to throw a piece of soap into a g-eyser it suddenly starts its activities? — (a) Gases ami air are pulled by gravity. (h) The introduction of. soup to it geyser will not cause It to play: its introduction to a geyser already about to play will, however, have an effect of hastening the action. What happens is that the. dissolved soap causes a scum to form on the surface oi' the nearly boiling- water, thus stimulating- heat by preventing- the steam to escape. An everyday example is the sudden rising of a pan of scalding milk as it bursts through the layer of cream which lias prevented the free escape of steam.