A successful orchardist and gardener of Spokane, Washington, attributes a part of the profits he has derived from his fruit and vegetable culture to the encouragement he has given birds to come to his place.
Knowing a great deal about the habits and the needs of birds, he realized that ample bathing facilities for them are greatly appreciated and he at once proceeded to supply them with this luxury, for if there is anything a bird likes it is his daily bath.
To encourage them to make his place their permanent home, he built a wooden frame, about 12x20 inches in size and 6 inches deep, and into this frame he poured concrete, which he mixed, leaving a shallow depression in the center, which would hold about a quart of water. These concrete baths he placed on top of an upright piece of 4x4 scantling sunk into the ground. He put the bath on this post and filled the bath with water, and awaited results. Inside of ten minutes a dozen birds had gathered at the outdoor bathing place thus provided and were enjoying their bath as though it were the greatest luxury of their lives. He then put up eight or ten more throughout the orchard, garden, and yard, and in a short time the place was literally alive with birds.
Plan No. 567. The Bird Bath
Before long insects of all kinds had been reduced and his fruits and vegetables gave him better yields. He thereupon began to manufacture the bird-baths by the hundreds, at a cost of about 5 cents each, and through a little advertising was enabled to sell them for $1 apiece.
PLAN No. 568. BECAME A NURSE FOR DIABETICS
A New York young woman wanted to become a nurse, so she consulted a physician who was a specialist and recognized authority on diabetes, and asked him what he would advise as a distinctive specialty for her to follow. His answer was: “Become a nurse for diabetics. They are clean and easy cases to handle, involving no disagreeable duties, and as most of them are able to attend to their regular business every day, the nurse has an abundance of time for her own improvement. But she must know her business thoroughly, be an expert in every detail, and possess a personality that instantly wins confidence. If you have that personality and are well informed as to the nature and treatment of diabetes, you will succeed.”
She was so greatly impressed with the soundness of this advice that she at once began to perfect herself in her chosen calling, and in order to do this effectually, she arranged to take care of several diabetic patients under treatment by this physician. This gave her a practical insight into the malady itself and the treatment it required, and after a course of study and experience with this specialist she made this work her specialty.
The first one came in the person of a wealthy business man who was just beginning to take treatment from the diabetes specialist, and had progressed so rapidly that he was in proper shape to be sent to his home, but was told that he would require the constant attendance of a thoroughly competent nurse for several months; that she must remain at his home during all that time, and that he must regulate his diet, activities and conduct strictly according to her instructions, to all of which he readily agreed, as he did not want to go to a hospital for so long a time.