April 1965

GOING TO BE LATE ON YOUR INCOME TAX?

If, like most taxpayers, you file on a calendar-year basis, you know the deadline for your Federal return is April 15th. (You're supposed to mail it in time to reach the District Director of Internal Revenue by that date; however, many IRS offices will accept a return as on time if it is postmarked before midnight on the official due date.)

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO BUY AND SELL STOCKS?

Very little, considering the money at stake. Brokers' commissions on the New York Stock Exchange and the other national exchanges range from a minimum of less than one per cent to a maximum of six per cent of the dollar amount involved in the transaction. The exact figure depends upon the number of shares traded, and their price. For 100 shares of an average-price stock, it works out to about one per cent-- and that's probably about the lowest commission charged anywhere for the transfer of valuable property.

WHAT IS A BAD DEBT?

WHAT ARE THE BEST WAYS TO BUILD A COLLEGE FUND?

For most people, it's impossible to save enough money ahead of time. A part of the cost will have to be borne at the time the children go to college. But two safe and sure ways to build up a substantial nest egg in advance are through insurance and cash savings.

HOW CAN YOU GET AN ESTIMATE ON A HOME IMPROVEMENT JOB?

As a starter, know exactly what you want. If you have only a vague picture of the changes you're looking for, you open the door to competing bids based on very different specifications. Consider kitchen counter edging, a seemingly small thing: there could be a $150 difference between a bid based on metal trim, and an estimate which figures in the more costly roll-formed plastic laminate edge.

A STORAGE SHED WITH STYLE

A HARD-WORKING STORAGE WALL

WHERE TO PLANT ROSES

Roses look and grow their best when planted by themselves in beds where no other types of plants interfere with cultural needs. Following are ideas you can adapt to your garden for a handsome rose display.

HE LIKES TO COOK

In most of his movie roles, Fred MacMurray would look as out of place in a kitchen as a plumber at a literary tea. Fact is, the only time he recalls being filmed in a kitchen throughout his long career was with Carole Lombard in "Hands Across the Table" (Circa 1935).

A GUIDE TO LAWN PROBLEMS AND HOW TO SOLVE THEM

Finding your way among the hundreds of chemicals developed for lawn care isn't easy. To help you select the right one for your particular problem, we've compiled the chart shown on the next page. It provides a breakdown on the types of problems you are most likely to run into, their symptoms, and their control. We suggest you keep this chart handy so you can quickly diagnose your lawn's ailments and administer the correct control measures at the proper time.

DON'T PLAN TO BUILD TROUBLE

The better your new house, the smoother the living. But all too often, a minute mistake or a slight oversight can become a big source of daily irritation. Here are 12 things that should not happen to a doghouse. Check and make sure you don't buy or build these into your new house or remodeling.

GOOD NEWS FOR MEN!

Have you ever seen a power mower floating? Well this one floats on a cushion of air.

HOW TO PUT ON A SLIDE SHOW WITHOUT BORING YOUR FRIENDS

All too often, a home slide show is something only the family involved can love. But it needn't be that way. Here's how to knit a hodgepodge of slides into an engrossing story everyone will thoroughly enjoy.

BETTER HOMES & GARDENS SPECIAL EVENTS GUIDE TO THE 50 STATES & CANADA!

Ready now, after months of preparation, is a unique new Better Homes & Gardens service to vacationing families: a complete, state-by-state and province-by-province guide to the colorful and exciting special events scheduled in the United States and Canada for the balance of 1965.

HIDEAWAYS FOR FOLDAWAYS

It's a chore to get out the card table and chairs if they're stowed away behind coats or vacuum cleaner in a crowded closet.

STRANDS OF SPARKLING BEADS, PANELS OF VIBRANT FABRIC, A LEADED-GLASS EFFECT--HERE ARE WAYS TO GIVE WINDOWS A FRESH OUTLOOK

(Left) Fashion an elegant Roman shade for your window. Select a fabric with a firm weave and cut it to the size of the window allowing 1½-inch for each side hem. For horizontal tucks (see sketch), add about two inches to length. Sew Roman shade tape or twill tape to back of shade and insert heavy cord through tape rings so shade can be raised or lowered.

PEBBLE-TEXTURED CONCRETE, REDWOOD BOULDERS, AND PLANTERS PROVE NO GARDEN IS HOPELESS

Granted, there's nothing really new about pebble-textured concrete-- or redwood-- or boulders-- or planters. What is new (and better) is the ingenious way they've been put to use in this garden at the home of Daniel Fogel. Here's proof that you can give any garden-- regardless of its size, shape, or condition-- a new lease on life. And you needn't invest a lot of money in the face lifting. Using the better ideas on these two pages, you can get a big effect with a surprisingly small outlay of either money or time.

READY-MADE LAVATORIES, DO-IT-YOURSELF FLOORS, AND NEW WALL COVERINGS TAKE THE AGE OUT OF ANY BATHROOM

This big old bathroom gets big new convenience with ready-to-order materials. The floor and walls have a handsome new waterproof surface of small, stone-shaped ceramic tiles. These are available in variegated color foot-square sheets and can be quickly installed with mastic and grout.

SHORT LENGTHS OF 1x4 PLUS SOME PLYWOOD SHELVES ADD UP TO AN INTERESTINGLY DIFFERENT STORAGE WALL

ORDINARY MATERIALS PLUS SIMPLE CONSTRUCTION MAKE THESE HANDSOME BUT INEXPENSIVE FENCE PANELS

FABRIC, WOOD MOLDING, ADHESIVE-BACKED VINYL, PAINT, PLASTIC-COATED FABRIC, AND WALLPAPER ALL BRING GLAMOUR TO KITCHEN CABINETS

A glance at these delightful kitchens will show how easily you can glamorize nondescript cabinets in your home with new washable materials. Worn cabinet faces are covered with tough and scrubbable textured wall coverings-- plastic-coated fabrics or supported-vinyl fabrics. Or you can edge painted doors with your favorite washable wallpaper border, matching the pattern overhead.

COLORFUL CANVAS, BRASS POLES, SOME IMAGINATION--FOR YOUR OWN BIG SHOW IN THE BASEMENT

If you've been just talking about doing something to your basement-- and putting it off because it seems too complicated, this project is for you. It is so simple, you'll be able to get under way this weekend.

RAILROAD TIES, PRECAST STONES, CONCRETE BLOCKS--GOOD WAYS TO HOLD UP A BANK

If a garden slope is giving you trouble (and what gardener doesn't have at least a small slope to contend with?) here are some fresh solutions. One, or more, will give your landscape a new lease on life.

WALL COVERING, WORK SURFACES, MOLDINGS, PAINT, HARDWARE--A NEW KITCHEN THE PAINLESS WAY!

PLYWOOD PANELS, POSTS, BEAMS WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE THIS GOOD-LOOKING BUT INEXPENSIVE CARPORT

This open and airy carport doubles as an outdoor entertaining area and gives you plenty of protection for two cars. The post-and-beam system makes construction easy, and the basic dimensions are planned to take advantage of standard material sizes so cutting and waste are practically eliminated. This cuts building time, too.

STANDARD LUMBER AND EASY FOUNDATIONS MAKE THESE DECKS SIMPLE TO BUILD ON ANY LOT

A VERY RELAXING HOUSE

A good house can relax the pace of a busy family, even when their outside world whirs with activity.

MORE THAN A MUD ROOM!

HOW TO SURVIVE A KITCHEN REMODELING

Since a kitchen is the hub of a household, a major kitchen remodeling, while in process, can have a shattering effect on the family's routine. Some inconvenience is unavoidable-- but, with careful planning beforehand, you can keep the household wheels turning with surprising smoothness. Here are a few "survival" tips.

HOW TO ORDER PLANS FOR HOUSES AND PROJECTS

A LAUNDRY-HOBBY AREA--IN A VERY SMALL SPACE

A SIMPLE GLOSSARY OF SEWING

The more you know, the better you'll sew-- and think how your vocabulary will impress your sewing circle!

PLACING AND SPACING TREES, SHRUBS, AND VINES

Correct spacing is of primary importance if you want beautiful and healthy landscape plants. Consider their ultimate size and function at planting time --large plants will be difficult to move later. Spacings given are minimums, so plants can be set farther apart.

MORE FOR YOUR TRAVEL DOLLAR!

Canada, our north-of-the-border neighbor, is prime family-vacation territory. With the cooperation of the travel industry, we've condensed just a few Canadian vacation assets on this page. For additional information, turn to the coupon on page 130 and check the ideas that interest you most. Then clip the coupon and mail to: Better Homes & Gardens, Travel Bureau A, Des Moines, Iowa.

HOW TO MAKE A FRONT YARD WORTH ITS UPKEEP

PLEASE DO EAT THE CENTERPIECES!

FOOD WASTE DISPOSERS AND INCINERATORS

When you carry home the groceries, do you ever stop to wonder how much will end up as waste paper or garbage?

THE NEWEST CAMPERS AND CAMP TRAILERS

It's a safe bet that 1965 will be the biggest camping and traveling year ever. Over 33 million campers hit the road in 1964, and conservative estimates indicate that this number will reach over 34 million in 1965. These figures represent a total over twice that of 1956. Some campers will use tents, some station wagons, but most of them will use some type of camper vehicle (over 750,000 are now in use).

ARE CAR INSURANCE "EXTRAS" WORTH THE MONEY?

Perhaps not-- but be careful what you call an "extra." No experienced driver, for instance, would get behind the wheel without liability insurance, as protection against suits and claims for injuries or property damage he might cause. But what about the other items in the insurance agent's portfolio-- coverage with labels like "collision," "comprehensive," "medical payments," "uninsured motorist," "towing and labor costs"?

PROJECTS THAT SOLVE REALLY TOUGH STORAGE PROBLEMS

WORKABLE WAYS TO HIDE A RADIATOR

Essential as they are, radiators can pose a problem-- especially when the weather turns fair and warmer.

GOING TO EUROPE? HERE ARE THE BEST ONE-DAY SIDE TRIPS FROM THE MAJOR AIRPORT CITIES

After you've seen the famous cities, visit the top attractions of surrounding areas! Eastern Editor George Bush here takes you-- by rented car, guided tour, and local transportation-- on 35 first-rate excursions. Each requires only a day; leave your luggage at your city hotel. Also see "More for Your Travel Dollar," page 130.

STAYING HEALTHY WHILE TRAVELING ABROAD

The first step toward safeguarding your health in foreign countries-- and simultaneously protecting the health of other people-- is to be properly immunized. Everyone who applies for an American passport is automatically given a small yellow booklet labeled "International Certificates of Vaccination." You should take this document to your family physician no later than three months before your scheduled departure-- it may take that long for some immunizations to attain their full effectiveness, and you should be fully protected before leaving.

WHEN DO YOU NEED TO HAVE YOUR HOME REAPPRAISED?

SHOPPING BY MAIL

Discover the ease of shopping by mail! Order with complete confidence. Each firm will refund your money if you're not thoroughly pleased.

THE MAN NEXT DOOR

Our son, Bud, wants to do everything the professional baseball players do this time of year, but he can't figure out how to be a holdout in Little League.