April 1972

Good news!

The fish were biting, but you didn't bring your rod. That's one excuse you won't be able to use if you own this rod. A full six feet long, the fiber glass rod telescopes down to 15 inches to fit a suitcase, backpack, or bicycle basket.

DO IT ON TIME--OR YOU MAY LOSE MONEY

In legal matters, almost everything you need to do in order to claim your rights or protect your interests has a time limit. Generally, if you don't act in time, you may lose. Here are some situations where there are short time periods for you to act.

MASTER PLAN for a maintenance-free summer

Assuming your home is average size with the usual maintenance problems (and with no addition or remodeling jobs in progress), you can pry, scrape, ratchet, and roll all these projects to completion in just three work weekends. Then you'll be free this summer from a host of bothersome handyman jobs. The key is basic organization of work-- hot jobs when the weather is cool and cool jobs for warmer days.

Why not rent a camper?

You can read camper brochures and visit sales showrooms until the state parks close for the winter and still not know which camper is right for your family. The way to assess camping needs is to camp. And the best way to do that is to rent a camper.

Don't let rust ruin your car

Among those possessions you've salted away all winter was-- believe it or not-- your family car. Road salting, which keeps streets navigable through winter, speeds car rusting. Unless you've taken measures all season to keep your car out of the salt, rust probably has a toehold by now.

Drive-away cars: how to save vacation dollars

You can borrow a car in your home city and drive it to any major city in the U.S. and your only costs will be gas and tolls. How? By taking advantage of a little-known car delivery system known simply as drive-aways.

MUSEUMS you shouldn't miss

Whatever your age or your special interests, chances are this country has a museum to intrigue you. At latest count, there were 4600 museums across the nation: art museums, history museums, museums of science and industry, cowboy museums, ethnic museums, railroad museums, circus museums-- they come in all sizes and types.

How to watch a RODEO

A big rodeo combines the fun and thrills of many festivities-- circus, bullfight, parade, ice-cream social, beauty queen pageant, state fair and carnival. You'll have a great time even if you know nothing about rodeo competitions except that cowboys are trying to earn prize money by risking their necks.

Let your philodendrons grow up

Jade plant--don't kill it with kindness

If clivia's in bloom, what next?

Look ahead to gift giving

Start a few leaf-stem cuttings of African violets now and you'll have inexpensive, welcome gifts to give next winter. You can start as many as you like, but bear in mind that leaves in containers of water now taking up two inches of space will need two or three times that area when they develop into plants.

Outward-bound vines

Should you join an investment club?

It can be a good way to keep your hand in the stock market without risking much capital. You'll also learn how to invest. And you can have fun.

HOW TO BID AT AN AUCTION

Auctions can be great places to pick up bargains in antiques, jewelry, paintings, even autos. However, there are some basic rules to learn before you make your first bid.

What's the best way to bank your cash?

Banks are offering so many different ways to sock your money away these days that it's important to know what kinds of savings accounts fit your needs best. You want to get as much interest as you can, of course.

How to pick a Nursery School

If you are a parent of one of the 12 million children between the ages of three and five in America, you've probably given at least some thought to the question of nursery school for your child. But you've no doubt found that there are few easy answers (there seldom are to questions concerning children).

GARDENING THIS MONTH

About this time of year, spring fever is rife among gardeners. They're anxious to get out with nature, and there are plenty of jobs to be done this month.

A GREAT HOUSE THAT DOESN'T COST A FORTUNE

Last of three articles on houses that give you more for your housing dollar

How to Get Going with a Garden

In this second chapter of our do-it-yourself home landscaping plan, the subject is roses-- and shrubs-- and how you can make the most of them. You'll see roses in traditional settings and in landscape situations you may not have thought of. We've also included a bonus plant-and-care section to help you grow roses you'll be proud of.

Does your car have bad breath?

You are the only one who can completely control your car's smog. The auto makers, thanks to federal pressure, have installed sophisticated pollution control devices on all late-model cars and will be eliminating most of the remaining pollutants in this decade. But the most technically advanced smog control system imaginable is of little use if car owners don't do their part.

... out? ... key ...

... yourself out of the ...... is as humiliating as lock-yourself out of the house-- a lot more expensive.

Sansevierias--simple as ...

Some plants need cleaning now

Central air conditioning: buy now and save

The best time to shop for a central cooling system for your home is now-- while dealers are idly marking time waiting for the summer shoppers. You can save even more by knowing which cooling system is right for your house. Here are a few tips to help you make the best choice.

10 EASY PROJECTS TO MAKE

STEP BY STEP in these 22 pages, we'll show you how to spruce up your home... transform unfinished furniture... stretch your kitchen... cook up some mouth-watering desserts... and much more. It's all easy-- and fun-- so take the first step now!

DECORATING WITH COLOR

HOME IMPROVEMENT IDEAS

GARDEN IDEAS AND OUTDOOR LIVING

How to clean a wall

While walls aren't usually included in your regular cleaning chores, they do require periodic attention. A good cleanup twice a year (plus immediate attention to spots and spills) will result in a brighter, more attractive background for family living.

These kitchen eating areas are styled to size

How to pick a sport--and stay with it

There are well over eleven million golfers in this country, eight million tennis players, thirteen million skaters, ten million hikers, six million skiers (plus another eight million if you include water skiers). Add to these the millions who compete in other sports, everything from ... ding to squash to ... climbing, and what ... an image of a nation filled very active people in top ... cal condition.

Buying and caring for tropical fish

If you're setting up a community fish tank, it's important to choose fish that are compatible. They don't all get along-- nor do they all feel comfortable with the same living conditions.

For a tree that blooms in the spring

Now is the time to plant an Oriental magnolia, one of the most spectacular flowering trees. Make your selection at a garden center or from a nursery catalog, then plant as shown below.

Gourmet gadgets

Check here for that special gadget that's sure to make preparing your food specialty easier-- and more fun.

Sky loft for boys

DISNEY WORLD

The publicity that greeted the opening of Walt Disney World last fall left nearly everyone anxious to visit the place but generally uncertain of how best to go about it. How long should you stay there? How much will it cost? What facilities are provided for outdoor recreation? Which are the best adventures in the Magic Kingdom?

A place to park

Ask a daffodil to dinner

Along with the voice of the turtle and the first chipper robin come the crocus and the narcissus. Although the crocus doesn't last long, the narcissus and its big brother, the daffodil, are persistent and plentiful. Here are four arrangements to help you savor spring.

Co-op closet system

How to get the most from floor cleaning appliances

Once you've tried cleaning your floor or carpet with a shampoo-polisher, you'll never want to get down on your hands and knees to scrub again. Perhaps you already own one of these handy machines or have rented one.

Plastics can have a second life

The next time you start to throw out a plastic houseware item, check to make sure that you aren't discarding something with a useful second life. Resurrecting plastic housewares makes sense economically as well as ecologically.

Decks for sun and shade

How to punch up a plain wall

To break out of a boxlike room, create a unique accent wall using wallpaper, paint, fabric, fake beams, mirror tiles, or any of a dozen different materials. Just be sure your accent wall is compatible with the other walls as well as with the furnishings.

Shopping editor's choice

Discover the fun and convenience of shopping by mail! You can order with complete confidence any of the items shown: each company will refund your money if you're not delighted.

The man next door

According to one theory, April gets its name from the Latin verb meaning to open; as witness tree buds, root beer stands and convertibles.