1.

FARMER WURZELS ESTATE

Farmer Wurzel owned the three square fields shown in the annexed plan, containing
respectively 18, 20, and 26 acres. In order to get a ring fence round his property he bought the
four intervening triangular fields. The puzzle is to discover what was then the whole area of
his estate.
(ANS) The area of the complete estate is exactly one hundred acres. To find this answer I use
the following little formula, \/4ab - (a + b + c) 4
where a, b, c represent the three square areas, in any order. The expression gives the area of
the triangle A. This will be found to be 9 acres. It can be easily proved that A, B, C, and D are
all equal in area; so the answer is 26 + 20 + 18 +9 + 9 + 9 + 9 = 100 acres. Here is the proof.
If every little dotted square in the diagram represents an acre, this must be a correct plan of
the estate, for the squares of 5 and 1 together equal 26; the squares of 4 and 2 equal 20; and
the squares of 3 and 3 added together equal 18. Now we see at once that the area of the
triangle E is 2, F is 4, and G is 4. These added together make 11 acres, which we deduct
from the area of the rectangle, 20 acres, and we find that the field A contains exactly 9
acres. If you want to prove that B, C, and D are equal in size to A, divide them in two by a
line from the middle of the longest side to the opposite angle, and you will find that the two
pieces in every case, if cut out, will exactly fit together and form A. Or we can get our proof
in a still easier way. The complete area of the squared diagram is 12 12 = 144 acres, and the
portions 1, 2, 3, 4, not included in the estate, have the respective areas of 12,17, 9, and
4. These added together make 44, which, deducted from 144, leaves 100 as the required
area of the complete estate.
2. THE SIX SHEEP-PENS.
Here is a new little puzzle with matches. It will be seen in the illustration that thirteen
matches, representing a farmers hurdles, have been so placed that they enclose six sheeppens all of the same size. Now, one of these hurdles was stolen, and the farmer wanted still to
enclose six pens of equal size with the remaining twelve. How was he to do it? All the twelve
matches must be fairly used, and there must be no duplicated matches or loose ends.
(ANS) Place the twelve matches in the manner shown in the illustration, and you will have
six pens of equal size.
3. A PLANTATION PUZZLE.
A man had a square plantation of forty-nine trees, but, as will be seen by the omissions in the
illustration, four trees were blown down and removed. He now wants to cut down all the
remainder except ten trees, which are to be so left that they shall form five straight rows with
four trees in every row. Which are the ten trees that he must leave?
(ANS) The illustration shows the ten trees that must be left to form five rows with four trees
in every row. The dots represent the positions of the trees that have been cut down.
4. THE TWENTY-ONE TREES.
A gentleman wished to plant twenty-one trees in his park so that they should form twelve
straight rows with five trees in every row. Could you have supplied him with a pretty
symmetrical arrangement that would satisfy these conditions?
(ANS) I give two pleasing arrangements of the trees. In each case there are twelve straight
rows with five trees in every row.

5. CROSSING THE STREAM.

During a country ramble Mr. and Mrs. Softleigh found themselves in a pretty little dilemma.
They had to cross a stream in a small boat which was capable of carrying only 150 lbs.
weight. But Mr. Softleigh and his wife each weighed exactly 150 lbs., and each of their sons
weighed 75 lbs. And then there was the dog, who could not be induced on any terms to swim.
On the principle of ladies first, they at once sent Mrs. Softleigh over; but this was a stupid
oversight, because she had to come back again with the boat, so nothing was gained by that
operation. How did they all succeed in getting across?
(ANS)First, the two sons cross, and one returns Then the man crosses and the other son
returns. Then both sons cross and one returns. Then the lady crosses and the other son returns
Then the two sons cross and one of them returns for the dog. Eleven crossings in all. It would
appear that no general rule can be given for solving these rivercrossing puzzles. A formula
can be found for a particular case (say on No. 375 or 376) that would apply to any number
of individuals under the restricted conditions; but it is not of much use, for some little added
stipulation will entirely upset it. As in the case of the measuring puzzles, we generally have to
rely on individual ingenuity.