129 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST, 
turist do it, but after all, it will not matter so much, 
if we can contrive to be beloved and obeyed as 
she was. Emily. 
Windholme, Pa., March 8. 
Apparatus for Carrying Fruit, &c. 
We give herewith an engraving of what ap¬ 
pears to us to be quite a valuable arrangement 
for carrying various kinds of tender fruits, 
which are liable to be bruised in transportation— 
not to mention eggs and other articles requiring 
special care in handling. It consists essentially 
of a square frame, like the base of a chair, within 
which is suspended the packing-box A, by means 
of the elastic India rubber straps, C, C , C. 
Nothing could be more simple in construction, 
and the inventor has wisely fixed the retail price 
at a low figure, depending upon large sales for a 
remunerative profit. 
The specimen before us, from which the above 
drawing was made, cost $1 25. It is fifteen 
inches each way, measuring from the outside of 
the frame. Within the main box, A, are eight 
smaller neatly fitting fruit boxes, D, D, each capa¬ 
ble of holding two quarts of berries, or sixteen 
quarts in all. For very tender, ripe fruit, these 
boxes might be divided across the middle, to give 
sixteen divisions, holding a quart each. The 
“ Protectors” can be placed one above another in 
a car or wagon. The elastic suspending bands 
will prevent any sudden jarring, either vertically 
or sidewise. Two dozen of these, holding 384 
quarts, would cost $30, or perhaps less at whole¬ 
sale, without any extra expense for baskets, cans 
or boxes for the fruit, and they could be used year 
after year. A new set of rubber straps once in a 
few years, costing but a small sum, would be all 
the repair needed for a score of years. We speak 
thus strongly in their favor because we think 
them worthy the attention of those marketing the 
tender fruits, a vast amount of which is annually 
lost. They can be made of much larger size than 
the above, when desired. The inventor’s card 
will be found in our advertising columns. 
-• •- '■ a -^- gra i -» o~--, 
A Word for the Grape Vine- 
If our readers followed the advice given in the 
Agriculturist, last Fall, they laid their grape vines 
on the ground, at the approach of Winter, and 
covered them with a little coarse litter or a few 
cedar boughs. And having done so, they will now 
have the satisfaction to find their vines unharmed 
by frost, and in full vigor and health, ready for their 
Spring work. But just here, let us give another 
word of counsel. Don't take up your vines loo 
soon! By lying on the ground, especially if under 
the shelter of a high and tight fence, the buds will 
begin to start much earlier than if tied up to the 
trellis, and exposed to cold winds and freezing 
nights. If raised from the ground too soon, those 
tender buds will be in danger of blasting. Our 
advice is, therefore, that you gradually remove 
their Winter protection, early in this month, but 
keep the vines on the ground until cold weather 
has actually passed away. Then lift the canes 
carefully, taking pains not to break off any of the 
tender buds, and tie them securely to the bars or 
wires of the trellis. In this way—as we know 
from experience—you will be quite sure of an 
abundant and early crop of grapes. 
The Sunflower. 
We have had frequent inquiries as to the policy 
of cultivating the sunflower as a crop for oil, or 
pig, or chicken feeding on the farm ; and occa¬ 
sionally seen a recommendation of it for these 
purposes. We have tried it to our own satisfac¬ 
tion, and under favorable circumstances, so far 
as the crop was concerned ; cultivating in the 
same way as corn, with a result unfavorable to a 
second trial. • 
From the quantity of seed obtained from a sin. 
gle stalk, it may appear that the yield is large— 
forty bushels, or more to the acre. But when the 
nutritive amount of that seed is considered, the 
yield will be scarcely a third of the gross product. 
The kernel, or meat is soft, and oleaginous, in¬ 
closed in a thick husk of woody fibre, utterly 
worthless in nutritive properties, and taken into 
the stomach, has to be passed off as offal through 
the intestines. Indeed so coarse and chaffy is the 
husk that it is only fit for burning. Cattle, how¬ 
ever, are fond of the leaves, and small branches 
of the stalk when green, -and eat them with de¬ 
cided relish ; but they, too, are so coarse and light 
in fibre that the same bulk of green corn stalks, 
and blades are worth double the sunflower. Pigs, 
and hens will eat the seeds, to be sure, but they 
prefer any sort of grain, and when all kinds are 
before them, the sunflower seed is the last they 
will touch. 
Of its oil producing profit we know little, other 
than that it has several times been tried, and. we 
presume, from hearing no continuous results, it 
proved a failure. In pressing, probably the open¬ 
grained, porous husk absorbed half the oil which 
the comparatively small kernel yielded. Yet, 
slight as the value of the leaf and seed may be 
for stock feeding, it is a noble, grand-looking 
plant, and should always have a place in the gar¬ 
den, and about the cultivated grounds of the prem¬ 
ises. We love to look upon a vigorous well 
grown sunflower when in full maturity of growth, 
throwing its broad, glowing head-flower far above 
all else around it—and supported by its score of 
smaller sattelites below. Many people, since the 
choicer kinds of garden flowers have become so 
common, look upon the sunflower as vulgar, and 
not worth cultivation. As well might they dis¬ 
card the oak, or elm among shade trees because 
we have the mountain ash, and horse-chestnut. 
We love to look at the great, broad sunflower 
in full bloom and glory, turning its morning face 
eastward to the rising sun, and following its course 
through the day along the Western firmament. 
It connects us with happy memories in childhood 
savors of an old-time home—associates us with 
a thousand domestic joys, innocence and peace. 
Dearly do we love the sunflower ! We always 
cultivate it in the garden ; and although it maybe 
ruled out of the catalogue of “ choice plants,” we 
cherish it none the less, but rather love it more 
that the dillettanti florists of the present dav dis¬ 
card it. No. Although the sunflower, as a crop, 
may be worthless, as an ornament to the grounds 
—more particularly such as are not pretentious in 
keeping—it should always be planted, cared for, 
and admired. When past flowering, its leaves 
and small branches may be fed to the cow, and 
its seeds to the poultry. * 
------ 
Boys’ and Girls’ Own Guinns. 
Molasses Candy. 
A young reader in Glastenbury, Conn, (many pleasant 
remembrances of a Winter spent there in olden time 
arise at the mention of that good old town), desires us to 
“ tell him, and others, how to make Molasses Candy, light, 
white, porous anct delicious, such as is seen on the city 
candy stands.” We are not very much skilled in this art, 
but a very good article can be made by taking a pint of 
good molasses, and stirring thoroughly into it a -easpoonful 
of finely pulverised bi-carbonate of soda (i. e. common 
cooking soda). Then put it on the stove in a large basin, 
and boil down, with frequent stirring at first, and con¬ 
stant stirring towards the last, until when a little of it is 
cooled, it becomes waxy Then let it get nearly cold, 
when it must be worked and stretched or pulled for some 
time. A little butter or sweet lard on the hands will pre¬ 
vent its sticking. The whiteness, and lightness, or po¬ 
rosity, depends wholly upon the amount of working an 4 
stretching it receives, providing good common molasse 
be used, and not scorched. Common white sugar candy 
is simply white sugar melted in a little water, and then 
worked like wax for a long time. The maker takes a 
mass in his hands, draws it out, throws it over a hook, and 
draws it out further, then doubles the loop, and draws thi» 
two pieces, and so on until it becomes white and porous 
He then lays it on a table before the fire, to keep it warm 
and waxy, and draws off from one end a round piece, 
several feet long, rolling it round upon the table. When 
these long pieces cool, they are broken up into the penny 
sticks sold in the shops. Perhaps we will tell you more 
about how different kinds of candy are manufactured. We 
will now only say, never eat colored candies. Pure white 
candy is nothing but white sugar, well “ stretched.” 
Answers to Problems. 
Prob 13.— Jno. R. Long, Logan Co, O, gives, 11.3002V 
feet as the true answer. This is correct, we believe, but 
differs only from that of LaFetra (page 28) by the small 
decimal fraction .00027. 
Prob. 22 —From the following, correct answers to this 
were dated and post-marked, but not received, before our 
list was given on page 59 : J. W. Quimby, Clinton Co, 
O; Canova Libhart Marrietta, Pa; Peter C. Waters, 
Gibson Co, Ind,; Robert Stobo, Essex Co, N. J. ; “ One of 
the Boys,” Independence, Iowa; Chas. D. Morris, Tis- 
kilwa, Ill ; and Jno. D Smith, Des Moines, Iowa, nearly 
right. Waller W. Preston, Ringold Co, Iowa, sent also 
No. 23. 
Prob. 25.—A gentleman gave to each of his sons a gar¬ 
den. John’s garden was circular ; James’ was a rectangle 
or square. The ground was worth 3 cents per square 
foot, and the price of each garden in 3-cent coins just in¬ 
closed it—the coins being taken at 1-2 inch in diameter 
each. What was the size and value of each garden ? 
Answer.—John’s garden—a circle, 96 feet in diameter , 
circumference, 3011 (301.5936). " 
Area, 72381 (or 7238.2464) square feet. Value $217.15 (or 
$217.147342), 
James’ garden—a square, 96 feet each side. Area 9216 
square feet. Value $276.48. 
Answering thus ; Sallie C. Clarke, Indiana Co, Pa ; A, 
Le Fevre, New-Paltz, N Y ; W. C., Burlington, NJ. 
J. Vipond, Jo Davis, Co, Ill ; Jno. F. Miles, Girard, Pa | 
Bernardo del Cowperthwaite and Monte B.Cowperthwaite 
King’s Co, N Y ; T. J. Adams, Elkhart Co, Ind ; G. H. 
LaFetra, Oakland, O ; C. M. Barber, Washington Co, 
O ; H. B. Reist, Lancaster Co, Pa ; Abr. Myers, Ogle Co, 
Ill : W. H. G., East New York, L I ; W. W. D.. Mass ; 
John A. Bowden, St. Andrews, N Y; S. IC. Verrill, East 
Poland, Me; Jno. W. English, Rhinehart. O ; Irving E. 
Walker, Westboro’, Mass ; Ann E. Sexter, New London 
Co, Conn ; Jas. E. Allen. Newport Co, RI ; Jer. Mark¬ 
ham, Newcastle Co, Del; Caleb Loweree, Weakley Co 
Tenn ; VVm. Huntley, Orange Co, N C; Robt. Eastham, 
Poinsett Co, Ark ; Stephen Wright, Lawrence Co, Kan 
sas; Amelia Raymond, Marengo Co, Ala,; Simon K. 
Wilson, Merrimac Co, N H ; Sophronia King, Talbot Co, 
Geo ; II. A, Kinsley, Ottawa Co, E Canada : also a good 
one from somewhere, dated Feb. 16, with no name- 
very nearly correct ; Chas. E. Truesdale ; Erie Co, Ohio . 
Jas. Simpson, Ill ; Jno. Fleming, Somerset Co, N J 
Other answers not correct. 
Prob. 26.—A farmer in plowing a square field contain 
