34-6 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[September, 
sters, you may bo sure of attention just as soon as it is 
convenient. 
CRYSTALS IN THE JELLY. 
Master L. A. W. A., of Seneca Co , N. Y., sends a little 
box containing some very pretty crystals from peach 
jelly, and says: He wishes to know about the crystaliza- 
tion, '• and to what acids it is due.”—I cannot see how 
my young friend got the notion that “acids” had any¬ 
thing to do with it, as the crystals are only pure sugar, 
colored a little with the coloring matter of the peach; 
and as sugar dissolved in pure water will in time form 
such crystals, it is not worth while to be looking for any 
unusual cause. Cold water dissolves about twice its 
weight of sugar, while hot water dissolves so large a 
quantity that it is not exactly known how much. When 
hot and strong solutions of sugar cool they deposit the 
sugar in crystals ; if the solution is very strong the crys¬ 
tals will form rapidly, will be very small, and in a mass, 
as we see in loaf sugar. If the solution is weaker, the 
crystals will form more slowly, be larger, distinct in 
shaDe. and very clear. Rock candy is made in this way; 
a syrup or solution of sugar of the proper strength is set 
in a warm place for some weeks, and the sugar will 
slowly crystalize upon threads hung in it for the pur¬ 
pose ; the crystals thus slowly formed look much unlike 
loaf sugar, but they are the same except in shape. Show, 
which is quickly formed, and very small ice crystals is 
dead white like loaf sugar; ice, which forms slowly, is 
transparent, like rock candy. If you crush a crystal of 
rock candy or a bit of ice, you will in both have a dead 
white powder. So you see that the same thing can put 
on very different appearances. It is difficult to say what 
caused the crystals to form in my young friend’s jelly. 
Sometimes boy’s mothers are bothered by very small 
crystals coming through it, like candied honey. It may 
have been kept in too cold or too warm a place, or there 
may have been too much sugar. All I can say about it 
is, that crystals are the natural form of sugar, and it will, 
sooner or later, get back into crystals unless there be so 
much liquid as to prevent it. Their regularity and size 
shows that these crystals have been a long while in 
forming. I am glad my young friend sent them, for the 
reason that they are six-sided crystals. Sugar usually is 
in four-sided crystals, and though I knew that they were 
sometimes six-sided, and had seen figures of them, I do 
not think I ever before saw the crystals themselves.... 
Some of the boys ask 
RATHER TOUGH QUESTIONS. 
Here is one who knows from experience that willows 
will grow readily from cuttings, while apples will not, 
and he wishes to know why it is. This is a matter 
which my young friend knows as much about as any 
one ; he has tried the two plants, and finds that it is so, 
and the most learned cannot get much beyond that. As 
a general thing trees with soft wood take root more 
readily than those with hard, but no one can know with 
certainty whether a plant will root readily from cuttings 
or not unless it is tried. Some apples will grow from 
cuttings almost as readily as a willow, but they are not 
of kinds valued for their fruit. There are some shrubs 
that is almost impossible to raise from cuttings, while 
their close relatives grow readily_Hero isa letter from 
II. L. P., who says that it is his first letter, “so please 
do not throw it into the waste basket.”—I am not in the 
habit of treating my young friends’ letters in that man¬ 
ner; all who write as sensible letters as he does are 
quite welcome, and if they do not get a direct answer, it 
is for some good reason. He wishes to know if white is 
not one of the 
SEVEN PRIMARY COLORS. 
White is not regarded as a color at all. I have been in¬ 
tending to make a “Talk” some day about light and 
colors ; it is a difficult subject, but there are some things 
about it very interesting, and which young people can 
understand. At present I will only say that light, as it 
comes from the sun, is white light, and without coior, 
but that it may be separated into seven different colors, 
viz: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet; 
these are called the primary colors, and all other colors, 
tints, and shades, are mixtures of these. There is a way, 
which I hope to describe some time, of breaking up 
white light into these colors, and then bringing the col¬ 
ors together again to make white. Some regard the 
primary colors as only' three: red, yellow, and blue, and 
orange as a mixture of red and yellow, green as yellow 
and blue, etc. Black is the absence of all color, and all 
light. I can now only answer the question about primary 
colors, but at another time hope to say more about it, 
and tell you of some curious experiments that you can 
easily try with colors_Martin L. n. wishes to know 
how those little affairs like a house with two doors, from 
one of which a man comes when it is stormy, and from 
the other of which a woman appears when it is fair are 
AFFECTED BY THE WEATHER. 
You have noticed that a cord is slack in dry, and 
“ taught,” as the sailors say, in damp weather. A clothes 
line is a very common example of this. These toys are so 
arranged that the shrinking of a bit of cord moves the arm 
to which the figures of the man aud woman are fastened. 
You can easily make something of the kind. A simple 
way is to make a pointer like a clock hand, or an arrow. 
You can cut one from a 
piece of shingle, a, and 
put a strong pin, 6, through 
near one end for a pivot; 
at c tie a piece of twine, d, 
that has been soaked in 
salt and w’ater and dried; 
this may he G or 8 feet 
long, and fastened to a 
tack on the wall above, 
which it is not necessary 
to show 7 in the diagram; 
you can then, to better ob¬ 
serve the changes, mark a 
scale, e, upon a piece of 
paper, and put it behind 
the point. One arm of 
the arrow being so much 
longer than the other, 
the motion will be very 
much magnified. This simply shows that the air is 
moist, and as it frequently becomes so before a storm, it 
may sometimes show' that a storm is coming, but it is 
not to he depended upon. Such instruments are called 
Hygrometers, from the Greek words for moisture and 
measure. Barometers have reference to the weight of 
the air, and act upon an entirely different principle. The 
human hair is very sensitive to moisture, and a very del¬ 
icate hygrometer may be made with a long hair that has 
been washed in a solution of soda to remove the grease. 
A S>og - ©yisag* ojT <{3riei‘. 
The “ Forest and Stream ” some months ago gave the 
following story of a dog’s love for its master:—About 
two weeks ago a man named Parcels, a blacksmith, re¬ 
siding near Hobbs’ Ferry, went hunting “coons” at 
midnight. His companions consisted of a neighbor, re¬ 
siding close by, and a faithful dog. While searching for 
game at Sneeden’s Landing, on the Hudson River, Par¬ 
cels approached the brink of the Palisades, and by some 
mishap lost his balance and fell down a distance of 30 
feet. IJis friend having missed him, sought him, and by 
diligent search found him lying where lie had fallen, and 
his faithful dog by his side moaning piteously. On at¬ 
tempting to approacli the body the usually friendly animal 
strongly protested by growls and threatening attitudes. 
The man, seeing that his companion was seriously in¬ 
jured, went for aid, and in a short time returned with a 
surgeon and some friends; but the dog, which lay with 
its head across the body, refused to let them touch the 
treasure it so faithfully guarded. They were at length 
compelled to drive him away from his post by blow's. An 
examination proved that the man was dead, so the re¬ 
mains were placed in a boat and a piece of canvas thrown 
over them. The dog jumped into the boat also, and 
placed his head across his master’s face, and remained 
there until the landing. The body w 7 as then placed in a 
wagon and conveyed home; but no sooner had it been 
covered than the loving friend again sought bis old post. 
After the burial the dog became more depressed, refused 
its food, and wandered listlessly about, moaning in a low', 
nervous tone, and heedless of everything. He would pay 
no attention to any of the inmates of the house, and all 
their efforts could not cause him to manifest any signs of 
recognition. After dragging along for a week, caring 
neither for food or water, the faithful dog died—a martyr 
to love for bis master. 
CROSS WORD. 
My first is in bracelet but not in ring, 
My next is in chant but not. in sing, 
My third is in year but not in day, 
My fourth is in corn but. not in hay. 
My fifth is in ale but not in beer, 
Sly sixth is in there but not in here. 
My seventh is in pink hilt, not in red, 
Sly eighth is in Tom but not, in Heel, 
Sly ninth is in rain but not in shower. 
And my whole is the name of a beautiful flower. 
Jimmy John. 
NUMERICAL ENIGMA. 
I am composed of 21 letters: 
Sly 10, 11, 1, (i. 3. is a very pretty name for a girl. 
My -1. 12. 13. 3, is a grain. 
Mv 20. 15, 17, 10, is a kind of bullet. 
Sly 0. 5, 2, is to point. 
My 10, 14, 18, 8. is to swerve. 
Sly 20, 21, 4. 7. 10, 1(1. is distress. 
Sly whole is always a welcome visitor. P. A. W. 
ANAGRAMS. 
1. Onion camp. 4. Anna, toil. 
2. Sirs. Moon. G. Bar so salt. 
3. Head car. 0. Hope’s pride. E. W. 
DOUBLE ACROSTIC. 
The initials and finals give the names of Spartan law¬ 
givers.—1. A French novelist. 2. A lively musical varia¬ 
tion. 3. A man mentioned in the Bihie. 4. A bay oil 
the Atlantic coast. 5. A river of New England. 
Little One. 
CHARADE. 
Sly first word names an English town, 
In olden times, of great renown ; 
Sly second hath a changeful voice, 
It bids us weep, anon rejoice; 
Sly whole in Flora’s fair demesne 
In summer time may oft be seen. Tiiyrza. 
CONCEALED STATES, COUNTRIES, ETC. 
1. I will tell you our plan, Eva, Dan and Mary go to 
Philadelphia, mid I go home. 2. John, will you escort 
Ida home? She is quite ready. 3. We are going to 
church in a chaise. 4. Mother, can Ada take inis pear 
to sister? 5. Oh! what a beautiful sample of ore 1 Go, 
Ned, and show it to your lather. G. Nellie, is Pa in the 
garden ? 7. No, he was just starting for iiis office as I 
arrived. ' L. J. S. 
CONCEALED SQUARE WORD. 
Sly dear William, art is a real blessing if properly di¬ 
rected ; and here am I waiting for a chance to learn 
something. Just now I tlnnk myself well off if I get an 
ounce of meat at a meal. Clio, 
pi. 
How ni a sulioc fo slags dulwo tvelld 
Thiw sonreui eesy ta verey nape? 
Ot grin imh ni dan ton anagi, 
How stawn liet cublip ricer’s lelb? 
GIBBERISH. 
Do I ngn O thin gis Do I ngi LL. 
METAGRAM. 
Find a word of five letters out of which you can get IS 
nonus (inclusive). 
HOUR-GLASS PUZZLE. 
The center letters name a city in Florida.—1. Elo¬ 
quence. 2. To underrate. 3. A comity in Kansas. 4. A 
county in Texas. 5. To forbid. G. One seventh of one 
half. 7. To prate. S. A county in New York. 9. The 
capital of one of the United States. 10. One of the 
United States. 11. A river in the United States. 
Billy Button. 
DECAPITATIONS. 
1. Behead something dismal and leave a mechanical 
contrivance. 2. Behead what you don't like to have and 
leave what you should like to be. 3. Behead one who 
represents another and leave one who represents another. 
4. Behead something often comforting, though often very 
dangerous, and leave something that it is unpleasant to 
he. 5. Behead ail error and leave where it may often he 
found. 
DROP LETTER PUZZLE. 
H w o h b I 11 b s b e 
E p o e a If h n n h u 
A (1 a h r o e a 1 h d y 
F o e e y p n n f o e 
ANSWERS TO PUZZLES IN TUE JULY NUMBER. 
Charade.— Figure (fig-Ure) 
Double Acrostic. 
Chameleon. Alligator. 
C— alceolari —A 
il— umera —L 
A— w —L 
M- ag -I 
E— g —(4 
L— ouisian —A 
E— mine —T 
O— ntari —O 
N—ecroi nance—R 
Square Word. 
YOU R S 
O R L O P 
U L EM A 
R O M A N 
SPA N S 
Decapitations.—1. Estate, 
State. 2. falter, alter. 3. 
Flight, light. 4. Gold, old. 
a. Gown, own. G. Leas', east. 
Cross Word—M ark Twain. 
Anagrams. — 1. Thunder¬ 
bolt. 2 . Encroachments. 3. 
Workmanship. 4. Europeans. 
5. bricklayers. G. Intelligence. 
7. Warehouses, s. Counter¬ 
manded. 9. Rehearsal. 10. 
Interchanges. 
Transpositions. — 1. Sel¬ 
dom, models. 2. Stop, post. 
3. Satin, stain. 4. But, tub. 
4. Nuts, stun. 
Diamond Puzzle. 
Rio Grande. 
R 
KIT 
MOONS 
STAG G E R 
R I O G R A N D E 
T A It A N T O 
BONDS 
UD U 
E 
I’l.—In Wcsminster’s royal bulls. 
Rolled in their pontificals, 
England’s ancient prelates stood 
For tiie people’s right and good. 
Thanks, for letters, puzzles, etc., to Susanna H. W., Etiie 
W., Harry, G. W. B„ Soulon, Charlie G. 13., G. G. G„ Mary 
A. E„ Gertie, H. S., F. M. G., and G. Barnes. 
Send communications intended for Aunt Sue, to Box 111, 
P. O., Brooklyn , N. Y., and not to 245 Broadway. 
Wlsat Maty ©id;. 
BY LILA V. NORTH. 
It was past three o’clock when Kaly went through the 
cast orchard. The shadows of the trees lay on the short 
grass, with patches of sunlight between, and at every 
step Kilty took, the grasshoppers, big and little, jumped 
nimbly out of the way. Kaly was a very pretty little 
girl, her brown eyes and brown curls matched her brown 
gingham dress, and her lips and cheeks were like the 
scarlet of the cardinal-flower down in the swamp. The 
orchard was full of apples—red, yeliow, and green — but 
Katy did not stop, not even under her favorite Seek-no- 
further tree; she went right on, holding something in 
her little apron, past the orchard, and the rye field on the 
other side, pausing only to break off a tall golden-rod. 
