ate that have been producing sugar for nearly one
hundred years, and show no sign of decay, though they are still tapped
when their season comes round.

When the sap has been drawn from the tree it is generally boiled down
until it crystallizes or sugars; it is then poured into moulds, and
hardens; this is the favorite way among the farmers for keeping Maple
Sugar.

In former times no woman took part in the maple-sugar manufacture. The men
used first to tap the trees, and then boil the sap over wood fires that
they would build in the neighborhood of the sugar bush, as the maple grove
is called.

The men used iron kettles to boil the sugar, and did not take as much care
as they might have done to see that the kettle was not rusty, or that no
twigs or leaves fell in, and so a boiling of sugar sometimes would be
spoiled.

Nowadays the women go along to the sugaring with the men. The boiling is
done under cover, and it is the duty of the women to see that the kettles
are properly cleaned and scoured. As the men do not have to divide their
attention between boiling the sugar and gathering the sap, and both
processes are in the charge of special people, the result is that the
sugar is much better.

If you ever have a chance to go to a sugar camp, go. It is great fun.
Shortly before the syrup sugars the boys and girls pour it on ice or snow,
or into cold water; this hardens it so that it can be held in the fingers
like candy. The process is called "waxing" sugar.

GENIE H. ROSENFELD.

INVENTION AND DISCOVERY.

A NEW INKSTAND has lately been patented.

The great trouble we all have with our ink is that it thickens so quickly
if we are not very careful to cover the inkstand after using.

The new ink-well, to save this trouble, is self-closing.

[Illustration]

One lid of the well is made in the shape of a half circle, and is fitted
into a groove made to receive it.

When a person wishes to dip the pen in the ink, the touch of the pen
slides the curved lid back; and then directly the pen is drawn out, the
lid slides back into place again and the ink is protected.

NEW FLOWER-POT.--To people who really love flowers, the new
flower-pot holder should prove a very great treasure.

It is to be made in china, and very prettily decorated, and its novelty
consists in the plan of making it with an upper and lower chamber.

The upper part holds the flower-pot, and the lower collec