The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1843-03-22
AGRICULTURAL.
MANUFACTURE OF MAPLE SU-
GAR


Nessrs. GAYLORD T. Tucker,--You and
some of YOUR correspondents. seem 10 set
binb value upon maple sugar, but am con-
fdent none too high for its real worth.
hive had much experience in lis manufac-
lure. while youth, and residing with my
father and older bro her, in your own State.
Tbey have made, for a number OF seasons,
% MANY as u or 1900 pounds. know 'oeH
low il is generally made, and | beg leave,
through the columns Of your paper, TO sus
cest 10 its present makers. who follow The
cannon mode. three or four improvements,
praclised, believe, by very few indeed.
|. The sirictest attention should be paid
to cleanliness, in gathering. storing, and
boiling The sap; and to this end, (besides
The usua! skimmings while boiling, and
s.raining off the syrup before sugaring
oif.'') the sap itself should. By all means, be
well strained before putting il into the boil
crs.
2. |, should not be boiled in common ket
TICS. generally used for that purpose. Their
sides, as generally used, become highly hea-
ted, while the sap is often rising and falling
in the kettle. owing 10 the unsteadlness oil
the fire; and when il falls, the sap, scum,
&c aGhering TO the inside Of the kettle
burns OIL, and whea the sap rises again, IL
is melted off, and thus blSekens. embltters,
aud defles the whole mass in greater or
less degree. To remedy this, If common
potash, or smaller iron kettles must be used,
they should be sci in an arch of brick, or III
ere more cheapiy constructed OF common
stone, kh.ch any person ca7 lay up, even
without The assistance of mason : and N
setting them they should be placed high in
Inc arch, so that the fire will only come at
the bottom and pery small portion of the
sides, and then care should be taken never
to let the sap or syrup get SO low in the ket-
lies as the top of the arch. This will pre-.
vent lis burning upon the sides, and being
washed off again. Every person can make
This improvement, and when tried, ii will
be found a great and cheap on. lit is far
better. however, not to use the common ket-
lie at all; best to have sheet iron vat made
with flat bottom and upright sides. and
only 10 or II inches deep. Let this be
placed upon the top of the arch, so that the
fire ran reach the bottom only The E.
yaporation will be far more rapid, and the
desired object more certainly attained. The
size Of The vat should of course depend upon
the amount of business to be done; and
While il should be only about three feet wide,
ii may be 10 or II feet long. This great
length, in proportion TO its width, will save
fuel; as fire in the mouth Of the arch will
heat its whole length.
8. Wien the syrup is strained aud put
into the kettle for "sugaring' OF" there
should be added for each pail full, about one
pint milk.t
4. The sugar should not be. run into
cakes,-but, when sufficiently boiled 10
grain" let The kettle be set off the fire, and
when it begins 10 cool. the stirring should
&c commenced with a stick hattened for that
purpose. This stirring should oe increased
IN rapidity with its cooling. and toward the
last OF il. two men should relieve each other
for few Misunderstanding j, very rapidly,
AID 10 tho bottom, until it is all perfectly
dry and "alive," as the phrase is. This
Stirring off, can be finished in about
twenty minutes and when thus "jone,"
cane sugar can never equal it in beauty or
favor
lie kiuu vi heAtlc%nSTc recommended,
and this stirring off" Of maple sugar,
knoir, by experience, are Improvements on
ihe common method of making IL. Why
are they not equally applicable 10 The max:
ing of corn sugarl hope they will be tri
ed by those who try lhe latter.
P. S. Every farmer should have few
maple trees upon his place, in situations, if
possible. where they will not shade too much
his own, or his neighbours arabic land
This can generally be obtained by placing
them along the south side Of some road or
lane. A few trees will afford more sugar
than families generally use. and also very
sCast-ron boilers are now made 3 feet inches
long. rs inches wide, inches deep, and holding
bout barrel; cost $40 90. See advertisement Of
fOrestdale Foundry, this page.
! Some use a table spoonful of cream, instead OF
milk
fothers experienced in the business, tell us that
mere should be no ,,irring.-Ed,. VI. Chronicle.