The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1843-04-04
The Farmer.
From the Vermont Chronicle.
METHOD OF MAKING MAPLE sUGA

come remarks upon the manufacture Of maple sugar
IN this State also description of sample made in
this town. and a request that one, either here
or sewhere, would describe the best mode of max
mgit.
Wiamsown cannot possess any advantages for
tbe production of sugar, above other towns in YER
c,ont--perhaps not above tho majority of towns; nor
are the farmers in this town aware as far as know
aim, thoy are in advance of farmers in other towns
IN this branch of business. However this may be, il
is certain that great Improvements have been made
mere within few years. Some, indeed, make the
old fashioned black sugar, but may produce beau
tGu article, and much is made that the quantity
orimportcd sugar and molasses consumed here is
very small, while small quantity Of sugar and moas
seq made here is sold abroad. ...t
In giving you account of the mode OF making
sugar here, I shall describe the process pursued by
one rormer from whom together with examining his
works and witnessing his mode of proceeding, have
obtained the information. r
Mr. John Palmer, Of this town, made last
1900 lbs Of excellent sugar. In the spring of 1910
he made the same quantity; but in 1871 he made
ouy 500 pounds-the season not being good. A
GOOD number Of farmers in town make article not
INFERIOR perhaps, TO hiss but he produces the largest
quantity of good sugar of any man in town, and has
made such improvements in the business, that is
believed he gets II larger return than any other man
for the amount of labor bestowed. | will first de-
scribe his
Sugar Lot and Boiling Works.
He has about $50 trees His boiling house is
temporary building, constructed near small stream
in his sugar lot, by setting posts into the ground, and
forming roof of boards; the back side and south end
re closed up protect from the wind and smoke;
the front side and north end are open. being protect
sA.Grssthe wind by the rising grosnd and it has no
aO0. This building he uses for boiling in sugar
time and for slowing his buckets the remainder Of
The year. Under this roof his boilers set arch
IS, with chimneys lie has three sheet-ron pan
holers, made from heavy English iron. One boiler
is feet long by 8 broad, another by 3, and the
sides of both inches high; the third is small boiler
ior sugaring off. Some the Russia ron but the
English, weighing about 90 lbs to the Sheet is bet
Ter for large boilers. These boilers are made with
handles, and can be remuved at pleasure; and
arranged when on the arches. that the fire strikes
y the bottom, which is always covered with the IL
qd; consequently none is burned round the edges to
black the sugar. Another tempory building iorms Il
shelter for wood, which he prepares year before
hand, and has il seasoned for use.
Method Of Tapping. ...s.,
This is done by boring into the tree with bit, the
size rather than three -fourths of an inch His
Spous made of sheet-iron, from to 6lnches ons
hut ia the form Of tapping iron or common wooden
spout, sharpened the end, and driven into the bark
below the hole bored in the tree. common wrought
nail is then driven into the tree below, and the tub
suspended to that re the tub is largest at the top
the head Of the nail holds under the upper hoop; but
smallest at the top, hole must be made in the tub
for the nail, These nails are all taken out OF the
,c es at the end of the sugar This is very
suple and e nedtous mode of tapping; but caution
Aoud,he used that the hole be not bored TOO deep
three fourths of an inch is deep enough. Deep Dor
ing unnecessarily wounds and Injuries the tree
Cat ering Sap.
This he does with his team. He has two seds,
with hogshead fitted upon each. Roads are opon
ed through his sugar lot to pass as near all the
trees us possible one can gather with one sled'
while another, who is boiling, can draw OFT from the
hogshead on the other, into the feeder and holders
large wooden tunnel is used in gathering TO pour INC
sap into the hogshead and co nnon cloth straner Is
fixed into this tunnel SO that the sap,n passing INTO the
hogshead is cleansed from chips and other impar IS
col ectcd in the tubs
With his works thus arranged, Mr. Palmer and his
son able to perform nearly all the labor through
the sugar season.
Rolling, cleansing and susaring or
In boiling, feeder is used to convey the sap INTO
the bolers this large tub, with two Valves anu
spout conductor running to each boiler ny th's
arrangement the sap is kept running into the oo'ers
all the time just in proportion to the evaporation ano
the boilers are kept constantly boiling In ruhh'ns
out of the feeder the sap passes again through c'
mon cloth strainer. When boiled down to srup' II
strained ho: from tho boilers, through Hammer stra
or, by to cool; this srainer is nothing more tha
yard Of domestic wooden flannel "hen cou''ss'
Or milk mixed with the sirup for rising me sou'
and little saaraus is added if the sap is sour as
frequently is near the end OF the season II IS 'ne'
put into the small boiler skinned in the usual i'a'