Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1858-02-18
turner's department.
Maple Sugar Making,


III LSrI|UuSS W NOui SphNitoAOh iOi Pi"N'''N Ni
information relative to the making of sugar
from the maple offer my mite 1t is well
known that Maple Sugar is one of the staple
productions of the Western portion of the
Southern Tier" Of New York. 1t has OF
course been matter of no little interest to
our farmers to manufacture III the best manner,
both as to quality, and economy, an article
of SO much Importance, and many have prompt
ly adopted the means and appliances which in.
0enuity has suggested and experience proved
worthy The first premium awarded at the
late State Fair, was given for an article made
In Allegany County In offering statement
of the process and implements used, give
those adopted and used by those engaged some
what extensively in sugar making, and who
make very superior article.
In tapping, 5-S or 3 4 augtr bit is used,
making the hole l-2 or 2 inches deep. The
spout is made of hard wood, four or five III
ches long, hole bored with small bit through
it's length, and turned in o lathe, one end TO fit
the hole made by the bit in the tree, and the
other with head, over which the wire loop
attached to one edge of the bucket, is slipped
and held The end of the spout is made qnite
tapering, or stunt" as it is sometimes termed
so as fill the hole perfectly tight at its entrance
in the bark of the tree This allows all the
zap to pass through the spont and prevents
its escape otherwise To freshen' another
hole is bored and other spout inserted near the
first, so that the same bucket receives the sap
from both
The buckets are usually made of pine, hoop
ed with ash or iron, and sometimes the outside
is painted. On one side at the upper edge Of
the bucket, a wire loop is inserted, large enough
to pass over to the end of the spout after it is
firmly driven into the tree, hy which the buck
ct is hung. This dispenses with the sheet iron
or tin spout, the gouge, and the nail Many
furnish covers to each bucket. which are made
from blocks of pine, sawed of the proper length
from which thin pieces are riyen with shin
gle frow. On one side or edge of these thin
pieces a notch is cut, through which, when
properly placed on the buckets, the sap drops
from the spout This cover excludes all rain
and snow, leaves and bark When the Sugar
Camp" is inclosed land all should be, } aud all
kinds of stock excluded, the bucket should he
hung near the ground, but otherwise, they may
be hung out Of the reach of sheep and swine,
and reasonably from cattle.
The boiling is done in sheet iron pans, made
by the timer usually of two or three sheets
joined by rivets, the sides and ends turned up
FIVE inches, a heavy wire around the upper edge
in the manner of dripping pan. Iron loops
are rveted on at proper distances to serve as
handles Three of these pans placed on
we'll constructed arch, the two back pans plac-
ed each its height higher than the one imme
diately before it, small faucets placed in the
two rear pans so that the back one may be
discharged into the one next forward it, and
that into the front one is found to be a great
convenience.
A large store tub, placed so that it will
stand its whole height above the upper or
back pan, should be provided with good COW
er, good faucet aud spout reaching from the
tub to the pan. BY the faucet and spout the
sap may flow from the store tub to the upper
pan, and from that to the second, and so to the
third or front pan. The supply may be rrgn-
lated by the faucets in each, so that the flow
to all will be regular and sufficient For
gathering, sled should be provided with a
moderate sized tub firmly fastened upon it,
which tub should have the upper head placed
four or five inches below the upper end Two
2-inch holes should be bored through this head
In gathering, team attached 10 the sled pass
es along the roads that traverse t c camp at
proper intervals, the sap is taken from the
buckets in pals, and poured on the upper head
of the gathering tub, and passes through the
holes until the tub is full. 1t is then drawn
TO the proper place to he discharged into the
store tub. The discharge is through an inch
snd-A-fOurth hole in the bottom of the gather
ing tub, by spout reaching to the top of the
store tub. 1t will be seen that the ground
where the camp" is built should he uneven
so that the store tub may be placed above the
highest pan on the arch, and the gathering tub
when standing on the sled already to discharge
may stand o little above the top of the store
sub. The discharge from the gathering tub is
closed by a long plug which passes through
one of the 2-inch holes in the upper head into
the 3-4 hole in the bottom. The spout from
the gathering tub should he well made, with
the end receiving the discharge tightly cover
ed, and hole through the cover large enough
to receive the discharge nd not waste. This
spout is placed on the sled-runper and easily
and firmly secured.
When the season is somewhat advanced, the
weather warm, and the buds begin to grow, it
is often diH6cult to make sugar. The difficulty
is ebvfated by putting spoonful of quick lime
in each bucket. The sap becomes sweet, and
the syrup granRlates freely and is quite as white
and pleasant as ever. En- " sSgaring off, the
syrup is carefully strained into medium sized
cauldron kettle, and carefully reduced until it
becomes sugar, some adding milk or other sub
stances 10 +" cleanse" and others rejecting it
cntirely. Indeed, when covers are used on
the buckets, the gathering and store tubs the
pans weA placed on well constructed arch
ander cover, and the whole process conducted
with the utmost neatness and order, the
cleansing process" is quite unnecessary.
The cost Of buckets and spOnts is Sl2 l-2
to $l5 per hundred, according to materials and
workmanship pans s. to s. cash, according
to size, and quality Of materials. Iron bonnd
pine buckets are pgefe4able TO tin, and cost