Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1858-03-26
AGRICULTURAL.
From the Burlington Free PIC
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making as that Of 1857, do not occur every
ycar--still with sufficient attention and skill,
there is little room for doubt that not only
can as much be produced in any fair season.
but that the average quality can be so I'M
proved that the total cash value of the staple
shall, in spite of the fall of the prices OF SUI
gar be fully maintained We compile the
following valuable hints from several commu-
nications which we find in the american Agri-
ctltigid for February, from farmers of much
experience in sugar making, in several parts OF
New York. And first concerning
TAPrING.-One farmer uses in tapping. a
IS or 3-4 augur bit, making the hole ! IL
or inches deep. The spout is made of hard
wood, four or five inches long, hole bored
with a small bit through its length. and turn
cd in a lathe one end to fit the hole made by
the bit in the tree, and tho 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 quito taporing. SO
as to fill the hole perfectly tight at its en-
TRANCE in the bark of the tree. This allows
all the sap to pass through the spout, and
prevents its escape otherwise TO "trcshcn'
another hole is bored and another spout in
serted near the first, so that the same bucket
receives the sap from both
Another uses spouts made Of pine with II
hole burned through, or sumach with the
pith removed, and properly tapcrcd at one
end to fit the hole. The spouts need not be
more than three inches long If the buckets
arc hung up, except in case of using one buck
ct for two or more spouts This man says:
''In tapping I choose the North or West
side of the tree, for this side will run whom
tie South side will not, and will not cease
running so soon in the season and will give
e a.. late | l.
trees should be tapped about four feet from
The ground, with ii to 81 inch bit, aud
two to three inches deep according to the
size Of the tree for it is only the sap part of
tho wood that yields sap and perlorating the
heart of the wood is very injurious TO the
tree, causing decay
Both agree in hanging the buckets on the
lie spouts, for if the buckets are set on the
ground they catch many leaves blown by the
wind, and tho fact is abundanty proved that
iride sugar or syrup cannot be made from sap
in which dead leaves have soakod-therc is
scarcely anything more deletcrious.
BucKErs.-1'hc buckets arc usually made
ofpino, hooped with ash or iron, and some
tunctmcs the outside is painted On one
side at the upper edge of the bucket n wire
op is inserted, Just large enough to pass
over the end of the spout after it is firmly
driven into the tree, by which the bucket is
Lung. Many furnish covers TO each bucket,
v hich arc made from blocks of pino sawed of
tie proper length, from which thin pieces are
iven with shinglo frow. Ono side or edge
these thin pieces notch is cut through
hich when properly placed ON the bucket,
the sap drops from the spout. This cover
Excludes all rain and snow. leaves and bark
The cost of these buckets with the hardwood
bred. according to quality.
Another prefers turned buckets Of pine or
etill better Of cedar, the size of common water
rails, fitted with sheet iron "car' upon the
outside, to hold it to the tree upon whatever
Is driven into it, for which he recommends a
niece of Is or $40 inch wire sharponcd at
one end. Properly ground, wire be
driven into tho tree without causing the too
frequent "blceding" which often follows where
nails used, and thorc is head TO catch
the ear. This bleeding is not only an eye
sore but is very injurious TO the tree, and les
eens the quantity of sap secured. These
buckets can be procured, painted and cared
At any pail factory at cost of 8 to Is cents
zach. and arc superior to thin ones, as they
last longer, and cost but one third as much
GATHERGNG.--If your "bush" is small and
compact, the sap can be collected in pals with
'yoke," but if large or scattered, and upon
inclined ground, you viii save much hard la
Dor by making long spouts or troughs, and
lay them in line, with tub or barrel az the
head, into which you can turn your collection
aud let it run gradually through faucet and
along the small troughs to the reservoir, while
you are gathering more. an my orchard, -
says one man, II used troughs whose aggre-
gate length was about quarter of mile, and
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