New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-07-07
NORTHERN SUGAR.
MAPLE SUGAR MANUFACTURE.

cSjing at the present Ume soon after my arrival al
Delhi my h!end L. proposed that should accompany
him 70 mapls-suear frouo. lie had friends, ne
said. living on largo farm, about ton miles out, VIII,
made sugar on quite extensive scale, and they would
be delighted to receive any one whom he introduced
The roads were muddy and heavy and 10 couuterDance
these evils took early start; by o'clock we were
on our way TO farmer Mcrrtts. The maple trees
on the road presented very comical appearance
a. they had all been tapped, and were decorated
with splcs, from the mouths Of which were hanging
tin or wooden buckets. Finally my friend
asked would like drink OF sap,
and notwithstanding my entrcates that he would give
himself no trouble about H. assured him that could
DE quite cOutented to wait until reached destna-
ton he threw the reins into my hands, and sprnGng
out into the mud, captured huge wooden bucket,
which he raised to my lips triumphanty, asserting very
confidently that could not help liking it, L. looked with
supreme contempt upon my ignorance in matters con-
nected With country life and seemed 20 feel sort Of
pity for me that had been so long deba7red from
many pleasures and now he watched the expression Of
my codnenance very much observe the face Of q
little child when present him with new toy. The
bucket rather novel drinking vessel, but
It's contents novel had anticipated; and,
putting II aside with feeling OF disappointment, re-
marked that thought il very fat that IL had
taste than L. seemed disposed at FIRST 20 regard
my opinion personal insult; he assured me that IL
very nice and sweet and TO prove the truth OF his
ICluafk ne proceeded 10 take good drink IT; but
with gesture OF impatience he very put IL down.
cXolauinC declare man, you are right II is water!
burst Of merry laughter from bevY OF boys as We
drove solved the enigma; they had amused them
selves by drinking the sap, and then pouring water into
the pals for the benefit Of the uckess travellers After
this little adventure concluded not 70 experiment any
by the roadside.
We finally reached the farmhouse, and MI Merritt
ucle Joe, my friend called HIM ont 10 receive u.s.
and to assist Us in putting away the horses His hair
gray, and his face considerably wrinklcd;
thces would never think OF calling him old, for he
OF those large-hearted. hOspitabe, sunshiny
men who whatever their years, are always young Aunt
Polly perfect match dor him. stout and motherly,
with the white hairs showing here and there from under
her matrony cap. and the mild blue eyes looking out
their pleasure from a pair OF glasses; yet there
freshness of feeling, and buOyancy about her which
VIII ever keep her young. Then there young Mer-
rtt "a Of the old people, his wife, and a whole fam
iy Of little folks; not the least important among whom
the Old baby. who told his little stories in
what seemed foreign tongue and brought out the
difficult words though he we're cracking some very
hard nuts. Adam and Eve also prominent members
OF this family; not the genuine first pair, believe,
who dwet in the garden OF Eden did this
Adam claim Eve forhs rib The couple had been brought
together from entirely different regions when quite
young so they told me, although when surveyed the
little shrlycled figure and wrinkled face OF the man
was half disposed TO doubt that he had had any
youth Il seemed 10 that he mi ht have existed since
the world began, and that lie had ever lived in bushes
and groves for the weird form seemed athome among
dead leaves and branches Of trees Eve was devoted,
body and SOUL 10 the household OF which she formed
member, taking mothers pride tho children, whom
she cOded and carssed and evidently regarded as her
own private property These two retaners win proba-
bly, remain there long they live, for Uncle Joe
would as soon think OF turning off his little grandch
Of sending this faithful pair ont from the ark
they well they do the Chores one out OF the
house and the other in, and when they are I'll they
taken OF like any Of the other members of the
family.
As chief object in this visit was to witness the
process Of sugarmahng we very soon repaired TO
tie grove. team was harnessed, and We were
merry party clambered into the wagon and ratified
over the stones and through the mud TO what they call
the maple-bush When the wagon stopped Adam re-
reived u.s. This spot essentially for the time being
his home. Here he ate and slept and worked, and now
he forward with quite air OF propretorshp to
welcome TO his den. "Walk into the parlor said he,
as we alghtcd and he maiesticaly waved US toward
little shanty which was closed three sides and boarded
over the top and which served tolerably comfort
able retreat for the during the night in
stormy weather "Hep yourselves to chairs he added,
with grim as he pointed toward some boards which had
been thrown across anything that handy, 20 form
seats The opening the little house faced arch Of
stone I'm which generous wood fire was roaring and
cracku ing and giving out most del ghtfm heat which
owing a. the chucss ~ the atmosphere we could fully
appreciate. ON the fire immense iron pans in
which the sap was boiling. Presently mother man joined
az he was driving yoke Of oxen, aud on his sled he had
huge covered tuh hOg,head; he had been all through
che bush fOragng expedition, and, having gathered
the sap from the buckets brought II to hedquarieIs
the plug pulled from his tub and thus the sap was
emped into larger vessel standing near the fire. some
farmer. have trouEhs as much as a quarter 81 Imie
long leading nom different points IN the sutarDush, 10
are vessel near the boiling apparatus-this is when
the Ire is 40 The bottom OF m-tAD the sapls gathered
and poured into the uOughs and u runs down ana
cmptes INTO the large vessel thus saving considerable
labor.
Adam kept guard over the pans on the fire with huge
SKINNER his hand and when any scum yentrcd 10 RISE
il Was Immediately erked on and precpitated TO the
Iaps mi ii thcm to within an inch or two Of the
TOP the space beng left TO prevent the from boiling
creased with piece OF fat pork; and some who are not
let Il boil away which gives very unpleasant taste 10
The sugar As the sap bOils down. and thus makes room,
been thrown in by the time that this Is boiled down TO
about pals full Tie sirup Is considered mick enough
neck yoke used, which takes two pals al time; and
this load s about m m3ch as one nan All 70 T s MINI
mahs' Oh al frS, 900 to 900 pounds dur
ing the season, which lasts about three weeks,
beginning with the first thaw, and ending when an the
ft s" of the ground and the buds begin 70 appear.
Ne roamed through the grove, and were quite Devil
dered bv the forest OF maple trees, dotted with the
bright TN buckets These buckets have tiny hole near
no TN through which hook is inserted, aud by TINS
means hry are fastened to the trees We were Iod Oh
"a Gentleman not much experienced in the ways Of c0un-
80 lie ho settled on farm friends, and he
,ared ali inc frees that grew in his maple bush, insist
i npou it mat kind would give sap as vel as an
at5ari he was matched by his little daughter, WlOH
l sent 10 certain with instructions 10 sci dsh
Iirdr il N il were running; the child returned WIN the
Information that the tree was not runug Dat lAaV II
MS [c1EiHg drcddfully! - ,,--,.,-- -.
Our friend had 60 tTces TAPPED So desirable are they
cousidere that every 10 maple trees WAlch man pants
relieve MIN OF one days labor on tie highway tat year
and in the West a II exempted nom paying c1I-
tain amount OF tax Tor every hundred trees winch ne
ert, ont Tie bttternut tree runs khu OF sap IIOIl
which a kind of sugar. is sometimes nade' "hIn ls ny
nearly 80 agreeable TO the taste as that made Ho tHo
maple. - o,,,o,t.os. and
Our ramblc iu the grove gave us good eppetes anu
MN Ne returned 10 Adams paIlOr our friend took
,rou the wagon large basket filed with uncOoked pro
visions. began 70 wonder II we were Apecteu 10 PSi