The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1872-02-29
From the Interior.

The axe is SO rapidly accomplishing its
work of destruction thst the pleasant name
Of the sugar-camp will soon be lost to
the rural vocabulary. Time was when the
closing month Of winter, bridging over 20
the cool, fresh breath of spring, wa. rem
dered one of the most pleasant seasons of
the year by the harvest of the balmy sporis
Of the forest. Among the most pleasant
recolections of many now in middle life
or Old age, are those of the CHEEKY times
when under the oyer-arching NAPLES they
watched the bubbIing sweets in the great
round iron kettles, and listened to the we'll
timed music Of the tripping 'spiles, while
al else but the signing winds was silent a.
the stars above. And then there was the
neighborly visit to an adjacent camp, where
fires could he seen from our own, CLEAN
IN among tn rees.
What a beautiful exhibition it was Of
the munifcence Of Providence, when the
great storing trough, the watts, the hogs
heads, tubs, and all other available recep-
taclcs were full, even to the sled-barrel.
and the sap-buckets all running over, and
Vulcan examining the furnace with his best
wood to boil it in. And then the product
Nature never elsewhere produced a sweet
more delightful. The trees seem to have
caught the aroma and fragrance of the
flowers, and imprisoned them in their res
cryoiTs. These are only for the rural al
chemists and their households. The at
tempt to acclimate them into the grocery
store or the city market is Il failure. They
vanish, fly back perhaps to the woodlands
Sugar-boiling was accounted hard work,
and yet nearly every one was ready for it,
1t Is the nearest approach which the farm
er can make to the primitive bounty of ma
ture. lie steals march upon the sleeping
blossoms Of the trees, and captures a share
Of their supplies, and although the sturdy
Old trunks bcstow literally and to over
fo,iac, if solicited while in their melting
moods, vet they seem to take care that
abundance shall be left for the young buds
and fronds, which are soon after tossed to
'he air profasely as though no de>poiler
had been near
II NAV be set down as mistaken idea
that suyar-boiling is Improbable. The
season comes after the labor and market
ing Of the preceding year are we'll closed
NJ, and before much can be done in the
Way Of spring work. From one hundred
10 FIVE hundred dollars comes in, besides &
supply for home use, which would other
wise not be gained to the family pocket
/ AMI if the sum Of money is less, it usually
takes rroportionatelg less labor to produc,
It. The time was when heavy sugar-wooG
/ Esas one Of the chief attractions to the pur
/ chasers Of the soil, Indicating as 1t dil
richness and fertility, as well as presenting
/ resources almost melatcIy available.
Those who, on small scale can YET
engage in this pleasant branch of industry
will Gnd their product almost doubly val
liable in the market, if they take the pain.
to seal up IN bottles, Dramatically, the
/ fresh syrup while it is still hot In thi>
way the peculiar flavor and aroma are
. partially if not wholly preserved and :
: sweet can be offered which exccls the most
fastidious selections Of the honey bee