Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-03-11

TIE SUGAR MAPLE.

Onc.or the leading maple sugar makers
uf Hampshire county claims that but very
few productions, in the entire system of
New England agriculture, realize to the
farmer: so large profit as the mannfae--
ture of that commodity. As prices have
averaged for the last ten years, it is GER
tairly feature of home industry we'll
worthy Of consideration. Many OF the
farmers on the hills who own and utilize
Large sugar orchards, have become con-
yinced by practical experience that it is
one Of their very best paying harvests,
tobacco alone yielding, perhaps. larger
net profit. Nature has appointed this
harvest at a season when the farmer can
accomplish but little other labor 10 advan-
tage, and unless he is engaged in this oc-
cupation, his time and efforts will yield
him but little remuneration; yet, without
taking this point into account, even did
the work come at any other time in the
year, it would pay grandly. Maple syrup
and sugar hold high price in the mar
ket, and without a doubt will sustain their
present rates, with probabilities of ad-
vance in the future.
In the face of these facts, it is certainly
somewhat matter of mystery why Il
large proportion OF our farmers should
manifest such an utter indifference to the
preservation and perpetuity of the sugar
maple. In no other part of the country
does it flourish so naturally and vigorous
IN as among the Green mountains: and
wherever its delicious sweets are extract
ed, it repays the owner three fold for the
labor. Still our maple groves and forests
are rapidly disappearing, and, at the pres
ent rate of decrease, another half century
win witness their almost utter annihia-
ton.
The process Of making mapie-sugar is
evidently destined to become one of the
'lost arts" unless some special interposi-
ton stays this work of destruction. The
demand for broom-handlcs and other ar
ticles of utility into which this wood is
converted, is Unsuitable. Thousands OF
cir grand old emerald-crowned monarchs
ofthe forest are sacrificed to this demand
annually, and of course the aggregate
amount Of sugar manufactured must de
crease in ratio with the decrease of thu
material from which it is derived. 1t will
soon become luxury in the market, com
manding price that must teach ever,
shrewd and sensible owner of maple OF
chards the expediency, even in pecunia
~ sense, of preserving this beautiful fe;
ture Of our New England landscape.
By all means, then, let our maple FOL
ests escape the invasion of that dire enel
gy aud cupidity, which are so rapidly an
recklessly dismantling our lovely hills an
valleys Of their primitive grandeur an
luxuriance. The maple grove, once d,
stroyed, cannot easily he replaced Il
reproduction is the slow, lingering wor
oftime and it behooves the lumberma
to remember this important fact when b
puts the AK TO its root. The perpetuity
the delicious luxury obtained from the 81
gar-maple is not the only incentive to til
Preservation Of that tree. In a pictori.
sense alone, with its wealth of unpara
leled greenness and verdure in SIMMER
and its marvellous mosaic of leafy gold i
autumn, it is worthy of a woodland in
mortality .-SDrin0feld Republican,