Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-04-16
Sugar Making in Windsor County.

able now, and important mt all times. nc
manufacture of maple sugar is one of the most
profitable industries IN the state. At the
meeting of the board of agriculture Mt Will
mington In Wlndham County, IL was stated
that tho product Of maple sugar of that town
has reached rs high MS one hundred and
thirty tons in year. 1t was claimed that
the net profit per acre of good sized sugar
lots exceeds that Of pastures, and the cult
walton Of the sugar maple and the protection
and preservation Of the maple orchards was
recommended. The magnitude of this in
terest in the southerly portion Of the state is
not to be compared to that at the north.
Our sugar lots are small from 900 to 400 or
500 trees being the range, with few excep-
tons.
The season here thus far has not been
called favorable. The flow of sap has been
very small It is very sweet however, and
makes nearly il not quite rs much sugar rs
double the quantity would do some seasons.
with material saving of time and fuel in
boiling. With favorable weather for a week,
l do not know why the crop may not reach
the average.
good degree of interest prevails here in
improving the apparatus and methods of
manufacture. Yet most of the farmers con-
tinue to use the old fixtures because they
cannot bear to throw them aside until worn
out. Those who procure new usually get
the best. And that raises the question: what
is the bestP and the other question, will it
: pay to throw away old fixtures and pay out
money for the improved onesp
! assume, and / believe the facts justify
the assumption, that the quality of the MA
pie sugar of Vermont is, on the whole, be-
low what it might, and ought to be. Maple
sap IS coloress, like water, and If it is con-
verified to strip by the most perfect process,
soon as it flows from the tree, it will remain
without color, and retain tho luscious maple
flavor in all its purity. Every thing which
gives color TO the strip impuirs that fine
flavor. Maple sap is something like milk in
that il absorbs impurities whenever brought
in contact with them, In the buckets, hold
ers, pans, or in The atmosphere; and it begins
to decay by fermentation long before it is
suspected. All sugar makers know that the
sooner sap is evaporated the better the prod
uct. Tho reason is that it is all the while
absorbing impurities from some source, or
fermentation is going on, or both.
= 1t is well known, also, that the quality is
injured by keeping it long boiling. II fine
flavor and color are desired it must be re-
duoed to slrup and got off the fire rs soon as
possible. There can be no doubt that metal
is preferable to wood for every purpose, be.
cause no sap is absorbed to sour and taint
all that comes in contact with it. threw
away turned wood spouts to use galvanized
Y iron, and believe l was paid for the change
I the first season. have observed that a hole
b with no spout dries up and ceases to rur
sooner than one with spout; hence infer
that the grain of the wood should be pro-
: tected from the air, and that Posts spout
are preferable toltin. These are used in III,
} lot, and give perfect satisfaction. The ICON
i mon sense" bucket is valid improvement
a because it hangs perpendicular and fills full
r before running over and the cover protects
Il from rain, leaves and sticks which play mis-
n chief with sap. Qf Mr.. Post would make Il
9 wider collar on his spouts so that rain wate
g rs il flows down the bark of the tree can in
II no case follow the spout into the bucket, i
Q would DO II good Improvement
u The ga.horcr must necessarily be OF wood
Q 1t must be clean and sweet, and the sal
J must not stand IN 1t long.
I, In regard to the apparatus for boiling
= there il u difference of opinion. Many farm
r ers use tho heater and pan with good result
u in speed Of evaporation. Those who pro
. cure new generally get the evaPorator
? The testimony OF all who have made TIN
change, with only one exception, so far a'
my knowledge extends, is in favor of the
= evaporator.
! The evaporation is condemned by SOM
!. sugar makers rs of no advantage, or rs to
a expensive to pay for the gain. But this i
n by those who have never used it, or testet
"a it in any way. There are farmers in thi
county who condemn the mower, tedder ant
horse rake. They do so rs others condemn
aporators-ignorantly. Adverse opinion
based on prejudice are Of no value.
70 There is no doubt in my mind that tn,
rs quality is better when the evaporator i
n used, because it is done and off the fire 81
% quick. have used evaporators for five O
= six years and thinkwo have tested them yer
g. thoroughly. l have no trouble ia selling siru
for 25 cents or more per gallon above tina
D. made by heaters and pans Our customer
IT frequently say they " already have all the
8, want, but they never saw any SO nice q
o that, and will have some of it," claim n
: merit for skill in the manufacture, and men
0 ton these facts to show the results of clean
: illness in handling, aud dispatch in evapC
IT rating and finishing the process. The Butte
,, evaporator which | see advertised in you
= columns, is in use in nay sugar house, and is
I" in my opinion, far superior to any other up
- pliance for making sugar.
:, Your correspondent AZ. W., tissue of Marc
= 26th, makes some excellent suggestions oil
- the subject of sugar making but when b
y says Sirup down three or four times ever
- day, and you will gain the improvements @
- an evaporator," 1 cannot agree with him
because experience teaches me it is AN er
! ror by tho way is not e. WIS" half-inc
4. hose for emptyng his hauler rather small
n. | run half-inch stream into the evaporation
70 and keep it boiling like the witches eau
If dron."
a. "E. W." may be right in the objection I
!. sugar moulds, but am not certain of it.
ID have Buffers sugar mould for small cake
il and have no difficulty In making them white
,e DO not use it much because 1t sells for NOR
re money rs sirup.
lie have spun my yarn longer than intend
ed, and said little about Windsor County
in II the many readers of your valuable pape
ID find an ything Of intel est am content. 1t
IT hardly necessary for me to add that hav
10 no interest in the manufacture or sale
IL sugaring fixtures.
to @. HORACE HUBBARD.
N Springfield, VI. april 10, 1875.
= re. W." hose for emptying the haule
is u inches in diameter. The correctio
was made in the Orleans County items tn