Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-03-19
---N 60
The Manufacture of Maple Sugar.
Read at the Trout River Farmers, club,
March o.

ANU "onuAaVbue VI haple ouBar.
Head at the Trout River Farmers, Ctub.
March o.
l can hardly expect to interest or instruct
the members Of this club in anything may
say on the making Of maple sugar, for il
is to be supposed that having been engaged
in sugar making perhaps every season from
their childhood up to the present time, if
they do not know all about it they at least
know as much about it as do. Butt be.
lieve there is much connected with sugar
making for any of us TO learn yet before we
shall arrive at perfection in the art.
l think there is no article Of farm pro.
duce raised or manufactured by us which
has been so much improved in the last thir-
ty years as maple sugar. The conveuiences
and fixtures for the manufacture Of no other
article on the faIm have undergone so great
change as those now used by some OF our
best sugar makers. The result is greatly
improved quality of sugar, as well as incrcas-
ed quantity, and at less cost. Those of US
that we're boys 80 years ago can readily con-
trast the difference between then and now.
We remember the huge potash and caldron
kettles that were hung on poles with large
logs laid around them, and the enormous
quantities Of green wood to boil the sap.
We remember too the stormy days that We
had to tend those fires without shelter save
that Of three or four boards with one end
elevated on pole sufficiently for us to stand
or sit under during the short time we might
get, which was not much for the fires Dc.
manded our almost constant attention. Now
we have the sugar house in nearly every SUI
gar place Of much account, with pans or
evaporator set on a good arch. with plenty
OF seasoned wood on hand to feed the fires,
thus rendering the boiling Of the sap to strip
q pleasant employment for fair or foul wealth.
er, rather than disagreeable task. Then
too the utensils were,at best, implanted wood
en- ones, aud some even used trouUhs that
lay by the trees during the entire year and
we're unceansed save by the storms that fell
upon them. Then, but few farmers made
more than was used by their own families or
few pounds to sell tothe blacksmith or shoe
maker. Now some reckon the amount made
by tons.
regret that l have not the statistics to
show the increase Of manufacture during the
last decade. According to the census report
for 1850 Vermont alone made 6,349, 1857
pounds. In 1860 there was made 9,Sl9, 939
pounds, being an increase Of more than one.
third the amount made in 1850. Aud l
have no doubt the increase in manufacture
has been much greater since, a. the high
prices during the rebellion greatly stimulat-
ed its production. But think that hence
forth there will be greater efforts to improve
the quality than to increase the quantity. L
fear that henceiorth or soon at least we shall
witness decided falling off in quantity as
our railroads increase the demand aud raise
the price Of wood. Already the Woodlands az
lie cutting down great numbers Of the beau
tiiul naples, which is the most beautiful as
well as useful Of our forest trees. know
not why we may not yet vie with the manu-.
facturers Of cane sugar in producing an ar.
ticle OF snowy wilderness and purity. Aud |
believe when we arrive at perfection in ma
pie sugar making we shall produce an arti-
Gle not whit inferior to the best ciue
sugar. | had the pleasure Of examining
some samples of maple sugar at our last
county fair that had we'll nigh if not quite
attained to that degree Of perfection,- so
near it that one member of the committee
exclaimed, "That cant be all maple sugar."
but on testing it was forced to acknowledge
its purity.
In sugar making use painted wooden
buckets aud pans sufficiently large for rapid
boiling, being careful to strip off or at least
to take out of the pans at night what had
been boiled during the day, as standing in
iron gives it dark color. My storage is
30 arranged as to permit the sap to flow from
each tub to the pans in a constant stream,
passing through a strainer placed over the
conveying pipe. The strip is generally al
lowed to stand twelve hours or more to set
tie after being strained through flannel
strainer, when it is sugared off in a pan
made for the purpose, placed on cook stove
in the house, boiling more or less according
to the purpose it is designed for. If for sir
up for market it is taken off when it will
weigh III pounds to the gallon, wine meas
ure. For nice article Of that kind have
sold considerable the last three or four years,
delivered at our depot, for 81 ,25 per gallon.
| find this a good way Of disposing of such as
is fit for that purpose Bothing but the best
will do for that price. After it is taken from
the stove it is again allowed TO stand until
u substance it contains which we call inter
has settled to the bottom, when it is put in
eaus, jugs or barrels, for market. II want
to make an article for family use l generally
boil sufficiently for soft tub sugar and in a
few days drain it. If | want an extra nice
aud convenient article for home use | take
some Of the early made strip and boil it
rapidly until It is thoroughly cooked when
the pan is off take clean hoe and stir,
much as one makes mortar, until it is dry
aud fine. | then have an article which is
nice for the table or for cooking purposes,
as it is fne and dry and dissolves very read.
lily. Sugar making like everything else pays
best when well done, and it is an old aud
true axiom that "What is worth doing at all
is worth doing we'll" Alas that we farmers
80 often neglect or disregard this truism.
The farmer that negects to thoroughly
cleanse all his utensils, but permits them to
remain in sour or filthy condition, cannot
make nice article unless no has some secret
not known by me. Should | hear man.
bOasting that he had washed aud put away
1000 buckets in a half day, he would DO tie
man that | should not ask if he had sugar TO
SELL Aud now, brother farmers, as We are
about entering upon another sugar season,
let us strive to make some improvement on
our former attainments in the manufacture
Of this article of home made luxury.
Where was Representative Hendee of
the 81 district of Vermont. during tho last
session Of CougressP We heard from Ed
munds, Morrill,, Willard and Poland, but