Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1876-06-01
Mr.. Sniifins' Experience.
Mr.. Snifiin sends us the following

Il.
When | bought my present place the
former owner offered, as one of the in.
ducements to purchase, the fact that there
was superb gar-maple tree in the gar
den. II was noble tree, and | made IN
my mind that l would tap it some day and
manufacture some sugar. However, I
never did so until this year. But few
weeks ago | concluded to draw the SAP,
and TO have what Mr. Bangs calls "a
sugar bilin'." My wife's uncle was STAY
ing with US, and after inviting some
friends to come and eat the sugar, he and
| got to work. We took a huge wash.
kettle down into the yard and piled some
wood beneath it, and then we brought out
q couple OF buckets TO catch the sap, and
the auger with which to bore hole in the
tree.
My wife's uncle said that the bucket
ought to be set about three feet from the
tree, as the sap would squirt right out with
a good deal of force, and it would be
pity to waste any of it.
Then he lighted the fire while | bored
the hole about four inches deep. When
took the aJgur out the sap did not follow,
but my wife's uncle said what it wanted
was little time, and so, while we waited,
We waited half an hour, and as the sap
didn't come concluded that the hole was
not deep enough, so began boring again;
but l bored too far, for the anger went
clear through the tree and penetrated the
back OF my wite's uncle, who was leaning
up against the trunk trying to light his
pipe. He jumped nearly forty feet, and |
had TO mend him up with courtplaster.
Then he said he thought the reason the
sap didn't come was that there ought to
be kind of spigot in the hole so as to let
it run off easily. We got the wooden
spigot from the vinegar barrel in the eel
lar and inserted it. Then, as the sap did
not come, my wite's uncle said he thought
the spigot must be damned in so tight
that it choked the flow; and while tried
TO push it out he fed the fire with some
kindling wood. As the spigot could not
be budged with hammer, l concluded to
bore it out with the auger, and meanwhile
my wife's uncle stirred the fire. Then the
auger broke off short in the hole, and
had to 60 half mile to the hardware
store to get another one.
Then bored fresh hole, and although
the sap would not come the company did,
and they examined with much Interest
that kettle, which was now red -hot, ana
which my wife's uncle was trying to lit
off the fire with the hay fork. AS the sap
still refused to come, | went over Tor
Bangs to tell me how TO make that exas,
perating tree disgorge. When he arrived
he looked at the hole, then at the splgo',
then at the kettle, and then at the tree.
Then turning to me with mournful face,
he said;
"Sniffins, you have had good deal oil
trouble in your life, an it's done you
good. It's made man of you. This
world is full of sorrow, but we must bear
ii without grumblin' You know that oil
course. Consequently, now that l have
some bad news TO break to you, feel slt
the shock won't knock you endways, but
III be received with patient reslgna-
ton. | say hope you won't break down
an give way 10 your feelin's when Tell
you that there tree is no maple-sugar al
all! Grashusl why, that's black hickory!
1t is, indeed, and you might as well bore
for maple sugar in the side of telegraph
poler'
Then the company went home, and my
wiie's uncle said he had an engagement
with a man in Hatboro, which he must
keep right off. / took the kettle up to the
house, but as il was burned out l sold IL
next day for fifteen cents for old iron, ana
bought a new one for twelve dollars.
think now maybe it's better To buy your
maple-sugar - Philadelphia Bulletin.