Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1882-05-31

Mr.. EDIToR,-DEARS SIR: My attention
has Just been called to your comments on
my sap prediction, not sugar prediction, as
found in FREEMAN for May s. You will,
please observe that do not now (nor have
not for two years past), predict the nature
OF sugar season, but, instead a sap sea-
son. Sugar is an art, sap is nature. 1t
would be folly to predict how much sugar
man will make, for he might not tap in
season or he might tap too early, rs most
did this spring, or he might not tap at all
Again, it would be absurd to predict a
sugar season which connects art with ma
ture, when my prediction is the result of
observations of natural law A good sugar
season implies good sap season. but
good sap season does not necessarily imply
a good sugar season. have been forced
to make this distinction. Since my obser-
vations commenced l have known only
two such seasons; this is one of them.
One sugar-maker remarked to me this
spring while 1t was too cool for sap to run
much, that the trees are full of sap"
From scientific stand point my predic-
ton mostly and more naturally relates to
the condition of the tree for sap-runnine,
independent of outside conditions although
natural. Generally when we have a good
sap season we have good sugar season,
so that when conditions are all right for II
good sap season W.. generally (not always
have good sugar season; but fought not
to be held responsible for a good sugar
season always when | predict a good sap
season. l find there are exceptional years,
and last year was one, which makes up TO
now one in six. can now predict, mot only
the nature OF the sap season, but the com.
parative amount of silica and its grade on
color, the color of sugar and the sweetness
of the sap at the time of tapping,
am surprised that you see failure in
LAY predictions this year. quote from
the same No. of the FREEMAN, which con
tains your remarks thus: ut is said that
the greatest run of sap for the season came
the first of last week. The farmers are
having about an average yield of sugar.
Please notice the statement in the Vermont
Watchman corroborating the above from
all parts of the state.
Before my prediction was published /
had told large number of our townsmen
(for l am being constantly asked after the
same) the nature OF the sap season, and III
addition to what was published, | told
them that the sap season would be nearly
Il central medium" not so good as tho
last, but little nearer good than poor
season, Several sugar makers about here
have made more than ever before NEARLY al
have made more than an average. tap
pod fifteen trees on the north side the Sd
day of May and they run smartly for five
days; often found few tubs running
over, and they were gathered daily.
made about IL lbs. per tree. stirred
the sugar, and ii stirred off dry and nice
A large amount of silica was in this late
sap.
The lateness of the season had so chem.
ically changed the sap in the tree that ii
gave the sugar peculiar flavor When
tapped my orchard left two trees near
my sugar house till the 18th of April to
experiment with; one of them tapped in
four places 10 feet apart, and from the
bottom tub got SO quarts, which would
give me about lbs. Of sugar. mention
this TO show that farmers tapped too early
this spring, and it ought not to be charged
against my prediction.
Respectfully,
TIMOTHY WHEELER
Waterbury Center, May ~, 1882.