The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-04-22
Habits OF the Rock Maple.

MIDST OF some interesting experiments re-
lating to the flow and quality of the sap of
the rock maple. In opposition to the popu-
lar belief, and to the theories of some scien-
titc men, Mr. Wheeler holds that the flow
OF rock maple sap in spring time, during
the sugar season. is from the top downwards
instead of from the root upwards. His
theory, IL we understand him correctly, is
that the sap passing upwards in the summer
deposits in the twigs and buds and in the
tissues of the tree the saccharine matter,
which is perfected and elaborated by the
chemistry of nature; that in the spring the
tree absorbs moisture from the air, liquefy-
ing and lberating this saCCharine matter;
that the rising temperature expands the
gases and moisture in the tree, creating a
PRESSURE and that If the tree Is pierced
while in this condition, the sap will flow.
His representations about future sugar
seasons are based in part upon the perfec-
ton of the development and rpening of the
buds of the tree-an early frost in the fall
being positively injurious, late frost less
harmful, and the absence of frost till the
leaves change their color favorable to the
quality and quantity of sap, the following
spring. We must not be understood as
quoting Mr.. Wheeler on this point, but only
as giving glimpses of the supposed basis of
his prophecies. AS to the results of his ex-
peri1nents demonstrating the correctness of
his theories as to the flow and quality of
sap, we can speak with eXactness. To prove
his theory that the sap flows downwards, a
root about two inches in diameter was
tapped in two places about eight inches
apart, and spout driven in each hole.
Sap was flowing with about equal freedom
from both. With saw Mr. Wheeler sew
cred the root between the spouts, taking out
section about half an inch thick. From
the spout in the portion of the root descend
ing into the earth the sap ceased at once to
flow, nor did the severed end, though moist,
flow. From the spout in the portion Of the
root attached to the tree the sap continued
to flow without appreciable abatement and
from the severed end it poured almost in
stream. The logic of this experiment would
seem to be incontestabe. Mr.. Wheeler
made a similar experiment upon a root of
another tree last spring. This spring he
tapped the ground end of the root where it
was alive, but there was no flow of sap; he
tapped the tree end of the root and the sap
flowed briskly. Two or three inches above
the orifce in the body of a tree he bored a
second hole and plugged it with dairy salt
in due course OF time by the watch the lower
hole was discharging brine. Salt plugged
into hole below did not appreciably affect
the taste of the sap flowing from the hole
above. Mr.. Wheeler is fortified in his
theory behind such evidence as this, sup
ported by many confirmatory tests, each
seemingly conclusive in itself. His belief
that sap flows under pressure and ceases
under suction, is sustained by this expert
ment: To spout driven erect in the root
of tree near its base long glass tube is
attached by means of rubber tubing. When
the sap is flowing, or as Mr.. Wheeler says,
:" when the tree is in PRESSURE" this tube,
sustained in an upright position, fills and
runs over. AS soon as the sun begins to
sink below the horizon and the temperature
OF the air cools, the flow ceases, the "pres-
sure on the tree is relieved, and soon it
will be observed that the sap in the tube
begins to sink, ultimately disappearing al
together. Fill the tube with water and this
also disappears. The tree is 8" in suction"
and throughout its entire surface is absorb
ing vapor and gases from the air just as it
is drinking up the sap and water from the
glass tube. This vapor and gas, raritied by
the warmth of the following day, produces
pressure again and consequent sap-tow
Another experiment, showing the quality
and quantity of sap taken from the different
parts of the tree, had been made the day
before our visit. From the number of sap
tubs up among the branches of the tree
which was made the victim of this expert
ment we conjectured that Mr.. Wheeler had
developed tree that would bear tin sap
buckets. At the base of this tree We're two
tubs. Into one sap was dropping very rap
idly from the inner regions of the tree. A
hole six inches deep had been bored and a
plug driven tightly in four inches. Through
hole in the plug the tree was flowing sap
from the inner two inches. On the same
level bucket was receiving sap from the
surface of the tree. Twelve feet higher the
twenty-four feet from the ground Two
quarts of sap, exactly measured, were taken
from each of these four tappings, carefully
evaporated, the sugar weighed and the
quality noted. From the first tapping, at
the heart of the tree near the base, one and
half ounces of sugar, brownish in color,
were obtained; from the second, at the sur
face near the base, three ounces, very light
in color; from the third twelve feet from
the base, three ounces strong, brownish
in, Co.,
from the base, five ounces, very light in
color. Variation in the taste and appear
ance of the sap, corresponding to these va
riations in quantity of sugar, We're plainly
discoverable, by eye and taste. That is to say,
the nearer the sap is taken from the buds
and twigs the headquarters of the elabora-
ton of the saccharine matter, the sweeter it
is. From samples of wood cut out of maple
trees tapped at periods extending back fif-
teen or twenty years or longer, Mr.. Wheeler
shows that the tree is injured, and finally
decays, for distance of about two and a
half feet above the hole and about half this
distance below. So that driving nail into
the tree on which to hang the bucket in
flicts no additional injury. The chief dam
age is to the tools and morals of the chopper
or millman when the careless farmer for
gets to draw the nail and it becomes con-
cealed by the growth of the tree. OF
somewhat more practical character than the
above are Mr.. Wheelers experiments in
tapping and with sap-spouts. Three-eighths
or one-half inch is the customary size of the
bit used for tapping. The outer end of the
hole is ultimately closed by the growth of
the tree, but the hole itself is only covered
over The injury to the tree is as indicated
above. Mr.. Wheeler has tapped several
trees, making two one-fourth inch holes
using a tin spout of suitable length and
tapering from three-eighths of an inch in
diameter at the outer, to one-fourth of an
inch at the inner end. The same trees are
each tapped with a three-eighths inch bit
one hole, using the Ohio or some other spout
Mr.. Wheeler believes that the two quarter
inch holes will discharge, at least as great
a quantity OF sap as one three-eighths inch
hole and nfiict infinitely less, practically
no, injury upon the tree. His experiments
prove that much greater quantity of sap
flows from the two small holes and that in
the growth of the tree the holes are quite
closed up their entire depth. His tests this
season he thinks will be entirely conclusive
as to the superior advantage of a one-fourth
inch bit and close spout of his pattern
He is using by way of trial, n shield that
protects his buckets from wind, sun, snow,
rain and the dust that rattles down from the
trees. 1t is securely attached to the tree
just above the spout by wires that are driven
into the bark, firmly holding the cover but
doing no harm to the tree. The article was
invented by e. S. wilkins, Moscow, La
noble county, by whom it is made and
patented Mr.. Wheeler speaks highly of
its merits. Mr. Wheeler is happy in the
complete veriiication of his forecast as to
the quality of the current sugar season and
he seems to have squarely and fairly hit
the bulls eye. His experiments are of
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