Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1885-03-13
Agricultural.


Another sugaring season Is at hand. In
our state more than half Of oil the farmers
are sugar makers, and the quantity Of maple
sugar produced IN Vermont is nearly half as
much as all that Is made in the other states
In 1879, according to The census report, &c.
sc, O61 pounds Of maple sugar we're made in
the United States. Nearly %, 600, 900 pounds
we're made in two slstes-Vermont and New
York. Vermont made over G00,00O pounds
more than New York, but New York made
1873, 900 gallons of maple syrup more than
was made in Vermont The maple syrup or
molasses made in the United States is approx
imately 1, 800, 900 gallons. Its equivalent in
sugar would make the total product exceed
go O0O, 900 pounds. These figures at first
sight appear quite large, but they really rep
resent quite a triHing quantity when compar-
ed with the whole amount of sugar and mo-
lasses consumed. 1t is less than tftieth
part of the whole amount of sugar imported
last year, with the domestic product added.
II all the maple sugar made in the United
States in good season was divided equally
among the inhabitants, each one would get
about three fourths of pound if the maple
syrup was divided equally, it would give each
inhabitant a small teacupful. For the year
ending June 80, 1884, there was imported p
437 OOO, 900 pounds of dutiable sugar, and 49,
600, 600 gallons of moasses. The domestic
product of cane, maple and sorghum sugar
amounts to 4OO, 600, 900 pounds, with total
Of 100000 gallons Of molasses from the
same sources. Computing the molasses at its
equivalent in sugar, we have an approximate
total of 3, 800 600, 900 pounds, as the quantity
of sugar produced in the United States, with
that imported, during the past year, the do
nestle product being estimated as nearly the
same as shown by the census The average
value of imported sugar was .O36 per pound.
The average ad valorem rate of duty was
about "a per cent, the specific rate nearly two
cents pound, ranging from .O14 to 81 cents,
according to quality. The total tax paid by
the people on sugar and molasses approaches
$50, 600, 600.
Only one state-Louisiana- made su-
gar enough for its own use. Only one other
-vermont-ever made half enough for its
own use and of all the other states very few
have ever made one-tenth as much as their
people consumed. Considering these facts, it
is difficult to understand why the people are
willing to pay the enormous annual tax Of
$50, 900, 600 on this product. The duty af,
fects the price of maple sugar but little, il at
all. Cane and beet sugars, with the duty
added, are already so low that maple sugar
cannot be made at a profit TO compete with
them. 1t must now be manufactured and
sold in such form as TO come in competition
with candy, or, as syrup, with honey, or it
will not pay for making.
The delicious maple flavor which is found
in the clean, well-made article will sustain a
demand for it to be used in the same way as
candy, if put in a form convenient to be used
for such a purpose and pure maple syrup,
with the genuine flavor of the naples, will
sell as honey sells, without much dependence
upon the price of cane sugar or molasses.