The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1886-06-03
AN OLD-TIME SUGAR CAMP.
Scenes About the Kettle of Boiling Sap
BackWOOds Merry-Making.

In the olden days the sugar-making
season was a gala time, and one looked
forward to with joyful expectancy by
meant weeks of the hardest drudgery to
all. The sugar camp, says the New
York Sun, was the place of love-making
and of all kinds of backwoods fun.
Then, more than under the present
system, it was frequently necessary
when the sap was running free to boil
all night The grove, lighted up by
blazing fires, and peOpled with many
fitting forms of merry girls and lusty
farm lads, presented a picturesque
scene. On such occasions the country
fiddler, who seemed to be a natural pro-
duct of every settlement, added by his
presence the charm that only fiddle in
the backwoods can bring to its social
gatherings. Every moment that could
be snatched from attention to tree and
kettle was spent in hilarious devotion
to dances, whose rude yet graceful fig
ures have long since been forgotten, ex-
cept in the more isolated country re-
gions. 1t was very important to keep
close watch on the sugary caldron, for
the sap was liable to boil over, and
some one must stand ready with hicko-
ry paddle to prevent the threatened
overflow by violent and persistent agi-
tation of the boiling mass. Who made
the discovery, or exactly what potent
charm there was in the substance, are
things which no one seems to know to-
day, but a chunk of fat pork was the
greatest, and. in fact, the only soother
of an angry and determined kettle of
boiling sap that the old-fashioned sugar.
makers had at command. Sometimes,
in spite of the most violent and inces-
SAINT stirring of sap inclined to rise to
and run over the rim of its kettle, the
watcher was unable to stay the inclina-
ton with the paddle. Then the poten-
cy of the fat-pork charm was invoked.
There were always pieces of pork cut in
sizes suitable for use lying within reach
of the watcher, and in an emergency
such as referred to above piece or two
was thrown into the seething mass.
The contact was almost Instantly fol-
lowed by the trouble being allayed.
The fast-rising bubbles would break
and lose their energy, and the desired
condition of the boiling process soon be
resumed.
Proper stirring of the sap was of
great Importance in those crude sugar
making days. 1t would not do to leave
the sap long without stirring, for there
was constant danger of its scorching
and certainty of becoming too thick.
The work of stirring kettle was fatig-
uing. and necessitated frequent relief of
watchers. Another important feature
of the camp was the testing. This re-
sponsible duty was always placed in
charge of some one of long experience
in sugar-making. generally a woman.
She went from kettle to kettle, carving
a gourd dipper containing water. Dip
ping spoonful of the boiling sap from
the kettle, she dropped it in the water,
and judged by its action whether it
had reached the ''graining'' stage, or
condition approaching that stage
which demanded 4 lowering of the tire
or possibly its extinguishment When
she found the sap right for ''sugaring
of, she SO announced, and the syrup
was turned off into pans and crooks and
the sugar run into well-greased shallow
tins, cups, bowls, and dishes of all
sizes and patterns