Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1890-01-17
VERMONT MAPLE SUGAR
Timely nnd HeIPfuI suHgestions from
Native Vermonter

VOW RESIDENT IN IOWA, WHO KNOWS FROM
EXPERIENCE WHAT HE Is TALKING ABOUT.
Editor Vermont Phgnir.-For many
years before leaving Vermont my business
called me into many eastern cities, and in
all Of them my attention was called to the
maple sugar that was exposed for sale. 1t
was always claimed, first, TO he pure ar
ticle; second, current years make; third,
made in Vermont. | do not remember TO
have seen a particle Of maple product
offered for sale that did not hail from the
Green Mountain state
have seen in the city Of Washington
maple sugar offered, which was claimed to
have been made that season in Vermont,
at time in the year when knew it was
too early to tap trees in that state. Only
a small portion of the maple product noticed
by me in the many cities visited, could be
called strictly frst-class l am now salts
fed that only moderate proportion Of it
came from Vermont or il it did it had been
aduterated either before or after leaving
the state Still it does not follow that all
poor sugar is so as a result Of adulteration
1t is with sugar making some as with but
ter making. There are those who never
can or at least never do, make good ar
ticle of either, while there are others who
never make any but good article of
either. Success with either of these
products is only to be obtained by eternal
vigilance.
Since coming West my experience in the
East has been repeated-that is to the lin.
tied extent that | have had for observa
ton. Take this city for instance. There
is good deal of maple sugar in the cake on
sale here at nearly all seasons of the year,
but of course more in the spring than at
any other time 1t is claimed by the deal
ers that it and all other maple goods they
have are Vermont products though in one
instance dealer admitted that some cake
sugar he had was made in Ohio. At one
time l supposed that maple products were
not to any extent made outside of New
England and mainly in Vermont But
have since learned that the maple tree
abounds in Wisconsin and Ohio and several
other western and middle states, and in all
of these maple sugar and syrup are pro
duced in some to quite an extent, and in
others to a limited extent
But for all this the Vermont product
seems to take the lead, and is in fact the
only one we hear mentioned If Vermont
ers could fully realize the Importance Of
maintaining the reputation of their pro-
duct-not only maintaining it but enhanc-
ing it--they would put forth every effort to
do so. Anything that will create senti-
ment in that direction should be encour-
aged by the citizens, state government and
all agricultural associations In the first
place, everything should be done to increase
the crop. In the second place, every effort
should be made to raise the standard of
quality. And in the third place, system
attic effort should be made to bring the
general product up to the standard. To
start with, the foot of public sentiment
should be put on anything in the way of
adulteraton. Let it be uuderstt cd that
man that is mean enough to adulterate
maple product, is mean enough to steal
sheep or to do anything else in the cate
CORY of mean acts. Let the dealers who
are handling the product taboo every
maker Of maple sugar and syrup who has
been caught adulterating his product On
the other hand, if the farmers find that any
dealer, after receiving the product, in any
way Hampers with it, let them publish him
and shun him. Let it come TO be under.
stood that no adulterated maple product
leaves the state of Vermont. Further, let
1t leave the state in way, and deliver it
to the consumers in way that the chances
for adulteration are reduced to the mini
mum. To accomplish all that is desirable
organization is necessary. 1t should extend
to closely looking after the interests not
only in but out Of the state; in fact all over
the United States, wherever Vermont
sugar is sold, or where there is an opportu-
nifty to introduce it.
l am satisfied that there have been some
cases of adulteration in your state, but
whether to any great extent or not do not
know. Whether there is more or less of it
at the present time than at one time in the
past l am not able to say, but have the
impression there is less. But of one thing
l am certain and that is, it never has paid
in the main and never will. A short time
since an extract was published in The
Phoenix from private letter of mine. It
called attention to the Importance of edu-
eating western people up to knowledge of
good and pure article of maple product,
and suggested as one of the means an exhi-
bition of Vermont maple products to be
held in Chicago. l still think something of
the kind would pay. AS an illustration of
this kind of effort l will mention that two
years since the fruit growers of California
held what they called the "Citric Fair" in
Chicago, at which they exhibited oranges
lemons and other fruits. 1t was a grand
affair and resulted in securing great deal
of trade to the growers of fruit in the
Golden Gate state. While, perhaps, the op-
portunity 20 make a striking and attractive
show with maple products is not as good as
with fruit, yet one could be made that
would be very attractive The coming
spring would be the first opportunity. If
not done then, the next chance would be in
the fall, say in connection with the Expo
sition, or later at the dairy show.
Where there's a will there's way" and
once Vermont people set about it, an exhi-
bition of that kind can be had and sue
cessful one. As with dairying and all
branches of agriculture, productive and
commercial talent must be combined to in.
sure success. F. W. MosELEY.
Clinton, Iowa