The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1893-05-03
Maple Sugar.
Prom The Johnstown Tribune.

The season is pretty nearly over, but the
subject is still timely, and the New York
.S,is takes it up. with the result Of producing
a very readable article.
| The Sun is naturally rather inclined TO
claim that the maple orchards of York Stale
| the country s sweetes; spots it includes the
State of Vermont and does not fail to men
tion Somerset County in Pennsylvania II
was not. however, a York, or Vermont, or
a Somerset County farmer whom the Sio,
| quoted as declaring, " Let me make the ma
PIE sugar ofthe country and care not who
makes its songs and its laws" but it was a
merchant of the metropolis, aud everybody
will agree that could he have his way the
snsp would be q powerful one.
But the Sun does not stop at generali lis
1t goes right down to the root of the tree as
well as the subject, and gives its readers in
formation. For instance, speaking of roots,
it mentions the peculiar fact that whereas
in York State it is better 10 tap the trees
few feet above the ground, the best results
have been obtained in Vermont and S1mer
set County by ." bleeding" as close to the
roots as possible. The sensitiveness of the
tree is also dwelt upon, and the scientific
fact made known that Immediately before or
Immediately after "squail'' the sap runs
best; that it may snow Ike a blizzard and
blow a regular nor wester and not interfere
with the rising tendency of the sweet water,
whereas, warm wind from the South VII
act as plug and the sugar, maker wal linge-
in vain.
The Sun also calls attention to the fact
that the quantity ofsap does not increase
with the number of trees TO an acre. 1t does
not say that one tree would produce as much
as fifty but that there is limit, not only a
10 quantity, but as TO the sugar bearing
qualities of the water which can be drawn
from given area. Everything is in this
earth of ours, the San intimates. even to the
coloring ofthe arbntus and the blue eyes of
.he baby, and it only requires chemical
change to produce the most astonishing re-
suits.
Now comes in Bellows Falls, Vt, with its
special correspondence. The correspondent
instances several big groves of maple trees
that cover the hillsides OF Vermont which
have been set out the same as peach or ap
pie trees are planted-in rows-and az this
season of the year buckets hang by wire
hooks to gslvsnizsd-iron spOuts in every on.
of them. Not so in our own Somerset Coun-
80 Thara The ,roo,3ar, or...,s- stsll l-;,,- a q.
nectar into wooden dugouts, or, at the best,
earthen crooks, but the resultant syrup. or
"spoizs, or sugar, is none the less sweet on
that account
The NermOnter says that in a good season
the sepof single tree will make about one
| gallon Of syrup, or four pounds Of sugar,
The price Of firsl-grade syrup varies from
ninety cents to 81 per gallon, while maple
sugar Of prime quality brings from ten to
fiten cents a pound. 1t is thus easy to figure
what a sugar orchard" will yield to its
/ owner
| In Vermont, as stated, the Old method of
boring hole into the maple tree aud then
driving a wooden spout in the hole thus
made has been abandoned The wooden
spout is no longer used In its place there
Is the galvanized iron spout, which is SO
made that when driven into the hole il does
not choke the pores of the previous years
grosth, from which runs the sweetest sap
The spout has three longitudinal A4nges,
Spreading in order to cut into the wood and
thus hold the spout firm. Then the blrk IS
aestly shaved, and a rim pat around 10 keep
the ssp from running down The trunk
The old wooden troughs or buckets are
'eldOm used In their place are tin or galvan.
sed iron buckets They are hung from the
osl by hook fastened to The spout Both