Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1896-04-02
MAPLE SUGAR MAKING.
A Good Season ont's
Share in tile Produotfsn.

Vermonters are watching the weather
signs with considerable anxiety, because
the maple sugar season will open soon
and the most favorable conditions of tenn
perature must exist TO make this valuable
but tickle crop success. During the
past two weeks there, have been a few
days when some Of the producers were
almost tempted to try q little expert
mental tapping of some OF their trees,
and there is no doubt that on some Of
these days sap would have run quite free
ly on the edges of orchards having a good
exposure to the south. For the past two
seasons the crop of maple sugar in Ver-
mont has been light, but unless all sgne
and predictions fail the present season
will see n good yield. What effect the
past two weeks will have upon 1t remains
to be seen. The traditional maple sugar
weather is freezing nights and thawing
days, with occasional light feathery snow
falls, known by all maple sugar producers
as sugar snow. The maple sugar crop is
one of the main sources of revenue to the
Vermont farmer, many of whom rely
largely upon the products of their
orchards for a large share of the ready
money that helps make up their income.
OF the 500O0,000 pounds of maple sugar
annually produced In the United States,
Vermont is credited with about one-third.
so that 1t can be seen what the failure
of the sugar crop means to the State.
Last year Vermonts yield of maple sugar
was H,I23,92i pounds and 1886
gallons of syrup, and 1t is evident that
this yield can be materially increased.
Even the above figures bring a revenue
of s1,24S,S65, quite a snug 'Um to be di-
vided among the husbandmen of an un-
pretentious farming state.
1t has been said that were the maple
sugar business worked for all 1t Is worth
in Vermont the State could produce 25.-
1c vi. sa
based on the conditions as they exist at
present. BY rough calculation 1t means
nearly half a pound of the toothsome
maple sweet for every man, woman and
child In the United States. 1t means as
well. of course, the doubling of the rev.
enue TO Vermonters, and the bringing into
circulation within the state the handsome
sum of at least $2,t00000 a year. The
average price for maple syrup, fist quail
ty, is 81 gallon, and for sugar from S
to Is cents a pound AS a general thing
the sugar orchards are in the hands of In
dividuals who own from a few hundred,
perhaps, to 5000 trees. Each has els own
peculiar method of making sugar. and
the consequence Is, product uncertain
in amount and varying in quality With
the smaller farmers the sugar interest Is
but an incident OF the years work, and
the study and attention to latest scientific
methods necessary to develop any indus
try are not bestowed upon 1t. The efforts
of the sugar makers association Is grad
ully bringing about a change in this, and
year by year higher standard of quality
is being fixed, which in time, will prove
to be of lasting benefit. 1t is estimated
that ten pounds of cheap limitations of
maple sugar are sold every year to one
pound of the genuine article. The State
association is working hard to check this
evil, and has adopted trade mark, which
an,t fl6 n ~ "a
under certain conditions. 1t is hoped that
In time as this trademark becomes recog-
nized no sugar claiming TO be genuine
Vermont product will be purchased unless
1t bears this certificate of purity. A
compound labeled new Vermont maple
sugar" is to be found in the city markets.
months and weeks before a tree has been
tapped on the Vermont hills, and 1t will
take time to educate the public to look
for the only genuine sugar makers guar
antee and take no product that does not
bear 1t.