The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-03-20

ever, that for one week there will be a
big run, and that will end the sea
son.
Ambitious farmers sometimes tap
their trees earlier than March 90 if
lhey are fortunate enough to have a
sugar orchard on the south slope. This.
however, does not pay. 1t Injuries the
lree and it is more than likely that
40 more sap will flow for the rest of
ne season unless the weather condi-
lons are we'll nigh perfect, and this
IS not probable, continually. Just this
thing works havoc with the trees
The wound of the sap fibre made b,
tapping partially heals or dries up, an
therefore when the sun comes on
bright an warm after a cold nigh
the tree tapped out of season fails t..
keep pace with its neighbor. The loss
Is considerable. When we reckon that
2ne tree is capable of producing four
pounds Of sugar a season, it can readi-
be seen what the loss would be in
a sugar orchard, say of 400 trees, where
q third have been tapped in advance
OF normal conditions. OF course q tree
can be retapped or the previous bore
reamed out" but all the extra work
IS costly, takes time and when things
are right the farmer can't waste pre-
alous moments trying to rectify mis-
takes of a previous bad Judgment
If any one Should visit the winter
meeting of the Vermont Sugar Max
efs Association, he would find enough
there to keep him interested through
out the session. Sugar making has
been reduced to science, and rest as
sured that no novice can go into the
woods, tap the trees at the proper
place and time gather the sap, take if
10 the storage tanks at the sue-a r
mouse and then convey it to the evap-
Grating system. When the sap is
boiled down to the right test, and
placed into cans or barrels, all these
-hlngs may seem rather perfunctory
and decidedly ordinary to the unini-
tiated, nevertheless it takes more than
one year of experience and hard study
to produce such results as will be ac-
ceptable TO the consumers.
At these annual gatherings the sue
cesses and failures of the past season
are discussed and remedies suggested
where required. The best brains of the
state are there and the sugar talks
are intensely interesting even to the
casual observer.
But perhaps the thing that attracts
the attention of the visitor most is the
exhibition of the maple product from
the best producers in the state. Thou
sands of samples are shown arrayed in
tempting way, and if there ever was
a time when you felt sugar hungry. it
S then. The exhibitors are generous
and for the asking you can have all
YOU wish to eat and something to put
II your pocket in addition.
If you are willing to spend a little
time and examine the different prod
lets, you will readily notice the simil-
arity between them all. There is the
same color. the same density and by
tasting you will note that there is the
same sugar twang. This fact is readily
accounted for. The great majority Of
he farmers use practically the same
system of boiling down the sap the
Grimm eYaporator probably being
chiefly used. There is really only one
way to do the thing right, and conse-
luently the results are obvious, be-
cause the farmers will not tolerate a
second rate product. To be sure there
is a second grade produced, but this
is only because the conditions are not
just right, too early in the season or
the small things which the farmer can
not possibly guard against.
But the readers Of The Spy need not
fear that they win get a second rate
Goods at the market, for he producers