The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-03-25
VERMONT MAPLE SUGAR.
The Harvest Not Yet BeGun-A Series OF
Cnfavorable Years.

RUTLAND. VI, March %. The nj ple sugar
season Of 1900 is at hand, and the farmers have
their apparatus set up and are waiting for the
night turn in the weather to begin the harvesting
Of one Of their chief crops. Every Vermont farmer
Is interested in this industry and for good reason.
as two thirds Of the entire crop Of the country
is produced here and tho money realized therefrom
amounts TO many thousands Of dollars. In point
Of fact, this business ranks third in a pecuniary
way among Nermonts industries.
Many articles have been written on this sub
ject, but few PEI pie outside Of the districts where
this toothsone product is gathered are aware
Of the cost, trouble and care involved in placing
II on the market In its unadulterated state. In
the last three years the greatest menacel to the
sugar maker has been the so-called forest worm,
and this pest has injured the naples to a large
extent. In some parts Of the State the devas-
ta,ion- have been 80 great that many Of the or
chard owners have cut down their trees. thinking
they would not survive the injuries and produce
sap again.
The last five years have not been up TO the Az
erage so far Rsihe quantity and quality Of the prod
uct are concerned. and ~ a result much more
impure sugar and syrup have been placed on
the market, especially in the large cities, Ths
weather conditions have been very unfavorabla.
IL requires cold, clear nights, 1OuoNeu ny warm.
sunny days to produce n good flow Of sap. The
usunl How from an average tree is about twenty
gallons. IL requires from thirty to forty gallons
OF sap to make one gallon Of syrup \ gallon OF
syrup will make about four pounds Of sugar.
Considering the capital invested in ap aratus,
fuel, time, &c, the sugar making is e. lite an
expensive process and were II not for hs fact
that the sugar season comes at 4 lime when
other farm work Is not pressing, pure ma pie sugar
and syrup could not be sold AT the present prices.
The season for tapping varies according To
the conditions Uf the weather. Throughout
New England the tapping Of trees begins uS,l-
ally about March 20, although many sugar makers
start earlier, but II II a que -tlon whether II ~
profitable To do 81. Sap might run on March
10 and IL the tree was IN pped n good flow might
result, but If the weather should turn cold on
the next or even the third day and remain SO for
several avs the hur or wound ofthe tree would
DRY and dImini, h the flow in the middle Of the real
season, While in many cases unless the tree WAS
rebored the flow would cease altogether, None
of the sugar ma kers In Vermont has yet begun
tapping 10 any extent, as the weather Is still un:
favorable, but rs the month has now advanced
beyond the time when the work should start, tho
first cold night and following warm day will see
the opening Of the sugar season. Sugar makers
generally look forward To n good season,
Any slga or syrup placed on the market nov
may be set down ns not ut this wears crop ana
BUYERS ran only rNpact impure, OF, at the best, lass
years product Inc brown, hard mass which
l. oiteniseen as early a. March | In shop windows
tagged Ms pure NeTmont sugar is n dolusiOn