New-York tribune., 1902-04-06

MAPLE SUGAR MAKING.
THE SAP GATHERED AND EyAPORATED
IN CAMPS IN THE NORTH
ERN WOODS

The maple sap has again begun its annual now
and all through the AGirondacks. well as in ths
forests of neighboring Northern States. farmers
and farmers families are busy gathering the one
crop for which they neither plant nor tilI The
maple product Of the United States has in years
gone by been worth as much S.250Oo0. The out
put and prices vary considerably. however. and no
one predict what will be the result of the
harvest now under way.
Old sugar makers have many ideas about the
run as a crossroads weather prophet. and soma
of them able to predict to a wonderful Certain
ty just when the flow of sap will begin and how
long 1t Will continue. when the wind blows from
the west get ready to gather sap is one OF the
stock maxims of the Adirondack sugar belt 1t also
holds good in Maine. In ordinary ''the run
begins about the first week in March and continues
during the period in which short thaws and freez-
ing spells alternate. As certain amount Of pre-
limnary work in the sugar forest is necessary the
value Of an accurate prophecy is great.
few days before the first March thaw Is e1-
pected the farmer goes into the woods and opens
his sugar house-a shauty OF rough boards. de-
serted. lonely and uniaterestng during eleven
months of the year. Paas and kettles cleaned
and store Of fire wood. cut during the short cold
days OF winter. is piled about the house. search
is made for possible leaks in the roof. and all ia
ready for sugar and syrup making
Then one morning the cry is heard that the sap
is really running, and at once the farmhouse ia
deserted for the sugar house in the woods IL ia
the centre OF interest fOF every one from grand
mother to the babies who big enough to walk
Everythi else is neglected until the crop is en-
treIy harvested and the bucket OF sap boiled
into syrup Fortunately the season comes az A
time when little could be done in the way OF farm
work.
On farms where the number OF sugar naples Is
not large the farmers of to-day gather their sugar
crops in much the same way their fathers did
They bore the larger trees and Insert wooded spies
by sturdy boys and men. who carry large pals
one on either end of yoke which fits across their
shoulders The sap is boiled IN great iron kettles
under which fires are burning day and night when
/ the is heavy.
| On the larger sugar farms methods more modern
ones, and sore shoulders from carrying the sap
are unknown where the gathering tank IS used.
This tank holds hogshead. and is usually firmly
fastened to sic l. to which two horses hftched
The modern sugar house has storage vat from
which the sap is piped into the evaporatng PAN
rapidly. From the evaporating pan the syrup flows
| to the settling vat Thermometers indicate acci-
rately the progress OF evaporation.
The social features of the sugar season have not
been lost with the development Of the commercial
side The opening of the Is still an occa-
neighboring villages visit the camps for 'rnaple
wax" and even the children have their sugar
| time games 1t is a great occasion for spark
/ ing" and many a happy country couple owe their
union TO the potent influence Of the sugar odor ii
| the crisp air of the woods to soft words said In
sleepy drone of the bubbling. boiling 1t
ready money for all concerned. especially for the
! farmer, who always drive good bargains with
| such product.