West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1903-05-07
BOWSER'S SUGAR BUSH.
lie Used 10 Run IL la May and June I'm
Spite OF his Wife.

wind rat,led the windows and he looked up
and said:
Spring is coming right along aud in
about six weeks more shall begin to think
OF the sugar bush We used to make about
500 pounds OF maple sugar every year when
! was a boy
But you didn't begin to make IL the 6rst.
OF May. did your asked Mrs. Bowser.
Always, unless that day fell on Sunday
Yes. father began tapping the trees on the
first and for the next six weeks we almost
lived in the sugar bush. I'D be willing 10
travel hundred miles to sec an old-fashion.
cd sugar bush again
"But ] think you are wrong about the
season. and I've known father TO tap the
trees in February. while there was yet
plenty Of snow on the ground.
Then your father was an ass. and don't
believe he ever made 10 pounds OF sugar"
Mrs. Bowser knew that she was right but
she thought to drop the subject and avoid
a dispute. MIR Bowser wouldn't have IL
that way, however After a minute
silence he said
Il can remember one or two years when
we we're making sugar on the Fourth OF
July, but we generally ended about the ssth
Of June What was your father wadlng
around in the soow ior2"
To tap the sugar naples"
And did no one ever tell him betterp
lie might as well have been looking for
green corn in December"
have known OF his making a hundred
pounds Of sugar the last Of February. she
quietly replied.
What nonsense. Come. now. but what
Is maple sugar made Off"
From the sap OF maple trees. OF course.
you happen to be right about IL. for a
wonder. but isn't there just as much sap in
June as In Marcb7'
More perhaps. but after about the FIRST
of April II has circulated all through the
tree. and II yon get any at all in the buckle,
Z soon sours It's when the sap IS coming
back up from the roots that IL is the
sweetest. After the buds have started no
one can boil the sap into sugar."
What! Do you mean to say we didn't
use TO make sugar in May and Iune1"
1T wasn't possible You are simply
mistaken about the time The season Is
from about the soth of February to the as,h
OF March. II 1t becomes very warm, the
season Is shortened"
Then am a lunatIc and fool. am ~
mo of course not. As said. YOU are
simply mistaken as to the season. Any
farmer will tell you that"
Indeed II seems that ! have living
encyclopedia for wife. Perh,ps you can
give me pointers on the planting Of corn
and potatoes. Did that wonderful father
Of yours SOW wheat in January3'
Mrs Bowser bad nothing 10 say In reply.
and. after walking up and down for
while MIR Bowser started for his hat aud
overcoai
Are you going out9 sh called.
Yes. madam. am going out have
been told by my own wife that am jack
ass. II may be true. but would like to
have the unbiased opinion Of others before
oelieveit. As may be gone couple OF
hours or so. you needn't sit up for me-"
II would have been useless for her to try
to detain him. He had made sugar in May
and June, aud he proposed to bring back
evidence to overwhelm her. He did not
have TO 60 far TO get his FIRST answer He
met pedestrian between his house and the
corner, end he halted him to say:
MY dear sir, did you ever live in the
country"
"Ali my life ull year ago. was the
reply
"Did you ever make maple sugar."
Thousands OF pounds"
What time OF the year,"
February and March Of course. IN bet
the sap was running to beat the band to.
day. You didot think anybody tried TO
| r,aLr oaoar ~ T..I. AZ
Mf. Bowser didn't call the man an idiot
though ne felt like a. lie turned the
corner and applied to the butcher for in.
formation
Maple sugar." repeated the man Of
steaks and bones. why. have gathered
and boiled more barrels Of sap than you've
got hairs on your head
WAS Il In May or Ione3"
"Of course not No one except a fool
would try 20 make sugar In those months.
You might make buttermilk out of your sap.
but you couldn't make sugar Have YOU
been buying a farm"
Mr. Bowser turned red and coushed
uneaslly and left the store without replying
There was plombeT's shop next door. and
the plumber was working ~ hls books ~
the seeker after lnformstion entered and
inquired
"You know VIVA, maple sus., Is. Of
courseF
Il ought TO- smiled the man. as sin
own the old farm where ! helped make the
sweet years ago Do you want 10 boy to-
pounds"
NO got into little dispute as 10 ihe
season contend that li used TO be- made
In May and June
I'm what country
I'm ibis Of course
We'll. WASN'T alive thon The ogle
on my farm tapped the trees three weeks
ago. and two or three more weeks viii end
the season.
But it used 10 be May and Iaae
Yes And geese used 20 have four les
you know
Mr. Bowser got out without row. bufbe
was not AZ an sat sized iis stood on ibs
corner for Eve minutes ard ihcn iscsist
another pedestrian uilh
MY friend iei me ask you qsssfoa
"Wellf quericd ihs man al be- came to e.
halt.
do you know suy,hias aboai aspl,
sugar."
by George. but thars funog % ussa.t
over az hour ago thst had dispute elfh
my wife over maple sugar she said s aas
made 10 February and March snf said .I'
was made in MAY and lano
That's exactly my case and k1oa T.s
right Have you looked 40 sns aaihorflssf
- have and an nos on oty say tons
TO prove 70 your wife thsf you ere fitas
Of course7
NO SIR To prove 90 ny vife ihai 3 ga
not know what : was taikinE aboai sad