Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1904-12-26
OUR FARM RS.
REGARDING GRlMM'S DISCOVERY.

no humerOuS Journals are StfinS
me credit for discovering a new
method for making making maple
sugar in the fall of the year and that
L obtain the flow of sap by reboring
old bores, etc., l submit the following
matter, it being the result of my ex-
periments:
l have discovered that the flow
OF sap in the fall is less than
half, and not so sweet as 1t
is in the spring under similar
climate conditions. 1t also lacks
in flavor, although the maple flavor is
prominent, in fact, more delicate than
the average sugarmaker gets in the
spring time. indeed, the color OF
three samples I obtained November
23rd, oath and 26th will score'with the
finest grades of syrup that were made
last spring. From one of these sam
pies of syrup a cake of sugar was
made, its quality being much above
the average. 1t would not be profit
able to tap a maple bush in the fall
Notwithstanding the quality being
good, and even if the sap runs occur
red at close intervals as above re-
ferred to. Being convinced of this fact
at the early stages of my connection
with the maple sugar industry, my
experiments in the past twenty i've
years were for the sole purpose OF
increasing the quality and quantity OF
maple sweets with the least injury to
the tree and at the least expense.
Notwithstanding the expense and an
noyance which were incurred by
these experiments, 1 have been we'll
repaid as I can fully demonstrate that
the maple sugar crop has been only
two-thirds what it should have been.
Assuming, with old methods, that an
nually in Vermont 20, OO0, 900 pounds
Of maple sweet is made, it, at 10c per
pound. has a value of $2,OO0,O 600. BY
adopting new methods that [ have
discovered, the production will be in
creased fully o%ne-third, together with
a much better quality OF product,
The question will naturally arise, how
can this gain be accomplished? 1t is
as follows: Bore a hole with a 7-16th
inch bit, one and one-half inches
deep, with the point of the bit point
ing slightly upward, without remov-
ing clinging bark from the tree. Use
a spout that will fill the space of the
bore and one that will only come in
contact with the hard outer layer of
bark, one that drains the sap from
the bore and excludes the air. The
spout should not be driven too hard.
If the hard bark splits and the sap
wood holds the spout, there is a loss
by leakage and the best portion of
the sap flow is plugged by contact
with sap-producing fibers. Climatic
conditions causes sap to flow at all
| seasons after a frost sufficient to form
ice. AS a rule there are long inter-
walls between sap uns Either con-
| tinuous cold weather or lack Of frosts
puts a damper to the business, tie
latter being the most harmful. To
illustrates: If, after two or three good
sap runs the temperature rises above
the freezing point, there will be no
fresh sap and the amount that the
bore contains which is more than half
its diameter, becomes sour, sticky
and very often dry-this being the
very substance that Nature provides
to prevent bleeding of the wound,
and unless this substance is remove d
the sap cannot flow at its full cap
acity and what does ooze through
this substance when the weather con-
ditions are favorable, becomes con-
taminated so that a prime quality OF
syrup cannot be made from it. Fol
this reason it is necessary to select
a spout that will drain the bore of sap
and a spout that will permit roaming
With a reamer designed to cut a chip
the entire circumference of a 7-16tt
inch bore to IL inch, the sap-produ'
cling fibers are opened afresh and al
of the contaminated matter the bore
contained is removed. The end Of
the reamer having a cutting edge
permits deeper boring, which re-
moves the injury the screw end of the
bit has made. Prime sap in accor-
dance with weather conditions viii
flow equal in quantity and quality te
that from a reamed bore at the end o
the season, and even after the bucs
have started, will produce a syrue
equal in color to that produced a.
the beginning of the season, but o
inferior flavor. Therefore, a prop
erly constructed spout and one ream'
ed bore, will bring better results thar
two spouts and two unreamed bores
with less injury to the trees. 1t vii
be seen that tapping the tree and cul
tivating the bore is an importan