New-York tribune., 1905-04-16
MAKING MAPLE SUGAR.
Bureau of Forestry Seeks to DeOeIOp
and Ertend the Industry.

washington. April 15-The Bureau Of Forestry
has been studying the maple sugar Industry win
the view of securing larger use OF the maple
forests Since 1850 the of maple sugar farming
has greatly changed and shrunk. In early days
1naDle sugar was commonly made, even in many
parts of the South. because cane sugar was VIZ
tually unobtainabe. No longer Is there even a
limited production In South Carolina, Georgia, Ala
bama Mississippi. Louisiana. and Arkansas. This
IS because sugar can now be bought every
where at a low price. and is preferred to maple
sugar for sweetening. In Indiana. Michigan. and
Illinois the maple trees have been extensively cut
for lumber thus reducing the opportunity for tree
tapping. In those States also the markets are
gutted with limitations which removes the incen-
tive to extending the industry. In other States.
in Western Maryland West Virginia. Ohio. New
York. and IN New w-England. the maple sugar in
dustry has held its own been increased.
The best sap flow is secured IN the cooler North
ern States yet good results can be expected in
OF pennsylvania and West Virginia, in Western
Maryland, all of Indiana and Kentucky, Eastern
tennessee and Western North Carolina. At pres
ent the largest producers of sugar maple products
are Ohio Vermont and New-York The sugar and
black naples yield the most and the best sap,
although some other species OF maple may be
worked TO advantage when neither OF these Is avail
able
The maple is hardy and vigorous tree. and read
lily reproduces itself there need be fear OF
failure of sap supply. For sap production the all
important consideration is for the tree to have a
fun and heavy Yet it should also grow
under forest conditions. which maintain a ground
cover OF litter and humus
AS result Of the study recently made, definite
directions for the management and Improvement OF
existing groves, and for the establishment Of new
ones IN suitable localities and under different
ditiOns' have been prepared and will soon be pub
ilshed Many valuable data regarding the profit in
making maple sugar were also collected From
these it appears that farmer easily clear about
Tha IN
this estimate placed at a maximum; all the
labor and hauling are charged in at market rates,
though. matter Of fact, the sugar season falls
at a time when the farmer has little other employ
ment for himself his horses. In actual practice.
Tor the farmer who can do most Of HIS own work
the profit should be considerably larger; And the
The old method OF collecting the sap by making
ago, because II injured the tree 80 that IL could
practice now is to bore hole one inch deep and
ImTeeegthS 5 Is, Of an inch In diameter into the
and to make but hole IN each tree, except pOs-
Sii wiieIs tue trees are SspecIaAy large anu Ply
In appliances for handling the sap and boiling it
Maple trees now furnish but small percentage of
the commercial maple syrup and sugar While the
dsmand for both these commodities has constantly
increased. the output from maple trees has de-
has been supplied only BY radicsy SdulteTating the
pure goods or by manufacturing a product entirely
mated that seven-eighths Of what is sold maple
syrup and sugar IS a spurious article Most OF the
fabrications are entirely harmless, but they are not
the real thing. Those fortunate enough 90 have
eaten the genuine article viii always demand it, ana
conditions should be such that they may get II II
they are willing to pay the price
The fault does not lie with the producers. those
who tap the trees and reduce the sap TO syrup and
sugar, but with the middlemeH. who buy the sugar
and mix and aduterate II most profitaby Tor them
selves The extent of this adulteraton is illustrated
by the fact that while the amount OF the raw prod
uct has decreased. the whole quantity sold has
largely increased, and its market price has been
reduced OF years the price has fallen IN direct
relation TO the decrease in the price OF cane sugar
The most common substitutes used in the adOltefa-
ton OF maple sugar and syrup are other sugars and
glucose. Much OF the so-called maple syrup on tne
market is nothing but combination OF sweets,
with little maple molasses added to give the
maple flavor. There is also maple syrup Wnlch
contains maple at all. but the naVOr ts ootatIed
by adding to the compound extract OF hickory
bark This extensive adulterattOn forces the pro
ducers Of pure maple syrup 20 compete win cneap
limitations. The price of their raw product Is kept
down. and the forests OF maple are not as TohCaDe
TO their owners they otherwise might be.
The consumer Is entitled to pure goods and the
producer is entitled ITO have his syrup and sugar
the hands of the producers, and they can effect a
change for better in two ways. They can asso-
riate themselves in State and large focal companies
| and, by selling direct TO consumers, cut out the
middlemen and thev can also put their product
on the market in the form not OF sugar put o!
| syrup. which iE most in demand. The public VIII
not object TO paying little hlgher price ZOE suaI
handling syrup might be little more than tnat OF
/ sugar hut the net returns would be larger, the
public better served and the maple sugar INDUSTRY
adopted in Vermont with excellent results. Annual
meetings are held, through whose influence I'M
proved methods Of production have been adopted,
a central market established and registered
traderrark created which is a guarantee of absolute
purity. In this way trade OF good proportlOha
has been built I'D.