The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1905-04-22
Iuf PRODUCTION OF MAPLE SUGAR.
1.o Rureau of Forestry to Develop
and Extend the Industry.


The Bureau Of Forestry has beer
.,udviug tn, maple sugar industry
u;th the view of securing a large
uee,- of the mapl forests. Since
,sso the area of maple sugar farm
nghas greatly changed and shrunk
In early days maple sugar was
commonly made, even in many
oar,s of the sou'h, because cane
srpar was virtually unobtaiuable,
No longer is there even a limited
croduction in South Carolina,
Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi,
Louisian /, and Arkansas. This is
because cane sugar can now be
bought everywhere at low price,
and is preferred to maple sugar for
sweetening. In Indiana, Michigan,
and Illinois the maple trees have
beeu extensively cut for lumber,
thus reducing the opportunity for
tree tapping. In those states also
the markets are glutted with imita-
tons. which removes the incentive
10 extend the industry. In other
states, as in western Maryland,
West Virginia, Ohio, New York,
and in New England, the maple
sugar Industry has held its own or
been increased.
The best flow is secured in the
cooler northern states, yet goo d
results can be expected in most of
Pennsylvania and West Virginia,
in western Maryland. all of Indiana,
and Kentucky, eastern Tennessee,
and western North Carolina. At
present the largest producers of
maple sugar 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 available.
The maple is hardy and vigor-
Gus tree and readily reproduces
itself, SO there need be no fear of
failure of sap supply. For sap
production the all important con-
slderation is for the tree to have a
tuIl and heavy crown. Yet it
should also grow under forest con-
dldons 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 estab-
hShment of new ones in suitable
localities and under different con-
0'tlous' have been prepared and
Will soon be published. Many
valuable data regarding the profit
: ~ making maple sugar were also
Solected' From these it appears
nat a farmer can easily clear about
an acre from a sugar grove.
ae expenses in this estimate are
i'ceo at a maximum; all the
a0Or AMI hauling are charged in
market rates, though as a matter
TACT the sugar season falls at a
e when the farmer has little
sner employment for himself or
= noFses' In actual practice, for
De 'Sfmer who can do most of his
"n work the profit should be con.
,aeraOly larger. And the land
uus utilized will yield little or
'sn'Os under any other use.
- me old method of collecting the
W making diagonal cut in
I.o.;, se was abandoned long ago
use 1t Injured the tree so that
.O0'o be worked for but a few
o, w. The approved practice now
h.. Oo'e - a hole one inch deep and
ee'ghths of an inch in diameter
No 10 the sunny side of trees over ~
/, sues In diameter, and to make
,a.;u, vue hole in each tree. except
1ass. "nere the trees are especial
large and productive. Vast
'Ovements p's have also been made
IA rpi'anees ho;,i for handling the sap
rup. ~ sugar ana