Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1906-03-09
THE PRODUCTION OF
MAPLE SUGAR.
The Bureau of Forestry Seeks to Develop
and Extend the Industry

J
and Extend the Industry.
Tue Bureau of Forestry has been
studying the maple sugar industry
with the view of securing larger use
of the maple forests. Since 1850 the
area of maple sugar farming has great
ly changed and shrunk. In early days
maple sugar was commonly made, even
in many parts of the South, because
cane sugar was virtually uuobtaina-
BILE. No longer is there even limited
production in south Carolina, Georgia,
Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and
Arkansas This is because cane sugar
can now be bought every wheIe at a
low price, and is preferred to maple
sugar for sweetening. In Indiana,
| Michigan. and Illinois the maple tree s
have been extensively cut for lumber.
thus reducing the opportunity for tree
tapping. In those States also the mark
cts are glutted with limitations, which
removes the incentive to extending the
industry. In other States, as in west
ern Maryland. West Virginia. Ohio.
New York, and in New England, the
maple sugar industry had held its own
or been increased.
The best sap flow is secured in the
cooler northern States, yet good re-
suits can be expected in most of Penn
sylvania and West Virginia, in west
ern Maryland, all of Indiana and Ken
lucky, eastern Tennessee. and western
North Carolina. AT present the larg-
est producers of sugar maple products
are Ohio. Vermont, and New York.
Tue 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 vigorous
tree and readily reproduces itself. SO
there need be no fear of failure of sap
supply. For sap production the all
important consideration is for the tree
to have full and heavy crown. YET
iG should also grow nnder forest cOndi
tiOns W hich maintain ground cover
of litter and humus.
AS result OF the study recently
made, definite directions for the man
agement and improvement OF existing
groves, and for the establishment of
new ones in suitable localities and IN
der different conditions, have been pre-
pared and will soon be published
Many valuable data regarding the
profit in making maple sugar were
also collected. From these it appears
that a farmer can easily clear good
sum pre- acre from a sugar grove Iae
expenses In this estimate are placed at |
a maximum; all the labor and hauling |
are charged In at market rates, though |
as a matter OF fact the sugar season |
falls at time when the farmer has |
little other employment for himself or |
his horses. In actual practice, for the |
farmer who Can do most of his own |.
work the profit should be considerably |
yield little or nothing under any other |
use.
The old method Of collecting the sap |
by making diagonal cut in the tree |
was abandoned long ago because it in |
jured the tree so that it could De work |
ed for but few years. The approved |
deep and three-eigbths of an inch in |
diameter into the sunny side of trees |
over II inches in diameter, and to make |
but Que bole in each tree, except pos |
slbly where the trees are especially |
large and productive. Vast improve
men.s have also been made in appii-
ances for handling the sap and boiling
it down to sugar and sirup.
Maple trees now furnish but small
per cent of the commercial maple slIup
and sugar. While the demand for
both these com modities has constantly
increased, the output from maple trees
has decreased during the last twenty
Years. The trade has been supplied
only by radically adulterating the pure
goods, or by manufacturing product
entirel, frou foreign materials. 1t is
conservatiVeiy estimated that seven
eights of what is sold as maple sirup.
aud sugar is a spurious article. Most
OF the fabricatiUns are entirely harm
.ss. but they are Dot the al thing
Those fortunate enough to have eaten
The genuine article will always demand
| j., and conditions should be such that
tn ~ may get il, II they are willing 10
pay The pr.ce.
The fautt does not lie with the pro
ducers, iaose wnu tap the tees and re
duct lne sap TO sirup aud sugar, bnt
with the InlddIeueu Who buy the sngar
and NIX aud adulterate il most prof
tably for themselves. The extent of
| t lis adulteratiuu is Illustrated by the
lfact thai while the amount of the raw
lpruduct has decreased, the whole
quantity sold has largely increased
and it's market price has been reduce d.
,Of late years the price has fallen in
direct relation to the decrease In the
price of cane sugar.
The most common substitutes used
in the adulteration Of maple sugar and
sirup are other sugars and glucose.
Much of the so called maple sirup on
the market is nothing but com bina-
/ tiop of sweets with a little maple mo
Iasses added to give the maple flavor.