The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1907-03-07
John Macy of Economy, is
Wayne County's Philos-
opher of Agriculture
Some Observations.

Hagerstown, Ind, March Elk
County Commissioner John Macy, OF
Economy, Ind, is Wayne county
phiIosopher of agriculture. He de-
lights in the study of the great sub
feet and never tires of its contempla-
ton. He was born on the farm where
he now lives in 1871, and with the
exception of three years IN the war
and one year in business in lndIanap-
oils. has lived there all his life. Ills
father, Isaac Macy, moved from Ten
nessee to the farm in 1925, when the
country was little better than VIII
derness. On all sides the forests
stretched for miles and there were
few cabins of settlers in this section
In a reminiscent mood John Macy
TODAY smoke of the contrast between
farm practices then and now he
seldom talks for publication notWltn-
standing he is regarded as an author-
ity on scientific agriculture. HIS re-
marks upon this occasion mad 10 90
with the old time methods employed
in sugar camps and the progressive
stages which led up to the present
development Of the industry. For
miles all about the old home farm
woods stretched in every direction.
There was one especially beautlIul
tract where sugar trees grew to per-
lection. This tract became known
as the suger camp farm, not because
the trees were ever cut away and the
soil cultivated, but because they grew
<~f Iofl
the Mays. These trees We're tapped
before John Macy was born, and Win
few exceptions have continued TO
produce every year since then. Inc
boys were at work in the old sugar
camp today, getting ready to open
the camp the first favorable day. An
elaborate equipment consisting OF a
steel furnace lined with fire brlch
and an evaporator made OF RUSSIA
tin was being placed in a comforta-
BILE sugar house
In the Pioneer Days.
..In the early days" said Mr.. Ma
CIV. there were no furnaces. TWO
forked saplings were found which
stood about ten feet apart and a stiff
pole laid across from one fork to the
other about eight feet from the
ground From this pole four or SIX
large iron kettles were suspended on
limbs with wooden pin driven Ill
above to catch over the pole and an
other in the lower end of the limb
which caught the bale of the kettle.
These kettles were filled with sap
and fire kept blazing about
them while the farmer stood about
with long poker pushing the burn
ing sticks under them and exposed TO
all sorts and conditions OF weather.
There was little commercial de-
mand for maple syrup then and the
only object was to make enough SUI
gar to last the family during the year,
for white sugar was luxury seldom
found in the homes of the Indiana pi-
oueer. The trees were bored with q
large auger and into the holes elder
spiles were driven. Wooden troughS
were used TO catch the dripping sap.
These were usually made of poplar. \
straight poplar tree of the right size
was selected and cut into lengths OF
about eight or ten feet. This Was
quartered and troughs about eighteen
inches long were followed out WIN
the ak. When boy could take un one
Of these troughs and empty ii when
fuli into q bucket without splitting any
az the sap he was considered a man
from tl,9t time on. 1t was a general
~ accepted test.
This was the most primitive way
but every farmer introduced improve
,ments suggested by his own ingenui
ty. Tire ground hog furnace fol
lowed in almost every sugar camp,
This was very crude and was never
used more than one year, for it was
easier to make new one than 10 re-
pair the old. a hole was dug into the
side of a hill inclining upward and
narrowing rs il ran back. The ket'
ties were set in this and daubed
around with clay. Niger heads lin
ed the front of this rude furnace and