Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1907-01-17
MAPLE SUGAR MARKET.
Report OF Its Condition Made a
Recent Conve ntion,

The report OF the Vermont Maple Sugar
makers Market in Randolph, given below,
was made by the manager, hon,N, !, spear,
al the convention IN burlington the sth,-
The past year has been marked by some
peeulisTities m he maple sugar trade but
the general trend OF the business has been
very favorable. Both producers and dealers
have had a fair degree OF prosperity, The
season OF 1905 did not produce a la rye
crop, not over 90 10 6595 OF an average, but
the quality OF the product was very high,
When the crop OF la0d vas secured there
Was in the hands OF dealers large supply
OF sugar aud syrup from the crop of lth
and this tended TO make prices lower than
the production OF 1906 would justify, In
the early fail prices advanced aud have
continued strong 10 the present time-the
advance from last April amounting 10
about 20es. The stock OF maple sugar and
syrup in the state is now practically
exhausted and the new crop Will ind
ready market.
The business al the market at Randolph
has been very satisfactory. II has IN
creased in volume about 2o96 during the
year and has continued its policy OF the
past Of marketing the product manly
direct 10 consumers. Since the organization
OF this market eight years ago, the price OF
maple goods has increased nearly, orquiie,
1906, and the quality has improved IN
nearly the same ratio. This improvement
in price and quality is not all due to the
work OF the market, which has, however,
been an important factor.
The policy OF the market of paying for
It's goods according 10 quality and selling
on the same hasis-has been an innovation
over former methods OF paying the same
price foi all grades and selling all grades
at one price, and gives deserved en-
couragement to those producers who are
careful in the preparation OF their goods.
The outlook for the future seems very
encouraging. For 10 yesrs the Maple
Sugar Makers association has been asking
/ for federal pure food law that would
compel the correct labelling OF food prod
ucts. Today we have such law which we
expect will increase the demand Tor pure
maple goods. What the effect will be on
prices and how far the mixed goods can
retain their customers when properly
| labeled, are matters for the future to deter
mine. We have never made any objection
! to the use OF glucose and cane sugar as .
syrup, but only to its bearing iabe
claiming that II was maple. So far as car
be judged, the pure food Law Is all tina
could be asked for, ana II pure mapl'
goods cannot win out under its provision
they ought to fail. II will be necessar.
for producers and dealers to becom
falllllar Win tnls law, anu All inh pic rus y
makers who have not received copy OF
should request their member In Congress
20 have copy sent them, or it will be sen
! by direct application to Hon. James VII
son, secretary OF agriculture.
The outlook for the maple sugar indus
try in Vermont was never so good as to
! day, and the millions Of maple trees in th
state that have never been used for sugs
. purposes should be equipped and put int
service, and the cutting OF the naples Il
lumber. except where it is not practical
use them for sugar production, shout
/ cease. There is no product in Vermont thl
I is capable of yielding so large net prot
: to the state as its maple sugar. With pres
ent and prospective prices ard by usin
\ all the naples in the state that are avail
$ able for maple sugar production, 1t Is easi
possible for Vermont to receive from tn
industry 5000, 900 per year. With this a,
complished, there would be no industry
a the state that could show as large m
: profit.
4 expect the producers of maple goods
n continue to increase the quantity and
e improve the quality Of this product. /
n not see where much improvement in qua
d ity can be secured by some OF our be
e producers Some OF the sugar and syru
: on exhibition here today is so nearly pc
II feet as to make it difficult to sugge
e further improvement; but more than
d % OF the crop in the state falls below u
Il high standard of the best, and it is to tn
a class that we look for progress. The futu
e is sure to prove that the largest profit
Y the business is closely connected with Il
highest quality.