Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1909-01-20
MAPLE SUGAR INDUSTRY.

MAPLE SUGAR INDUSTRY.
At the 18th ann ual meeting of
the Vermont Maple Sugar Makers
association, which opened in Burling-
on recently Hon. v l. Spear set the
trade conditions in the maple sugar
industry before the farmers in the
following practical address -
Each season brings its own condi-
tlons in all departments of human
industry and especially is this the
case with all ma ural products which
depend upon climatic conditions.
Perhaps of all natural products, there
is none in which production is so un-
even as in the maple sugar crop. Ten
days before season closes, no one
Gel say whether the crop is to be
small, average or large, for two or
three days of certain weather condi-
tions will overturn all calculations.
For this reason the business of handling
the crops is full of surprises and disap-
pointments, and has in it large eIe-
ment of speculation.
The season OF 1908 had its share of
the unexpected for the trade. AS the
season of 1907 had produced a large
crop. it was generally expected that
this would be followed by normal or
small production. The result was a
crop somewhat larger than 1907 had
produced, and the crop of Vermont was
duplicated in other larger producing
sections, notably New York and Ohio.
This made available a larger amount
of maple goods than had been on the
market for many years and could pro-
duce but one result-a depression of
prices. Added to the large crop to be
handled was the general business de-
preston which had prevailed since
October, 1907, and the unfavorable
| condition of a presidential election.
With all of these things to contend
against. it is only surprising that
prices have been kept so high and that
there is not a larger surplus unsold.
From present indications there will be
but small amount of the 1908 crop
in the hands of producers or dealers
when the 1909 crop is available.
This condition is due to quite an ex-
| tent. in my judgment, to the operation
of the pure food law. Many of the
leading grocers of the country have
put in supply of the pure goods
where only blended goods had formerly
been sold, and sales Of the pure goods
have been very satisfactory in most
instances. and it is generally expect
ed that the demand for next year will
be larger than. in the past. The pro-
ducers of mixed or blended goods are
mary of them complaining that sales
have been small, and this has to some
extent cut off the demand for the
ordinary tub sugar used for favoring
these goods.
| The sale of pure maple goods has
been somewhat restricted by the large
profit dealers think they must make.
The average grocer wants to make
about 40 per cent profit on retail trade
in maple sugar and syrup. This puts
the price pretty high to the consumer
and in many cases, doubtless. less
goods are sold than would be at a
lower price. The matter will probably
regulate itself after a little time
and, if it appears to the grocer that
he can sell more than double the goods
with 20 cent profit than he can with
q 40 cent profit, he will sell at the
lower price to increase his sales.
Within the past few years there has
been marked change in the method
of selling maple goods. Formerly
they were disposed of largely to com.
mission men in the cities, either di.
rectly by the producer, or the producer
sold to his local merchant, and the
merchant consigned to the com
mission house. The result of this
method was to load up the commission
houses with all Of the crop during the
month of April. If the crop was small
they could handle it at fair prices
but it large. they were obliged tt
sacrifice whatever they had on hane
the first of June, as they had no facili
ties for carrying it through the ho
weather. and often the prices received
were very low. Many leading grocer,
and dealers would buy their year.
supply in April, and not expect to bu,
again until the following spring.
!, At present there is, comparatively
: but small per cent of the produc
sent to the commission houses
Some producers have a market for
portion or the whole of their produc
| xuifh Nr.vat,rnorc FoSs, NIL rl;Sa~t =,