Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1912-04-26
FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 1912.
THE MAPLE SUGAR SEASON
Ohio Man Says Only Half a Crop
Was Made in His State.

WaS Wta0C tttS 0eUst'
In view of the fact that the maple
sugar crop in Vermont this year is less
than one-half the average yield, as is
generally known, an interview with F.
N. johnson of Belfontaine, Ohio, has
special interest for the sugar makers of
this section of New England. He is one
of the largest dealers in the product in
his own State, and is at present in YER
mont for an definite stay.
Mr.. johnson stated that the Carey
Maple Sugar company of st. Johnsbury
instructed their agents late Monday
afternoon to pay the farmers 80 cents
per gallon for No. syrup in bulk. The
season for making maple syrup in Ohio
is over, he said, and less than a half
crop was made. His estimate of an
average crop there was from 900, 900 to
1000, 600 gallons, of which about one
fourth is consumed by the farmers and
their friends, in filling small orders to
their acquaintance, leaving approx
imately 600, 900 to 7OO,0 gallons to be
handled by the dealers.
Mr.. johnson went on to say that Ohio
made very little sugar, most of the pro-
duction being made into syrup, and that
a year like this, when the crop was
short, being less than 500, 900 gallons,
and after deducting the amount con-
sumed by the farmers themselves,
would leave only about POO, 900 to $50, =
900 gallons to be handled by the dealers,
as against 6000 900 or 700,0 900 gallons
when they have an average crop. When
asked whether or not he was able to
buy his usual quantity in Ohio this year,
he said:
''No, but we think that we got more
than our proportionate share-in fact,
we know that we own more syrup than
any concern in this country, and we are
just about through receiving syrup from
the farmers in Ohio"
When told that the Carey Maple
Sugar company had made price of &c
cents to the farmers for No. syrup in
bulk, Mr.. Johnson said:
81 am glad to hear this, for l am in
terested in seeing the farmers get al
their syrup and sugar is worth, owing
especially to the extremely short croI
this year"
He stated that he paid the farmers
in Ohio 70 cents per gallon for theil
syrup, but that his firm bought this
under contract this year, agreeing tt
take all the farmers would make at thi.
price.
"And with this short CROP" he con
tinued, ''it has turned out to be a very
good purchase, and the more tina
syrup becomes worth in Vermont, tn,
more our syrup will be worth in Ohio ,
When asked as to the average annua
quantity of syrup made in Vermont ant
New York, he said
81 think the agricultural report will
show that Vermont makes about $50,
600 gallons and New York somethin,
over 100000 gallons. That is, Obi
makes more syrup than New York an,
Vermont combined.
No tub sugar is made in Ohio, h
added, the sugar being made int
cakes varying in weight from one-hal
pound to two pounds. Most of tn
sugar is made in Logan county alone
When asked if he expected to buy tn
sugar in Vermont this season, he re
piled:
eyes, we always buy some tub suga
in Vermont, as the trade on same i
growing out West, although the West
ern States really prefer the Canada
sugar. cannot tell why they do un
less the farmers cook it down drye
than they do in Vermont, and in conse
quence there is not so much waste i
handling the same "
In reply to a question as to the pric
that tub sugar will bring in Vernon
this season, he said:
ANY price that would name woul
be a mere guess, but basing the pric
of sugar upon the price that is bein
offered for syrup. | would think tn
farmers may be able to get IL cents pc
pound for their best sugar. But it be
ing short crop year all over, no on
can tell what shape the market will &c
into. Sugar and syrup may go higher
which would not be at all surprising, a
it does not seem as if there wer
enough to go around "-Burlingto