Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-05-05
ROMANCE OF AMERICAN
LIFE THAT IS FADING
Less Maple Sugar Is Being Made i'm
Recent Years, Although De-
mand Increases.
IT'S SYMBOL is SUGAR MOON
Season Comes at END OF Winter
While Wreaths Of Snow Are Yet
Hanging on tho Hills and White
Banks Arc Packed In Land.
BY GARRETT l.. SERVES.


/ hear that John Burroughs. in his
eishty-nrst year. has been making
maple sugar. 1t Is a peculiarly Ameri-
can occupa ton and one that promotes
long lifo by making life more desir-
able. II America had muses. and
nymphs, like old Greece. they would
all DO found gathered IN green dells.
where diamond-bright brooks leap
Among the far projecting roots OF giant
rock NAPLES. whose grouped tops pro-
claim altar the existence OF a sugar
bush" To havo passed ones child
hood In tina neighoorhood o: a sugar
bush IS 20 :,ave lived under olympus.
~hero the arctar drips from t.e table
OF tho goes, The sweetest OF sweets ID
thick maple strip thrown out from
tho boiling pot upon late snow bank
To cool. and called, where was 4 boy
candy" with hard &C" and long
"a"
Ono of tho blacklist crimes Of com
bne rcial sm IS the invention OF mixed
faxed. adultcra:ed and lying maple
sugar ant maple strip. The taste and
arom4 OF real pure maple recall Alfred
Russell Taliace's description of the
fruit OF tho DURAN tree OF Bo-neo:
The more you eai OF IL the less you
feel inclined to stop. Ia fact. it is
new gensarion worth a voyage TO the
E4st tc experience.
The romance OF maple sugar making
Is cvca superior 20 that OF Indian
torn-hrsk!us It's symbol is The sugar
moon" OF the k!Sonquins. 1t comes at
The end OF tho winter as tho other
corcs at Nc beginning. While wreatns
Of Snow yet hanging or the hills
and white haaha packed In the wrinkles
pr the land are slowly melting TO feed
thousand gurGling r,ls which do not
: awake until after sunrise. while the
sunny mornings are still preceded oy
frosty nights and northerly winds chill
he blood OF the early risers. the sap
begins to run so shnndantiy that IL
will pour out OF an auEcr-hole driven
three inches into the trunk AZ II the
tree were actually shedding it's lie
blood Before you can withdraw the
nelical steel the out-Eushing stream
Will have sped down the outer bark
o the ground.
Then. II you properly dcspisc the
nctallic spouts that give a tinny taste
o the sap. and a tinny aspect TO the
whole AFFAIR. which Chascs away tho
romance, you Will. with wooden NAL
ct. drive into the auEcr-hoid wooden
pout, made by cleaning out the Dith
rom short length OF sumsch stem.
md hanging pail on the outer end
= the spout. your cars will he IN.
RANGED by the low. murmurins music
Z tho sap falling in n tiny hut steady.
trcan1.
)ELICATt: AROMA FILLS
AIR As SAP ROLLS
II you are new to tho work You
will be amazed by the fast bleeding
pf the tree. and will feel perhaps 4
light twinEe Of remorse, as 1. you
we're taking tho life Of p sentient be-
nE. And the delicate aroma that
L,preads through the air will at the
anne time heiEhten your pleasure and
Increase your uneasy sense OF immoIat-
nE something that represents nigh
r stage OF existence than mere stocks
nd stones"
The boiling down Of the sap should
Q done on the spot. under tho trees,
where large iron pot may be sus
bended over - fire by means OF stakes
riven in the ground. And. II possible,
here should be n clean snow hank In
shady spot nearby. where from huge
wooden spoons gouts OF thick. delicious
fragrant strip may be thrown upon
lie snow 10 DC hardened lIlo carey.
which will stretch Ike India rubber
r molasses candy. and when put into
he mouth will implant gustatory
Memory that will last, like the per-
ume Of a grain of musk. for whole
lifetime.
All the early insects vii! be there.
hey will get into the very midst OF
Things. They regard 1t as their own
astival. They are as fascinated by the
fragrance and the sweetness as you
re. and will drown themselves in
rowds II you do not save them from
he sacrifice. II somebody in the
eighborhood keeps bees they will
ONE from miles away. flying as
traight as arrows. humminE, buZZins
nd ready TO sting. Jealous OF any in
difference with saccharins matters.
yhich are their, special affair. Birds
viii come, too. and take SIP OF the
ap. II they see safe chance. I
"a ouId not wonder II fox would have
drink Of the nectar il you left the
ails hanging overnight.
When the tapping" is skillfuliy done
he trees are not injured Apparently
hey have SAP to spare. TIE wounds
f You Buy a Stewart Truck
ION not onlv coononi-n In fbo o-;rioa,