The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1920-03-18

prepared by the United States Depart
ment of Agricultural
Many thousands of American farm
erS throughout a region comprising
more than q score of states are over
looking opportunities to secure deli
cious maple sugar and sirup for home
use, as well as for sale, at very little
cost. This statement, of peculiar in
terest because of the present sugar
shortage, is based on data compiled by
experts of the United States depart
ment of agriculture who have made a
special study of the maple sugar in
duStry. While Americans commonly
think Of this industry as being con-
fined largely to circumscribed areas in
New England and New York, there are,
as a matter of fact, many potential
sugar bushes" throughout eastern and
northeastern United States; in other
words, throughout a region extending
south to include North Carolina and
Tennessee and west to include northern
Missouri, Iowa and Minnesota. There
are also a considerable number of ma
pie trees of sugar-yielding species in
Washington and Oregon.
While some experience is necessary
to boil the sap down to strip and sugar
properly, the process is not compli-
Gated and may be learned readily. A
United States department of agricul-
ture bulletin, Production of Maple
Sirup and Sugar." gives the necessary
information, and will be sent free to
any person addressing the department
at Washington.
A clump of 10 to 10 trees usually
will yield enough strip for family use
to make the tapping worth while, and
in many cases will afford a surplus
which can be sold at a remunerative
price. The flow of sap depends upon
the age, condition and habit Of growth
of the tree, also upon the character
of the weather and condition of the
soil during the sap-fowing season. In
a good season tree 10 inches in di-
ameter will yield sufficient sap to
make from one to six quarts of sirup,
which in turn can be concentrated into
two to ten pounds of sugar. Larger
trees under the same conditions will
produce CORRESPONDENCE larger yields
of the sirup and sugar. All hard maple
trees, eight inches or more in di-
ameter, may be safely and proftably
tapped for sirup and sugar prOduc-
ton.
Cutting Sugar Trees for Lumber.
Recently an investigator OF the
United States department of agricul-
ture in North Carolina discovered
many groves of sugar naples that
were not being utilized for strip and
sugar production. One of these groves
is probably larger than any now to be
found in New England. The owners,
not being aware of the value OF these
trees from the maple-sugar standpoint,
had begun cutting them down for lum-
Der on an average return of less than
enc dollar a tree. At the suggestion
of the federal representative the
groves were spared further cutting in
many instances and the owners last
year began tapping the trees and max
ing strip that sold for four dollars a
gallon. This revelation of the pOten-
tial value of these groves has induced
the owners to plan more extensive OPP
erations for this coming spring, so that
instead OF destroying the groves they
will become a source of permanent and
larger income. 1t is expected that the
flow of sap will be even more satisfac-
tory than last year, since the warm
weather of last winter was not favor
able to producing the best grade nor
the highest yield Of sugar and strip.
The maple strip and sugar industry
is distinctively American and offers
good commercial opportunities for
those who engage in it Systematically.
No countries besides the United States
and Canada produce this much-prized
product on a commercial scale, which
is at once deIicacy and a highly nu-
tritfous article Of diet. The demand
for both strip and sugar is far be
yond the supply.
Because the sugar content OF the
sap varies from time to time, uni
fornity of quality cannot be secured
throughout q season. Warm days and
cool nights are essential to a satisfac-
tory flow, and the sugar content may
vary considerably from day to day.
However, this is not feature that ma
terially affects the success Of ones OPP
erations.
Does Not Injure Tree.
Tapping Of sugar trees. if done prop
erly in no way Injuries the tree. Trees
have been tapped for more than 100
years, and are still In good condition