South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-03-10
FARMERS PREPARE
FOR MAPLE SUGAR
YIELD IN SPRING
Fact That Syrup is Selling at
Good Price Has Induced
Extensive Operations.

Many farmers IN St Joseph coun-
- are preparing 20 take advantage
OF the maple sugar supply this year.
While some experience is neces-
sary 20 boil the sap down 10 strip
and sugar properly. the process is
not complicated. a clump OF 10 to
IS trees usually yields enough sirup
FOR family use 10 make tapping
worth while. and IN many cases viii
afford a surplus. which can be sold
az a remuEorative price. The flow
Of sap depends upon the age. con-
dition. and habit OF growth OF the
tree. also upon tho character OF the
weather and condition Of the soil
during the sap-hOwing season. In
a good season a tree Is inches I'm
diameter viii yield sufficient sap to-
rake from one 20 six quarts OF
strip. which in turn can be CON
centrated into two 10 10 pounds Of
sugar. Larger trees under the same
conditions Will produce correspond
ingly large yields of sirup and SUI
lar. All hard maple trees. eight
inches or more in diameter. may
be safely and proftab bly, tapped for
suUp and sugar production.
Prices High.
The fact that sirup is selling for
a good price has induced the owners
OF groves TO plan more extensive
operations for this coming spring.
10 Is expected. due 20 the cod
weather. that the flow Of sap Will
be exceptionally good this spring.
Because the sugar content OF the
sap varies from time TO time. uni
formity OF quality can not be secured
throughout the season. Warm days
and cool nights are essential to a
satisfactory flow, and the sugar CON
tent may vary considerably from
day 10 day. However. this is not a
feature that materially affects the
success Of ones operations.
Tapping Of sugar trees if done
properly in no way injuries the tree
Trees have been tapped for more
than 100 years and are still I'm good
condition.
Il Is a good policy to tap early
IL the season to obtain the earlier
runs. whieh are generally the sweet
est and therefore the best producers
Makers have lost half and even more
OF their crops by not being prepared
for the first run. In general. IL
may be said that the season is ready
10 open during the first or middle
OF February In the southern sections
and later in the northern regions
when days are becoming warm
when the temperature goes above
freezing during the dav and at night
below freezing. If the days are
very bright. warm and sunny the
sap viii start with a rush but soon
slacken. or II high wind starts the
flow is checked. Protracted warm
weather or a heavy freeze with
nights and days OF even tempera tura
stops the ho~ altogether. TO start
gain when weather conditions are
right.
Methods OF Tapping.
Considerable difference Of opinion
exists as to tic best method OF tap
ping q tree. A thirteen thiry-sec-
ouds OF an inch (13-32-inch) bit is
often used. It's direction should he
slightly upward into the tree. the
slant ALLOWING the hole to drain
readily. With an ordinary tree the
hole should not be over on and
cne-haIf TO two inches deep OF bcst.
The equipment required for Si~up
nd sugar making does not ueeess-
arily represent a large outlay. a
number OF sap spouts. either wooden
or metal, are needed. The 1irup
- usually gathered In bucket AMI.
II the grove covers a considerable
area. q wagon or sled is used to
AIRY barrels into which the buckets
are emptied. For a small grove q
~ iron kettle such as most farm
rs possess, is ample for boiling the
zap ever an outdoor fire For large
production n more elaborate equip
1ent, such as pair of pans SIT
yer "A brick frnr1 eworl OF various
patent evapOratoTs NAV poe en-
rloved. Where a strip is made as
size issue NJ N small quantities
it Is customary 90 make the extra
concentration essential TO producing
sugar in pots over the kitchen stove
but where mad on a large scale
homemade or factory-made aopa a-
tDs can be employed.