Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1922-03-29
MAPLE SUGAR

MAPLE SUGAR
Maple sugar and syrup are prod
ncts with which our readers are so
familiar that we depreciate its mar
ket qualities, or rather, we fail to
think of the possibilities in the prod
uct from the standpoint of national
or world market properly cultivated
and backed with a product OF good
quality uniformly graded.
A few years ago this paper pre-
dicted price of 80 cents per pound
for good maple sugar, and we were
called visionary. Today the writer is
willingly paying 40 cents per pound
for maple sugar, and great quantl-
ties of good maple sugar is today
bringing this price or more. But the
regular market and the common
grade of sugar in large packages will
never get far beyond the going price
for other sugars.
The sugar maker who is unwilling
to keep all utensils clean, use mod
ern buckets, hauling tanks and boil
ing rigs, who is unwilling to cater to
the public taste in the form of pack
age and who will make no effort and
be to no expense for special market,
will not rise far above the dead level
of the price some buyer will pay for
maple sugar to go into the making
of tobacco. But good maple prod
uct, properly put up, will find a wide
and profitable market with little eff
fort.
We are pleased to note the efforts
of individual sugar makers OF the
writer's acquaintance who are doing
something to help themselves into a
larger and more profitable market.
We are also pleased to note the Ell.
forts of the Orleans County Farm
Bureau to place the maple products
of it's members before wide market
at a figure two and three times the
common market price. This organi-
cation is sending to those who inquire
and to a list of those who might
want maple products, a circular tell
ing something of the county's out
put, quoting prices and supplying an
order blank. This will bring results.
The individuals first referred to are
also getting results.
This is splendid work. Orleans
county produces more maple sugar
and syrup than any other county in
the world, and there is opportunity
for Orleans county to lead off in an
effort to standardize and advertise
maple sugar and maple syrup.
Over 100000 maple trees are tap
ped in Orleans county producing al
most 100000 pounds Cor it's equiva-
lent in syrup) of maple sugar. Pro-
viding the difference in local market
and special market is 10 cents per
pound, and we believe this is con-
sentative, the extra income to the
producers of the county would be in
creased by approximately 100000.
Is an effort worth while? A united
and persistent effort. Here is our
great opportunity for cooperation.
The maple sugar crop is one of the
farmers finest cash crops. and it
should be cultivated and developed
to it's fullest extent
There is no sweet or confection
which has the flavor of maple, ma
lures most delicate and choicest flaw
or. No sweet is less harmful for the
human system and properly put on
the market will bring as great a
price as our better eonfections. c
We are enthusiastic about the pos
sibilities Of maple sugar. But per-
sistent effort to manufacture a fine
article and some sort of cooperative
plan for publicity, grading and mar
keting seem essential. Is there any
reason why maple sugar should not
be known and appreciated throughout
the country, as oranges, raisins and
other products of other sections of
the country are known.
There appears to be encouraging
activity among the producers them
selves, in such organizations as the
farm bureaus and in the Vermont
Maple Sugar Makers association. Let
the work go on and let the newspap-
ers assist with encouragement and
publicity.