Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-04-06
FEAR HARVEST OF
MAPLE SUGAR WILL
Be SHORT IN VERMONT

St. AlbanS, VT, April 4-(AP)-A
late maple sugar season in Vermont
and a short one, was the prediction
today, based on reports from the
chief producing sections of the state
Unfavorable weather conditions, the
sugar makers say, threaten to work
havoc with the crop.
With an almost unprecedented de-
mand Tor maple sugar the owners of
sugar orchards large and small have
been prepared for nearly two weeks
to garner the tickle harvest which
brings to the state each year mil
lions of dollars. Approximately s.
100000 trees have been tapped, but
so far very little sugar has been
made. The season has not been
right" the farmers complain.
Because of continued cold weather
the flow of sap up to the present time
has been small compared to other
years and now new fear is keeping
the sugar men awake at nights.
There is danger that when the belat-
ed warm spell starts the sap running
in earnest, that spell is likely to con-
tinue without break until the maple
trees burst into bud, ending the sea-
son once and for all. While it is ex-
pected that Vermont again will lead
all other states in the amount of ma
pie sugar produced, a short crop is
probable, the farmers say.
Because of the unusually deep
snow in the woods the work of
breaking into the sugar orchards
was begun early. In some parts of
the state the snow reached a depth
of five feet and more and much of
it fingers. When the trails and
roads were broken, the work of owe, :
hauling, cleaning and repairing
sugar making apparatus was hurried
along in order that the first run of
sap" highly priced by the sugar men.
might be saved. That run comes with
the first warm spell. as a rule, and
the warm spell still is lacking.
In the districts where the sugar
and syrup are produced the indica-
tons are said to be that prices will
be higher than usual this year. There
Is little reserve supply on hand and
many dealers have untitled orders
from last season which will be given
precedence over new orders this
ders from regular custofers. Already
dealers in Waterbury and points in
the center of the state have report
ed that orders now on hand will ac-
count for the entire 1926 crop
Sap buckets and other back break
ing equipment of the ancient Sugar
ing off days" are scarcer than ever
this season and more orchards are
equipped with the newer devices.
Nowadays when the sap begins IT,
run freely and the fires are lighted
under the watts, the liquid is piped
direct from the trees into main pipe
lines which connect with the evapor-
ators. This makes possible an almost
continuous flow of sap into the great
evaporators and a flow of syrup out
Of them.
The older system by which the sap
was boiled in lots" in huge cauld-
rons is found today only on farms
where small quantities of sugar and
syrup are produced. Where many
hours were required to boil off, the
sap in the mammoth kettles. the work
is now done in periods ranging from
As minutes to two hours. according
to the size of the evaporation. The
new method is more sanitary. makes
less work for the producer and re-
suits in a better grade of sugar.
st. Johnsbury and Essex Junction
are the principal centers of maple
sugar distribution in Vermont. with
the former city far in the lead. ST.
Johnsbury's pre-eminenee in this
field has earned for it the title OF
THE maple sugar capital Of the
world"