The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1941-06-26
MAPLE SUGAR INDUSTRY
IN MARYLAND DECLINES
Agricultural Statistician Says
1t Will Soon Be Just A Mem
Ory"; Ranks 10th In Output

ment of Agriculture Marketing Ser
vice, recently said Western Mary
lands maple syrup and sugar produc
ton is gradually declining" and
predicted that it may not be many
years before the industry in this State
will be little more than memory"
Writing in the Marketing Services
report, Burkhead declared many of
the young trees were being cut for
mine props, wood from old trees is
used Gin making ladies' shoe heels,
floorings and furniture"
Turned Into Groves
After the maple season ends in the
spring, he declared most producers
turn live stock into the groves.
"And maple leaves to live stock are
what lollypops are to little boys. When
the wind blows a maple limb from a
tree, cattle at once rally around and
have a feast"
Maryland's maple sugar section is in
Garrett county.
Approximately 10000 mature sugar
maple trees and uncounted thousands
of young ones are in the Garrett
county area"
Over 100 Feet Tall
Many of the mature trees are well
over hundred feet tall, and about
three-fourths of the groves in this area
are from ITS to 225 years old, Burk-
head said.
But some of these trees were
struggling for a foothold at the same
time Captain John Smith and the col
onists were trying to find place in
the New World over three hundred
years ago.
Frost is still on the ground and
snow is still in the woods when Mary
land farmers start out with their
buckets to get the sugar water that
is made into maple syrup and sugar,
Not Sap At All
"The sugar water which looks like
real water with faint, sweet, maple
favored taste, is really not sap at all.
During the summer months the leaves,
by the process Of photosynthesis,
manufacture sugar for tree growth,
part of which is stored in the roots
and body of the tree for future use.
early in the spring, osmosis forces
,,,Oict1,ro tbrO,1pb roOtc tOIUarJ tba
top of the tree and with this moisture
goes some of the stored sugar in solu-
ton.
"These Garrett county sugar maple
trees are quite temperamental-even
moody. The weather must be just
right. In the spring or late winter, a
series of alternating cool nights and
sunny days is necessary for good run
of water
Contains Little Sugar
This ''water" contains little sugar
little over two per cent-and must
be concentrated by boiling in shallow
evaporating pans over a coal or wood
fire. 1t takes approximately forty-five
gallons of sugar water" to make
one gallon of syrup, Burkhead said.
"a gallon of maple syrup weighs
eleven pounds, and, after further
evaporation, will make seven or eight
pounds of sugar"
Burkhead said Vermont, Pennsylva-
MIA and New York firms purchase
most of Maryland's maple syrup sold
wholesale.
reached Peak In 1910
Maple sugar and syrup production
reached its peak in this State about
1910, and since has been gradually
decreasing, the crop statistician de-
clared.
In 1910, Maryland production totaled
$4,000 gallons, compared with $4,000
gallons in 1899 and the 1929-38 aver
age of $4,000 gallons. Sugar output in
1910 totaled 5000 pounds, compared
with 10000 pounds in 1889, and the
1929~38 average of 10000 pounds.
maryland production, in any event,
is only drop in the nations maple
syrup and sugar bucket. Vermont,
New York and Ohio lead in maple
sugar and syrup production, with
Maryland pulling up in tenth place.
Called Picturesque
Burkhead described maple producers
in picturesque Garrett county as
friendly folk" who like to show off
their groves, their camps and their
producing processes.
ITO tourists who stray from the
well-beaten paths into the sugar ma
pie country they offer a substantial
sample of their product"
But, Burkhead concluded, "visitors
must hurry
1T looks now as if it will not be
many years until Maryland's maple
products industry will be little more
than a memory"
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