jog On the Afnerican Sugar Maple. 



the two indivic'.uals may be obtained. The accr tomentofum, laftly, Is one of tliofe wluch 

 IS moft eafily multiplied in our climates. 



Though it is laid that fome fpecies of maple may grow in light ftoney foils, they profper 

 better in good ground. The foil of the mountains cannot always be conGdered as bad. 

 The red maple delights in the plains and valleys, and all the fpecies are injured by a flrong 

 fun. They fucceed well if flieltered to the fouth by mountains or woods, as I conclude 

 from the flate of tlie fugar maples of Maleflierbes and Rambouillet. 



The advantages which would refult from cultivating the fugar maples in Europe, and 

 particularly in FrancCj are relative to the quantity of fugar they may all'ord. When 

 it fliall be proved that a great quantity, or at lead feveral pounds per tree, can be obtained, 

 lands which are even fufceptible of cultivation will be devoted to this obje£l. Some fpecies 

 will require to be placed on the flopes of mountains, where the fnow and cold weather 

 pr^;vail for a long time. Others will be planted in low fituations on the borders of mea- 

 dow lands, lakes, rivers, and grounds approaching to marfli lands, fuch as thofe where the 

 »JJer delights to grow. Such plantations, which may contribute to ii:creafe the produc- 

 tion of fugar .without a;ny other care than that of tapping the trees and concentrating the 

 liquor, will be of great utility in fupplying our habitual want of this article. Befides 

 \yhich, the fugar maple prefents to turners, mufical inftrument makers, inlayers, the work- 

 ers in ftaining wood, and gunfmiths, a valuable material, which in fome of the fpecies is 

 reined and marbled. It is proper, therefore, to encourage the growth of this tree. 



In addition to the fa£ls and obfervations contained in the foregoing memoir, which, if 

 conclufive with rcfpefi; to France, would probably be much more fo with regard to the 

 northern diftrifts of our illand ; it may be added, that Dr. Benjamin Rufll of Philadelphia 

 communicated an excellent paper on the fame fubjeft to the American Philofophical So- 

 ciety, which was publiflied in their Tranfaftions, vol. iii. in the year i 793. The abfl;ra<3: 

 of his paper is as follows : 



The acer faccharinum of Linne, or fugar maple tree, grows in great quantities in the 

 weflern countries of all the middle ftates of the American Union. It is as tall as the oak, 

 and from two to three feet in diameter; puts forth a white bloflbm in the fpring before 

 any appearance of leaves : its fmall branches afford fuftenance for cattle, and its aflies 

 afford a large quantity of excellent pot-afli. Twenty years are required for it to attain 

 its full growth. Tapping does not injure it ; but, on the contrary, it affords more fyrup, 

 and of a better quality, the oftener it is tapped. A fingle tree has not only furvivetl, but 

 flourifhed after tapping for forty years. Five or fix pounds of fugar are ufually afforded 

 by the fap of one tree— though there are inftances of the quantity exceeding twenty 

 pounds. The fugar is feparated from the fap either by freezing, by fpontaneous evapora- 

 tion, or by boiling. The Ijtter method is the mod ufed. Dr. Ruih defcribes the procefo, 

 \vhlch is fimple, and praclifed without any difficulty by the farmers. 



From frequent trials of this fugar, it does not appear to be in any refpeiE^ inferior to 

 that of the Weft Indies. It is prepared at a time of the year when neifher infed nor 

 the pollen of plants exifts to vitjst? it, as is tb§ cafe with common fugar. Frooj calcula- 

 tions 



