218 The Maple Sugar Crop. [May, 



report v?ill be found in tlie Society's Transactions, of the present 

 number. 



Chemistry which is converting our coal beds into what is equiva- 

 lent to sperm candles, and whale oil, it may be inferred, has no im- 

 pediment to its progress here. The main question is, "is there sugar 

 in it?" joined with that other, equally important to success, " is there 

 money in it?" These questions, answered in the affirmative, the 

 thing is done. — Ed. 



MAPLE SUGAR CROP. 



The aggregate product of Maple Sugar in the United States in 1850, 

 as returned by the census of that year, was 34,253,436 pounds, 

 whereof the several States producing any considerable amount made 

 severally as follows : 



New- York 10..S.'i7.484, lbs. 



Ohio 4,58.3.209 lbs. 



M;chi>iaii 2.4^9 794 lbs. 



New-Hamp.^bire 1.298 863 lbs. 



Massachusetts 795,525 lbs. 



Illiuois 248. 904 lbs. 



Maine 93.452 lbs. 



Vermont 6.349 357 lbs. 



Indiaua 2 921.192 lbs. 



Peiinsvlvania 2.-326 523 lbs. 



Vir-iiiia 1,227 665 lbs. 



Kentucky 437 405 lbs. 



Misfoui-i 178 910 lbs. 



Tennessee 158557 lbs. 



Considering the extension of our settlement toward the North 

 and West, the present high prices of Sugar, the general attention 

 this year to Sugar-making, and the long season in which the flow of 

 sap, though fitful, has been continued, we estimate the Maple Sugar 

 made this year at fully double that of 1850, or not less than Seventy 

 Millions of pounds, worth at least ten cents per pound, or an aggre- 

 gate of Seven Millions of Dollars. In fact, we do not believe a sup- 

 ply of Sugar equal in quantity and value to this could have been 

 imported and distributed to the inland farmers who will mainly con- 

 sume this home-made staple for less than Ten Millions of Dollars. 



IIow much has it really cost the country to make this Maple Sugar? 

 — that is to say : Suppose we had not made it, how much other 

 wealth would have been created in its stead ? Bear in mind that it 

 has mainly been made at a season when our farmers are least actively 

 and least profitably employed, and that all the work of preparation 

 for Sugar making pertains to the very heart of Winter. Our estim- 

 ate is that, had no Maple Sugar at all been made in the United States 



this year, the production of other wealth from the labor directed to 

 Sugar making would nothave amounted to Three Millions of Dollars. 

 There is a mine of economic suggestion in these facts, which we 

 prefer that the reader should develop for himself. 



