59 



the juice of the cane, but not so. It is found also in Sorg-hum, a plant 

 native to India, and now cultivated in the United States and in the south 

 western counties of Ontario, near Lake Erie ; in certain palms, such as 

 the cocoanut, and the wild-date palm ; in some kinds of grasses ; in the 

 green stalks of corn ; in the Maple ; and in quite large quantities in the 

 sugar beet. Maple sugar, on account of its unique and agreeable flavor, 

 is now eaten chiefly as a luxury. This sugar, when freed from the color 

 and flavor derived from the Maple, is identical in composition with that 

 derived from the sugar cane. Most boys and girls in Ontario, especially 

 those who live in the country, are familiar with the Maple, and the 

 process by which sugar is obtained from it ; but why the sap runs from 

 the Maple is not so well understood by the majority. 



During the summer, the Maple is clothed with green leaves, which, 

 through small openings on their underside, give off the excess of mois- 

 ture taken up by the roots. Before the water is given off", the food which 

 is held in solution is removed from it. This food goes to form a new 

 growth of wood in the tree. In the autumn, the leaves of the Maple fall; 

 and through the winter, the tree stands bare and does not grow. In 

 spring, if the Maple is bruised or cut in any way, we notice that the tree 

 " bleeds," or, in other words, " the sap runs." We have also noticed 

 that the "bleeding" of the Maple occurs at diff"erent times of the 

 year. The sap will run from the Maple before growth has begun, 

 and just as it is beginning. In the two cases, the cause of the 

 run of sap is quite diff"erent. We find a good example of both 

 kinds of bleeding in the gathering of sap by the sugar maker. Sap 

 ib first gathered when the ground is still frozen, and the roots are there- 

 fore almost, or quite, unable to absorb any water ; but, at the same time, 

 the air is warmed through the middle of the day by the increased heat 

 of the sun. At this season, the flowing of the sap from holes or cuts 

 made in the trunk of the Maple is due to the expansion by heat of the 

 air inside the smaller branches and twigs of the tree. This sets up at 

 once a pressure upon the 

 sap, and this pressure ex- 

 tends to all parts of the 

 tree. The sap with 

 wiiich the Maple is filled, 

 is thereby forced out as 

 soon as an opening is 

 made for its escape. Later 

 in the season, as the frost 

 disappears, the roots be- 

 gin to absorb water. This 

 absorption process sets 

 up a pressure within the 

 tree, by reason of which 



the water is forced out of the same opening. " Bleeding," or the flow 

 of sap, from this last mentioned cause, continues until the leaves are 

 sufficiently expanded to throw off" the water absorbed by the roots. 

 The other source from which we in Canada obtain cane-sugar, is the 



Fi< 



. 79. Ke.ys of the Maple separate. During- oerinination a 

 radicle is sent out which endeavors to obtain a hold 

 in the soil. 



