EDITOKIAL. 537 



Hampshire, in the order iiiinied, and hrino-.s to th(^ conipiirutively few 

 farmers operating sugar bushes approximately three million dollars 

 and upward annually. Vermont has long been famed for its maple- 

 sugar industry, and produces from one-fourth to one-third of all the 

 sugar and sirup made in this country. It seems especially appropriate, 

 therefore, both from the standpoint of tradition and supremac}" in 

 pro luc'tion, that the V'ermont Station should take up the study of this 

 time-honored agricultural industry, and make the phenomena of the 

 flow of sap upon which it depends the subject of scientific investigation. 



The work was begun in 1897 and was continued each j^ear for five 

 seasons. This gave opportunit}^ for studying the relations of climatic 

 and other conditions to the flow and sugar content of the sap, and 

 show'ed how important in this respect is the character of the preceding- 

 season. A variety of cojiditions were also represented in the trees 

 under observation, as to the amount of exposure they were subjected 

 to in gToves and in the open, the distribution of the limbs, size of the 

 trees, and other factors likeh^ to have a bearing on sugar production. 

 The studies embraced th(> physiological problems of sap pressure and 

 flow, iiicluding the source and direction of pressure, the relation of 

 tree temperatures, and the direction and rate of movement, as well as 

 a variety- of practical problems in the management of the sugar 

 orchard, such as the tapping of trees with reference to the points of 

 the compass, the height on the tree trunk and the depth and size of 

 the orifice, and a variety of other points. 



The bulletin clearly shows that certain conditions which influence 

 the production of sugar are within the control of the farmer, and 

 suggests the possibility of improvement in a number of lines. For 

 example, the studies of trees in different locations brought out the 

 marked advantages of exposure to the sunlight to enable the tree to 

 store up during the growing season the starch which is later trans- 

 formed into sugar. Too thick growth and shading by other trees, 

 notably evergreens, were also detrimental in this respect. Great dif- 

 ferences were found between individual trees in regard to the sap flow 

 and its richness in sugar, certain trees yielding nmch more profitable 

 returns than others. These matters have a practical bearing in the 

 management of sugar orchards, and suggest their own remedies. 



The bulletin furnishes a scientific basis for the intelligent discussion 

 of a wide range of practical questions relating to this industry. As 

 such it will serve a very useful purpose, and will help to round out 

 our knowledge in another branch of farm practice. 



