SUGAR MAPLE TREE 67 
It is in confequence of the fap of thefetrees being equal- 
ly diffufed through every part of them, that they live 
three years after they are girdled, that is, after a circular. 
incifion is made through the bark into the fubftance of the’ 
tree for the purpofe of deftroying it. | one 
It is remarkable that grafs thrives better under this tree 
ina meadow, than in fituations expofed to the conftant 
ation of the fun. 
The feafon for tapping the trees is in February, March 
and April according to the weather which occurs in thefe 
months. 
Warm days and frofly nights are moft favorable to a 
plentiful difcharge of fap. *’The quantity obtained in aday 
from a tree, is from five gallons to a pint, according to 
the greater or lefsheat of the air. Mr. Low, informed 
Arthur Noble, Efq. that he obtained near three and twen- 
ty gallons of fap in one day (April 14, 1789,) from the 
fincle tree which was before mentioned. Such inftances 
of a profufion of fap in fingle trees are however not very 
common. ; : 
There is always a fufpenfion of the difcharge of fap in 
the night if a froft fueceed a warm day. The perforation 
in the tree is made with an ax or an auger. The latter is 
preferred from experience of its advantages. The auger 
is introduced ‘about 2 of an inch, and in an afcending 
direGtion (that the fap may not be frozen in a flow current 
in the mornings or evenings) and is afterwards deepened 
gradually to the extent of two inches. A fpout is intro- 
duced about half an inch into the hole, made by this aug- 
er and projects from three to twelve inches from the tree. 
| , T2 | The 
* The influence of the weather in increafing and leffening the difcharge’ of the fap froma _ 
trees is very remarkable. 
Dr. Tonge fuppofed long ago (Philofophical Tranfactions No. 68) that changes in 
the weather of every kind might be better afcertained by the difcharge of fap from trees than 
by weather glaffes. 1 have feen a journal of the effects of heat, cold, moifture, drought and 
thynder upon the difcharges from the fugar trees, which difpofes me to admit Dr. TF. onge’s opie 
nion. 
