NATURAL HISTORY. 



841 



much as possible dried in the 

 shade. If quantities of this be 

 put into a vat, or mash-tub, with 

 boiling water, a very considerable 

 quantity of strong and small beer 

 may be procured, as well as spi- 

 rits by distillation, which, on be- 

 ing put into casks, may be carried 

 home, and laid up for use. What 

 of the fine young heath is not 

 used in this way, may either be 

 secured on the spot, or carried 

 home, to be given to cattle when 

 fodder becomes either scarce or 

 dear. With a sufficient stock of 

 this article, the lean cattle on a 

 farm may not only be supported, 

 in the event of a severe winter or 

 spring, but also those in good con- 

 dition prevented from becoming 

 otherwise. Heath intended for 

 this purpose should, however, be 

 carefully stacked up, and kept 

 close; otherwise it becomes less 

 valuable. 



In the course of my experiments 

 on trees, I have often been sur- 

 prised that the cultivation of the 

 sugar-maple is not more encou- 

 raged in the interior and higlilands 

 of Scotland. In many parts of 

 America where the winters are 

 cold, and neither the climate nor 

 the soil better than in Scotland, 

 the maple-tree thrives exceedingly. 

 Indeed the soil in Scotland, in 

 many places, seems admirably cal- 

 culated for the introduction and 

 culture of this highly valuable, and 

 hardy, yet fast-growing tree. 



The maple, which thrives best 

 in hedge-rows, and in almost all 

 soils and exposures, may be propa- 

 gated either by seeds, or by slips. 

 Notwithstanding its rapid growth, 

 the maple is generally near 20 

 years before it is at its beet. How- 



ever, often before it is half that 

 age, very considerable quantities 

 of juice are extracted from it. To 

 procure which, bore a hole in the 

 tree with a small augur, into which 

 insert a spout, and put a trough, 

 or something under it to receive 

 the juice. Having collected this 

 every night, and carried it to the 

 large tub or vessel in or near the 

 wood, prepared to receive it, after 

 being strained, let it be boiled, 

 which is the shortest, and perhaps 

 the best way of obtaining the su- 

 gar. 



The juice of the maple gene- 

 rally flows during four or five 

 weeks. What comes from an or- 

 dinary tree may produce about 

 20 lbs. of sugar, annually. Now, 

 as a hundred trees, particularly 

 if planted in what is termed the 

 quincunx method, may be reared 

 per acre, the sugar produced, 

 though sold at 6d. per pound, will 

 fetch nearly 50/. in cash to the 

 proprietor. I am of opinion, how- 

 ever, that in many places the pro- 

 duce would be considerably more. 



But the profit of the maple-tree 

 is not confined to sugar alone. It 

 affords also a most agreeable mo- 

 lasses, and an excellent vinegar, 

 while the sap that is suitable for 

 these purposes is obtained after 

 that, which affords the sugar, has 

 ceased to flow ; so that the manu- 

 facture of these different products 

 of the maple-tree, by succeeding, 

 do not interfere with one another. 

 Part of the molasses might either 

 be made the basis of an excellent 

 beer; or, by distillation, be con- 

 verted into spirits ; while the rest, 

 with the refuse of the sugar, might 

 be applied to the feeding of sheep, 

 cattle, pigs, and the like, as well 



as 



