72 CONVERSATIONS ON THE 



the tubes, buckets for emptying the troughs 

 and carrying the sap to the camp, boilers 

 large enough to hold fifteen or eighteen gal- 

 lons, moulds to run the sugar into, and, lastly, 

 axes to cut firewood. 



"Each tree is bored in two places^ at 

 about eighteen or twenty inches above the 

 ground, and the holes are four or five inches 

 apart : experienced boilers say that the holes 

 should be on the south side of the tree, and 

 not more than half an inch deep ; they say 

 that more sap is got by attending to these 

 directions. 



" As fast as the sap runs into the troughs 

 through the tubes, it is poured into the boilers, 

 under which they keep up a brisk fire ; and 

 they take care to strain off the scum that 

 rises to the top. The boiling is kept up till 

 the sap has become thick, like sirup ; and 

 then it is strained through a blanket, and left 

 to cool. 



•' After standing twelve hours, the sirup is 

 boiled again, till, on being rubbed between the 

 fino-er and thumb, it seems to be full of little 

 grains, and then it is ready to be poured into 

 the moulds. If it boils over, they throw a 

 small quantity of butter or lard into it, and 



