136 THE BOOK OF FORESTRY 



develop and little attention is paid to the form of the 

 tree trunk. Upland trees on good rich soil produce 

 the best sugar for while trees growing on moist sites 

 may produce plenty of sap, not so much sugar is ob- 

 tained from it when it is boiled down. 



When spring comes in earnest and warm thawing 

 days are followed by cool freezing nights is the time 

 for great activity in the sugar bush, for such climatic 

 conditions make the sap run freely. The run of sap is 

 easily disturbed and it is claimed that a southwest wind 

 or approaching storm may cause the flow practically 

 to cease. 



Holes are bored in the tree about two inches deep 

 and a wooden or metal spout is inserted. Outside of 

 discoloration little harm is done as the soundness of 

 the trunk is rarely affected and it is not an uncommon 

 incident on cutting down a sound old maple in the 

 woodlot to find spout marks covered up by from thirty 

 to forty rings of wood. From the spout is suspended 

 a pail the best type of which is equipped with a cover 

 to keep out twigs and dirt of all kinds. These buckets 

 are emptied as fast as they fill, their contents usually 

 being poured into a tank or barrel placed upon a "stone 

 boat" or drag. Formerly the sap was boiled in a 

 large kettle in the open but the modern sugar bush 

 is equipped with a storage tank from which the sap 

 can be drawn into the evaporating pans situated within 

 a house. The old method was extremely picturesque 

 for the blazing fires and the bubbling caldrons emit- 

 ting fragrant steam, left an impression hard to forget 

 but the new way is much cleaner and more efficient. 

 Not more than two holes are bored in the average 

 tree although extra large crowned individuals standing 

 upon the edge of the woods may be tapped with three 



