HISTORY OF VERMONT. 363 



As the mountains will not f^iil to supply wood 

 for this manufacture, for centuries yet to come, 

 it seems that Vermont will be one of the states, 

 in which this manufacture will be attended with 

 its greatest perfection and profit. 



The manufacture of maple sugar is also an 

 article of great importance to the state. Per- 

 haps two thirds of the fimiilies are engaged in 

 this business in the spring, and they make more 

 sugar than is used among the people. Consid- 

 erable quantities are carried to the shop keepers ; 

 which always find a ready sale, and good pay. 

 The business is now carried on, under the great- 

 est disadvantages : Without proper convenien- 

 cies, instruments, or works ; solely by the ex- 

 ertions of private families, in the woods, and 

 without any other conveniencies than one or 

 two iron kettles, the largest of which will not 

 hold more than four or five pailfulls. Under all 

 these disadvantages, it is common for a family 

 to make tv/o or three hundred pounds of maple 

 sugar in three or four weeks. This manufac- 

 ture is capable of great improvements. The 

 country abounds with an immense number of 

 the sugar maple trees. The largest of these 

 trees are five and an half or six feet in diameter , 

 and will yield five gallons of sap in one day ; 

 and from twelve to fifteen pounds of sugar, dur- 

 ing the season. The younger and smaller trees 

 afford sap or juice, in a still greater proportion. 

 Were the workmen furnished with proper ap- 

 paratus and works, to colkxt and boil the juice, 

 the quantity of sugar might be increased, dur. 

 ing the time of making of it, in almost any pro- 

 portion : And it might become an article of 



