564 NATURAL AND CIVIL 



much importance, in the commerce of the coun- 

 try, I have never tasted any better sugar, than 

 "vvhat has been made from the maple, when it 

 has been properly refined ; it has a peculiarly 

 rich, salubrious, and pleasant taste. But it is 

 generally made under so many unfavorable cir- 

 cumstances, that it appears for the most part, 

 rough, coarse, and dirty ; and frequently burnt, 

 smoaky, or greasy, when it is first made. In 

 one circumstance only, does nature seem to 

 have set bounds to this manufacture, and that is 

 "with respect to time. It is only during four or 

 five weeks in the spring, that the juice can be 

 collected. While the trees arc frozen at night, 

 and thawed in the day, the sap runs plentifully : 

 But as soon as the buds come on, the sap ceases 

 to flow in such a manner, as that it can any 

 longer be collected. We cannot determine with 

 much accuracy what quantity of this sugar is 

 annually made in the state. In the town of 

 Cavendish, in the spring of the year 1794, the 

 quantity made by eight}' three families, was 

 fourteen thousand and eighty pounds. If the 

 families in the other towns manufacture in the 

 same proportion, there must be above one thou- 

 sand tons annually made in Vermont. 



Several distilleries have of late been erect- 

 ed in this state. The object of them is to make 

 such spirituons liquors, as can be extracted from 

 grain. Considering the large quantities of wheat, 

 rye, and barley, that are raised in the country, 

 it seems probable that these distilleries will soon 

 be in a flourishing state. All kinds of grain are 

 raised so easily upon our lands, and in such 

 quantities, that the farmer can always fur- 



