6 



twenty years. The explanation lies in the fact that, at the very- 

 lowest estimate, seven-eighths of the product sold to-day is a spurious 

 article, which is only in part maple sugar or is manufactured entirely 

 from foreign materials. The wholesale dealer, or u mixer," uses the 

 maple sugar to flavor a body of glucose or cane sugar six or ten times 

 as great, making a product which is marketed as "pure maple 

 sugar." 



But there has always been a certain amount of trade in pure maple 

 sugar and sirup. A part of the city and town people come from the 

 country, where they have known the genuine article, and they have 

 generally been able to supply their wants by dealing directly with 

 the producers. The progressive and well-to-do sugar maker has 

 worked in this field. Such sugar makers are unwilling to sell their 

 high-grade goods to the mixers at a low price, but make every effort 

 to reach a steady market of regular customers. In the effort to make 

 such a market more general several maple-sugar makers' associations 

 have come into existence, which have done much to stimulate improved 

 methods, as well as to build up a legitimate trade. But there is only 

 a very small part of the business which is not in the hands of the 

 mixers. 



Quantity and value of maple products made on farms in the census year 1900. 

 [From United States Census Report.] 



252 



