274 



AGRICULTURAL ESSAYS. 



sugar, perhaps one fifth part, and may be more or less 

 according to the knowledge of the person who undertakes 

 the busmess. It may be also remarked, that if the quantity 

 of sugar be lessened in weight by claying, one fifth part, 

 it is not to be concluded that the whole of this fifth part 

 will be eventually lost ; there will be more syrup than 

 there otherwise would have been, independent of the water 

 from the clay that passes through the sugar 



Molasses and vinegar. When the trees of the second 

 tapping become poor in quantity and quality, which may be 

 about the tenth of April, or perhaps sooner, then the number of 

 fresh tapped trees will yield a eap ef which may be made good 

 molasses, and also excellent vinegar. In all sugar plantations, 

 it will be advantageous to cut out the different sorts of timber 

 which grow intermixed with the sugar maple, and even those 

 of that species which are not thriving, promising trees. The 

 timber so cut out will serve for fuel for the boilers, and leave 

 greater openings for the rays of the sun to enter, which have 

 a tendency to improve the value of the remaining trees. The 

 ground so cleared of all except the maple tree, it has been ob- 

 served, is particularly favorable for pasture and the g^rowth of 

 grass. 



It appears not to be ascertained, that this tree becomes im- 

 poverished by repeated tappings. There'are instances, partic- 

 ularly among the old settlements on North River, of trees 

 which have been tapped for fiftyyears or upwards, and contin- 

 ue to yield their sap in the season, equal to any brought into 

 use of later time. It is asserted with confidence by some, that 

 those trees by use become more valuable, yielding a sap of a 

 richer quality. 



The above account from the Encyclopedia, may aid the in- 

 experienced manufacturer of sugar, until he may by practice, 

 discover other and more perfect modes. 



It is said all sorts of maple may be propagated by cuttinge. 

 And that if they be cut from the trees before the buds begin to 



