5*7 



driving a nail into the tree just below the spout, on which is hung the 

 bucket by a hole in one of the staves. The advantage of this method is 

 that a much shorter spout serves, and the sap cannot be overturned by 

 hogs or stray cattle, as frequently happens when it is left standing on the 

 ground. When a frosty night is followed by a warm, bright, sunny day 

 the sap flows abundantly, at which time three or four gallons are 

 obtained from a single tree in twenty-four hours. It seldom runs at 

 night. A young tree, provided it has obtained a growth of about a foot 

 in diameter, yields better than an old one, and one growing on a clearing 

 that has been raised there, better than a forest tree. It takes ten gallons 

 of sap to make one pound of grained sugar. Of the sugar produced 

 there are two kinds viz., the hard or cake sugar, and that of a friable 

 nature, which is produced by constantly stirring the thick syrup when it 

 is becoming cool after boiling. 



From the very nature of the business, the making of maple sugar is 

 carried on commonly in an encampment where trees are plentiful. From 

 200 to 300 trees are as many as can be conveniently attended to at one 

 boiling place or camp. When little or no snow lies on the ground more 

 business can be done than in deep snow, owing to the greater facility of 

 carrying the sap to the camp, but generally from the shelter of the forest, 

 the snow continues unmelted there much later than in the fields or roads. 

 As soon as the trees have been tapped and the juice begins to run into 

 the wooden vessels beneath, the men of the party build the necessary 

 fires and suspend over them every variety of pots, pans, and kettles, and 

 from one end of the camp to another is presented an animated and 

 romantic scene, which continues without intermission day and night. As 

 has been before mentioned, the sugar is dependent upon the weather; 

 but even when it is prolonged to four weeks, it continues from beginning 

 to end to be one of hilarity and gladness. When the men are not engaged 

 in carrying the sap or boih'ng, they are busy felling trees and cutting and 

 splitting them up for firewood, to be used in boiling down, as this process 

 consumes a large quantity of fuel. For this purpose they select those 

 hardwood trees that stand near the camp, such as superannuated maples, 

 beeches, birch, and other trees. The boiling kettles are suspended over 

 the fire on a strong stick, laid across two forked poles, which are stuck 

 into the ground. In some parts of the process it is necessary to stop the 

 boiling very suddenly, and this is done by throwing a shovelful of snow 

 on the fire. As the watery part of the juice evaporates by boih'ng, 

 repeated fillings up are added ; and a piece of fat pork thrown in has the 

 effect of refining it, and causing all extraneous matters to rise in a thick 

 coat of scum. When it has boiled to a consistence of about that of oil it 

 is baled out into a cask, and is then called syrup or molasses. The first 

 boiling is then complete, and the same process is repeated until a suffi- 

 cient quantity is collected to " sugar off," as it is called, that is to complete 

 the process of boih'ng the syrup over again till it will crystal! ze or grauu- 

 late. This is a delicate operation and requires considerable attention. 

 The kettles are filled with syrup; as this wastes away they are refilled 



