Micro-organisms of Maple Sap 417 



In certain seasons these changes which produce the "buddy" 

 flavor may not occur in Vermont until after the sap (low ceases. 

 In ordinary years, however, the season is interrupted by periods 

 of growing- weather, so that the vegetative activity of the tree is 

 resumed some time before the final discontinuance of night 

 freezes, and the influence of these physiological changes becomes 

 manifest in the true "buddy" flavor which appears in the sirup. 

 Formerly the opinion was commonly held that this depreciation 

 was due to the presence of a relatively large proportion of invert 

 sugar. An examination of the analytical data clearly demon- 

 strates that this view is erroneous. There is a decline rather 

 than an increase in the content of invert sugar as the season 

 advances. The exact nature of the cause of the true buddy flavor 

 is unknown. In this connection, attention is ag'ain directed to 

 the statement on page 346, to the effect that frequently the s< ■- 

 called buddy material is not buddy in the sense in which the term 

 is employed in this bulletin. Much sirup popularly but errone- 

 ously termed buddy possesses objectionable foreign flavors due 

 solely to the action of micro-organisms. 



REMEDIAL MEASURES 



Practical remedial measures must be based upon efforts to 

 minimize the contamination with micro-organisms and to restrict 

 the period of their action to the shortest possible time. The 

 lower their content and the shorter their period of growth, the 

 better the product. As in dairying, cleanliness must be the watch- 

 word of the producer of superior goods. Clean sponts, clean and 

 covered buckets, and clean holders are necessities. The use of 

 metal utensils is to be preferred to the employment of wooden 

 ones, because the latter material affords organic matter upon 

 which organisms may develop. Moreover wooden utensils are 

 less readily cleaned. Covered buckets are preferable to open ones, 

 not only because they keep out rain and- snow, but because they 

 prevent the entrance of bits of falling bark, decayed wood, and 

 other inert matter. Such material is always heavily charged 



