360 



PRODUCTS OF THE FOREST AND WOOD LOT 



tions of old and young trees and can determine what young 

 growth must be saved to renew the forest when the ripe trees are 

 harvested (Fig. 249). 



Forest fires are much less destructive and are easier to control 

 when the waste trimmings are piled and burned. 



Maple Sugar Products. The sugar maple is a native in the 

 northern and northeastern states and far into Canada. It supplies 

 two important products found in our markets maple sugar and 

 maple syrup. A maple woods is commonly spoken of as a ' 'sugar 

 orchard." In the spring about the time of the melting of the last 



FIG. 251. The making of maple syrup and sugar is of community interest. It takes 

 place with the melting of snow in early spring. The hot sap suddenly cooled by pouring on 

 snow makes a delicious honey-like wax relished by all. 



snow, and as the frost is leaving the ground, the sap of the tree 

 begins to flow rapidly. During this period if the tree is tapped, a 

 considerable quantity of the flowing sap may be drained from the 

 tree and caught in buckets (Fig. 250). This sap is very watery 

 and must be boiled down to make it usable as syrup. The boiling 

 is usually done in open vats to allow of rapid evaporation. When 

 of the right density the syrup may be strained and put in cans for 

 market. The gallon size of can is generally used. If the boiling 

 process is carried beyond the syrup stage, it becomes sugar when 

 cooled (Fig. 251). This is usually molded in cakes to suit the 

 Various markets or the fancy of the producer. 



