1903 



FORESTRY AND IRRIGATION 



133 



way of artificial plantations? I am 

 aware that the practical, successful 

 sugar maker does not bother himself 

 much with such problems. But these 

 questions must arise in time. Why not 

 give some attention to them now? To 

 carry out these suggestions will cost 

 time and some money. But will not the 

 capital be well invested? 



To answer these questions properly 

 would require a long discussion of de- 

 tails and technical work. I am sure, 

 however, that each operator in this in- 

 dustry, with the knowledge gained by 

 his practical experience, can work out 

 these problems successfully if he will 

 only give them serious, thoughtful at- 

 tention. 



An important feature of this industry 

 is that it can be carried on at a season of 

 the year when the farmers, who include 

 nearly all the sugar makers, have some 

 spare time which they can thus utilize to 

 good advantage. Now, let some of this 

 spare time be employed in the improve- 



ment of your maple woods, in work 

 which will result in due time in an in- 

 creased production per acre. This does 

 not involve the expenditure of money 

 or the purchase of more land. Where 

 the trees are dying or failing, cut them 

 down and fill their places with young 

 transplanted saplings. If the trees now 

 standing are scattered and few to the 

 acre, set out young trees until the land 

 is covered with as many as the soil will 

 sustain and nourish properly, leaving no 

 more openings than are necessary for 

 your teams and gathering sleighs to 

 travel easily and quickly. The under- 

 brush should not be cut, nor trees of 

 other species thinned out to any great 

 extent, as this growth is necessary to 

 preserve certain soil conditions upon 

 which the vigor of the producing trees 

 is dependent ; neither should sheep nor 

 cattle be allowed within the woods if 

 the maple seedlings and saplings are to 

 be protected. Where grazing is per- 

 mitted the little seedlings are devoured, 



TAPPING SUGAR MAPLES. 



