WHAT TO PLANT. 63 



pounds of sugar, making a total sugar-product 

 of 55,576,061 pounds. This sugar is of the best 

 quality, nearly identical in chemical composi- 

 tion with the cane-sugar of commerce, but hav- 

 ing also a peculiar flavor which makes it a uni- 

 versal favorite. Why should we not avail our- 

 selves of the capability of the maple for sugar- 

 making more than we do? It is estimated 

 that the average product of well-grown trees is 

 from three to six pounds a year, arid this with- 

 out injury to the tree in its final product of tim- 

 ber or fuel. An important industry and source 

 of revenue is here opened. We might produce 

 a quantity of sugar from this source which 

 would materially lessen our outlay for that 

 which we now import at great cost. It would 

 require but a few acres devoted to the growth 

 of the maple to furnish the farmer with an 

 ample supply of this important article of domes- 

 tic comfort and use. The " sugar-bush," as it is 

 called, might be greatly extended in many parts 

 of our country with manifest advantage, for 

 while this maple combines in itself almost every 

 desirable tree-quality, it has also a very widely- 

 extended range, being found in greater or less 



