TREES OF AMERICA,, 73 



this makes it settle down again in a moment. 

 As the sirup cools in the moulds, it becomes 

 hard : the molasses is drained off, and there 

 is your sugar all ready." 



" And very nice it is, too ; and so is the 

 molasses : but why is it not white, like the 

 loaf sugar, Uncle Philip ?" 



" And so it would be, if it were refined like 

 that ; loaf sugar, you know, is made from 

 common brown sugar, and by the same pro- 

 cess the maple sugar can be made as white as 



snow." 



" And how much can be got from a tree. 

 Uncle Philip ?" 



" The quantity varies according to the soil, 

 and the size of the tree ; but, in general, about 

 two or three pounds may be taken as the 

 average : I have known four to be got from 

 a tree, and I have heard of trees yielding as 

 many as seven ; but these were extraordinary 

 instances. The sap continues running about 

 six weeks." 



" And do they make any thing of the sap 

 besides sugar ?" 



" Yes ; by exposing it to the sun for three 

 or four days it becomes very good vinegar : and 



G 



