LUTHER BURBANK 



characteristic and delectable flavor. And I regret 

 to say that many people who suppose themselves 

 familiar with this product know it only in a diluted 

 and adulterated form in which only a suggestion 

 remains of the real maple quality. 



Nor does there seem to be much prospect of 

 improvement in this regard, for, so far as I know, 

 the maple tree is seldom or never cultivated for the 

 garnering of its unique crop. The relatively small 

 quantity of maple sugar that finds its way to the 

 market is the product of trees that chanced to grow 

 in the woodland and they are reserved not so much 

 as sugar producers but as ultimate material for 

 lumber. Yet maple sugar is a sweet of acknowl- 

 edged quality, and one that deserves a larger 

 measure of recognition as a commercial product 

 than has hitherto been given it. 



Possibly the time may come when maple trees 

 will be set out and cultivated for the production 

 of sugar. But it is hardly likely that such cultiva- 

 tion of the maple can ever constitute a significant 

 industry, because the product of a single tree is 

 relatively insignificant. 



It is only the fact that the sugar maple has wood 

 of such quality of fiber as to make it valuable for 

 the cabinetmaker that could justify the cultivation 

 of these trees as a commercial enterprise. 



On the other hand the amateur orchardist 



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