36 



is used. In order to keep the sap cool this vat should stand under a 

 roof on the north side of the sugar house. In a warm time it is well to 

 have a supply of ice to place in the sap to keep it cold. 



The sap holder should be of heavy tin plate supported by an iron 

 or wood frame. As already pointed out, it should be placed high enough 

 to drain into the evaporator. 



A SUPPLY OF FUEL. 



A proper supply of fuel is a matter of the utmost importance in 

 sugar making. A quick flashing blaze is necessary to rapid boiling, and 

 this can be obtained only with dry fuel. Wood is used almost uni- 

 versally, but in some cases coal is utilized to help out. Makers near saw 

 mills find great satisfaction in the use of slabs. Whatever wood is used 

 should be cut the previous winter, piled out of doors during the summer 

 to dry well and stored, before Autumn rains commence, in the wood 

 shed adjoining the sugar house. Cord wood and small brush go well 

 together, the latter to keep the blaze bright and lively. 



The amount of fuel that will be needed depends upon its kind and 

 dryness. Ten cords of mixed hard and soft wood for 1,000 trees, or 35 

 cords for 4,000 trees are recommended by experienced makers. 



BOILING THE SAP. 



As soon as sufficient sap has been gathered to keep the evaporator 

 in operation, preparation should be made for boiling. To hold sap for 

 an unnecessary length of time in the storage tank is to lower the quality 

 of the product. Before starting the fire enough sap should be run in the 

 pan to cover the bottom to a depth of from one-quarter to half an inch 

 above the corrugations. The shallower the sap in the pan the more 

 rapid will the sap be converted into syrup and the better the product. 

 Fresh sap boiled immediately in glass vessels gives a light coloured, deli- 

 cate flavoured syrup, but if the syrup is diluted with water and again 

 thickened by further boiling, the colour becomes darker and darker and 

 the flavour stronger and stronger the more times it is diluted and con- 

 centrated. The same undesirable result is obtained by boiling the sap 

 deeply in the pan as this keeps the sap longer over the fire as was done in 

 the days of the old time potash kettle. 



For rapid boiling part of the wood should be cut short enough to go 

 across the fire box. When firing it is well to lay a stick crosswise at each 

 end and then lay a single layer of wood on the top of these sticks; then an- 

 other pair crosswise and another layer on top, continuing until the box 



