12 



to conduct the sap from outlying collecting centres to the camps 

 where evaporation takes place. 



With all the advances that have taken place in manipulation, 

 sugar making has not lost its romantic side. " Sugaring Off" at the 

 sugar camps in the woods is still looked forward to by young and 

 old who regard the event as a social feature affording rare enjoyment. 

 The tramp to the woods on a spring day, the aroma of the escaping 

 steam, the partaking from a wooden paddle by means of a chip-like 

 scoop the hot syrup just on the verge of solidifying into sugar or the 

 tasting of the " wax " that has been allowed to harden on the clean snow 

 all serve to inspire the reminiscent story teller and to awaken the 

 amorous instincts of the budding youths. Such was the sugaring 

 off of decades ago and such it is to-day where sugar orchards are 

 operated for from two to four weeks in the spring in certain sections 

 year after year. 



ITS EXTENT AND IMPORTANCE. 



The importance of the maple sugar industry is scarcely realized 

 in many parts of Canada where it has long since ceased to be carried 

 on. From 1850 to 1890, according to Dominion statistics, the pro- 

 duction of maple sugar together with its equivalent in syrup increased 

 year by year, but since that time it has steadily fallen. The average 

 yearly production from 1851 to 1861 was about 13,500,000 Ibs; from 

 1861 to 1871, about 17,500,000 Ibs; from 1871 to 1881, 19,000,000 Ibs; 

 from 1881 to 1891, an average of 22,500,000 Ibs. was reached. During 

 the next decade the yearly average fell to some 21,200,000 Ibs. while in 

 more recent years it has dropped to little less than 20,000,000 Ibs. 

 Even though a decrease in production is being experienced the 

 industry still bulks large and with the more general use of modern 

 methods and proper encouragement there is no reason why it should 

 not return to and even surpass the high figures of the eighties. 



The industry is confined in Canada to Quebec, Ontario, New 

 Brunswick and Nova Scotia. In the Maritime Provinces the yearly 

 output has rarely exceeded half a million pounds, Quebec turns 

 out about 14,300,000 Ibs. and Ontario 5,000,000 Ibs. per year. 



It is estimated that this vast industry representing an annual 

 valuation of almost two million dollars is carried on by about 55,000 

 growers. While many of these operate their larger or smaller woodlots 

 preserved upon their good farms a vastly larger number take their 

 sap from rough and stony areas that would have comparatively little 

 value if the trees were removed. The increasing value of maple wood 



