11 



An early improvement was the substitution of the auger for the 

 axe in tapping, coopered buckets took the place of the birch bark 

 "caso" or hewn sap trough, while the kettle gave way to the evapor- 

 ating pan which has in latter years developed into the modern evapor- 

 ator with corrugated bottom and separate compartments. Not alone 

 for the conservation of the life of the tree but also for cleanliness in 

 sugar making the wooden spout has almost disappeared in the most 

 advanced sections, in fact the tendency now is toward the use of metal 



Fig. 5. ANTIQUATED SYSTEMS OF BOILING STILL, IN USE IN BACKWARD SECTIONS 



in every article of equipment with which the sap, syrup or sugar comes 

 in contact. Furthermore the increasing cost of labor is being met by 

 the ingenious inventor who has provided facilities for taking full ad- 

 vantage of the law of gravitation in handling the fluid Which in a well 

 equipped plant flows of its own accord from the collecting tank to 

 the storage vat, from thence to the evaporator and when boiled 

 to a proper consistency into the receiving can. Indeed where the 

 profile of the sugar orchard will permit of it pipe lines are laid 



