55 



The association issues a protected label to its members free, upon 

 their agreement, filed with the Secretary, that they will use it only upon 

 packages containing pure maple sugar and syrup of standard quality 

 and of their own manufacture. Any improper or unauthorized use of 

 this label or any adulteration of the products covered by the same, will 

 be prosecuted by the association to the full extent of the law. The 

 penalty is not less than $50 or more than $200 for each offence. One 

 half of the fine goes to the complainant. 



Has the passage of this Act, aided the Vermont farmer and the 

 maple sugar industry or will like legislation better the prospects of the 

 farmer and the maple industry of Canada? I will answer both ques- 

 tions alike. Yes. If something had not been done to prevent the 

 decrease in our maple product, in a few years it would probably have 

 passed out of existence. 



I know you, as well as we of Vermont, have had discouraging cir- 

 cumstances to deal with. Why has not the production of pure maple 

 sugar increased with the demand? First the increase has been met by 

 the mixer; the farmer is discouraged, he can not make the pure maple 

 sugar of No. 1 quality and compete with the spurious article of the 

 mixer at the price the latter is placed on the market, when labeled as 

 pure maple sugar, when in reality but a small per ceit, if any of it, ever 

 c.ime from a maple tree. The securing of labor has been a severe prob- 

 lem with us in Vermont, but the most lamentable and inexcusable 

 part of the whole industry is the production of a poor grade of sugar 

 which is fit only for the mixer, tobacco factories and the distillers of 

 liquor. The prices paid were so low that the farmer received poor 

 remuneration for his labor, causing him to stop making and in many 

 cases being short. of ready money, he has cut down the old sugar place 

 which was the pride of generations. The timber has been sold to the 

 ever greedy mill but a wrong has bean committed which succeeding 

 generations cannot repair. 



When we consider the fact that the little State of Vermont, with 

 only 10,200 square miles, has a yearly income of $1,086,933 from her 

 maple products, we realize the industry is worth fighting for. I seem 

 to see two classes of maple sugar makers, one class laboring as of old, 

 with the same old notions, and following the same old methods, while 

 the others comprehend that they are manufacturing an article which 

 is used as a luxury and not as a commercial commodity. This latter 

 class use their best endeavors to perfect their goods. The former are 

 working under difficulties, while the latter are getting abundant returns 

 for their labor. 



