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THE SUGAR SECTION. 



In this contest a number of important points are brought out. 

 Contrary to the opinion that soft maple is not good for sugar making 

 it is shown that good syrup may be made from the sap of this variety. 

 The grove from which the first prize syrup and one of the fourth prize 

 sugars was made consisted of one-third soft and two thirds hard maple 

 trees. 



The contestants in almost every case operated large sugar plants. 

 Two hundred of the reports, selected at random, showed the average 

 sugar grove to consist of about 24 acres and contain about 1,800 maple 

 trees, fifty per cent of which were tapped. 



About fifty-seven per cent of the groves were on rocky land 

 unfitted for cultivation, and about 25 per cent practicably untillable. 

 The character of the soil varied from rocky to clay and included clay 

 loam and gravelly conditions. 



According to the judge the syrups winning the first four prizes, and 

 which were made in some cases hundreds of miles apart were so nearly 

 alike in colour and flavour as to give one the impression that they were 

 all made by the same maker from the same grove. From the high 

 scores made by the remaining 27 prize winners it is evident that the 

 entries were of very high quality. Practically the same remark appli ;s 

 to the sugars. On page 4 are shown correct representations in 

 colour of the prize-winning syrup and sugar all of which graded No. 1. 



How THE PRIZE WINNING GOODS WERE MADE. 



In order to learn for the benefit of the readers of this bulletin how 

 the prize winning syrup and sugar were made a set of questions was sent 

 to each successful contestant. From the replies received the following 

 points are deducted: 



