14 



AGRICULTURE HANDBOOK 134, U.S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE 



While pellets were being developed and dur- 

 ing the first 2 years they were used commer- 

 cially (1962-63), records show that when 

 weather was favorable to microbial growth in 

 the tapholes, pellets doubled or trebled the yield 

 of sap. Pellets are less effective when good 

 sanitary practices are followed or when the 

 entire maple season remains cool, since micro- 

 bial growth is retarded under these conditions. 



Elimination of the cause of premature drying 

 of the taphole permits tapping the tree before 

 the sap season with the assurance that the first 

 as well as the late run of sap will be obtained. 

 Also, the cause of diminished flows throughout 

 the season is eliminated. Both of these factors 

 increase yields of high-quality sap and decrease 

 the man-hours required to harvest sap (156). 

 Germicidal pellets are especially desirable 

 where plastic tubing is used to collect and 

 transport sap in the woods. The pellets help to 

 keep the pipeline (tubing) clean and sterile. 



Chlorinated Solutions 



In many sugar groves, chlorinated solutions 

 are being used to control microbial growth in 

 the taphole {133). The best procedure is to flush 

 the taphole as soon as it is drilled with a 

 solution consisting of 10 parts of a commercial 

 hypochlorite solution (containing approxi- 

 mately 5.25 percent of sodium hypochlorite) and 

 90 parts of water (fig. 22). 



Often where there is a week or more between 

 sap runs and particularly if the nonrunning 

 period is warm, the tapholes should be re- 

 flushed with a solution of the same strength. 

 Where this chlorination procedure has been 

 practiced, a change to germicidal pellets may 

 not increase sap yields. 



Summary' 



(1) Do not tap by the calendar. Follow your 

 State's maple weather reports. 



(2) Tap before the sap-flow season. 



PN-4718 



Figure 22. — Flushing the taphole with a 10-percent 

 commercial hypochlorite solution. 



(3) Make 1 taphole in a tree 10 inches in diame- 

 ter and 1 additional hole for each additional 

 5 inches of the tree's diameter. 



(4) Make the taphole with a ^'/s-inch or '/le-inch 

 fast-cutting (special) wood bit. 



(5) Use a power tapper if the grove is large 

 enough to justify the expense. 



(6) Bore the hole into the tree to a depth of 3 

 inches at a slight dov^Tiward pitch. 



(7) The location of the taphole in respect to 

 compass position and roots is not important. 



(8) Space the holes at least 6 inches apart 

 (circumference of tree) and in a spiral pat- 

 tern. 



(9) Sanitize the taphole. Use 1 germicidal pellet 

 per taphole. 



SPOUTS AND BUCKETS 



Sap Spouts 



The spout or spile has three important func- 

 tions: (1) It conveys the sap from the taphole to 

 a container; (2) it either connects the plastic 



tubing to the taphole or serves as a support on 

 which to hang the sap bucket or bag; and (3) it 

 keeps adventitious (wild or stray) bacteria from 

 gaining access to the moist taphole, which 

 should reduce infection if plastic tubing is used. 



