28 



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



als should be on the southern side of the tree to 

 favor early thawing of any ice formed in the 

 joints (figs. 50 and 51). 



After the tubing has been installed, the en- 

 tire system must be checked to insure' that all 

 connections have been properly made. Inspec- 

 tion tours should be repeated throughout the 

 sap-flow season to check for le^ks and sepa- 

 rated joints. Inspections are necessary if the 

 tubing was installed over deep snow that melts 

 during the sap season or if new fallg of snow 

 cover the tubing. 



Takinjj Down Tubing 



Tubing must be taken down not later than 1 

 week after the last run, or after the trees begin 

 to bud. To delay permits growth of micro-orga- 

 nisms and makes washing and sanitizing more 

 difficult. During the sap-flow season, tempera- 

 tures are usually cool enough so that the rate 

 of germination of any micro-organisms in the 

 tubing is slower than their death rate caused 

 by the transmission of ultraviolet radiation of 

 sunlight through the tubing. But, as the season 

 progresses beyond the budding period, the 



PN-47 4(1 



Figure 50. — Droplines are connected to laterals. 



PN-4747 



Figure 51. — Several laterals are joined to the main line 

 with tees or the newly developed collector. 



warmer weather causes the growth rate to 

 greatly exceed the death rate of the organisms, 

 and abundant growth occurs. Therefore, taking 

 the tubing down immediately after the end of 

 the season makes the cleaning operation easier. 



The process for taking the tubing down is 

 merely a reversal of that described for its in- 

 stallation. Like the installation, this process can 

 be a one-man operation; but it is more efficient 

 when done by two 2-man teams. 



The leadman of the first team at each tapped 

 tree disconnects the droplines from the laterals 

 and the foot-long connectors, which he collects. 

 The second man pulls the spouts from the tree 

 and collects the dropline assembly. Disconnect- 

 ing lateral lines, short connectors, and drop- 

 lines, and tying tubing bundles are shown in 

 figures 52-56. 



