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



has increased. In many instances this has in- 

 creased returns for the producer. To stabilize 

 this expanded outlet, the producer has im- 

 proved the appearance of the package and the 

 quality of the sirup so that it meets State and 

 Federal specifications. Many producers are ob- 

 taining larger returns by converting their sirup 

 to confections such as maple cream and hard 

 and soft sugar candies. "^ 



Maple sirup producers" have formed associa- 

 tions so they can pool their stocks. The chief 

 functions of these associations are to maintain 

 adequate supplies, to promote sales, and to 

 maintain the quality of the products. A number 

 of communities hold annual festivals to stimu- 

 late interest in maple items. 



The central evaporator plant has made it 



possible for the first time to separate sap pro- 

 duction from the processing of sap to sirup. 

 Thus, farmers can realize a substantial income 

 from maple sap without having to make large 

 capital investments m an evaporator house, an 

 evaporator, sap storage tanks, and miscella- 

 neous equipment. 



The States, in cooperation with the Agricul- 

 tural Research Service and the Extension Serv- 

 ice of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, are 

 conducting strong extension programs. These 

 programs have brought the results of research 

 directly to maple producers. In New York, a 

 leader in this progranri, it is not uncommon for 

 more than a thousand producers to attend the 

 annual "maple sirup" schools held throughout 

 the State in the premaple season. 



SUGAR MAPLES 



Only 2 of the 13 species of maple (Acer) native 

 to the United States are important in sirup 

 production (6, 55, 12i, 157). 



Acer saccharum Marsh, (better known as 

 sugar maple, hard maple, rock maple, or sugar 

 tree) furnishes three-fourths, of all sap used in 

 the production of maple sirup. Although this 

 tree grows throughout the maple-producing 

 areas (chart 1), the largest numbers are in the 

 Lake States and the Northeast. Trees grow 

 singly and in groups in mixed stands of hard- 

 woods. The trunk of a mature tree may be 30 to 

 40 inches in diameter. The tree is a prolific 

 seeder and endures shade well but unfortu- 

 nately does not grow rapidly. It is best distin- 

 guished by its leaf (chart 2). 



Acer nigrum Michx. F. (black sugar maple, 

 hard maple, or sugar maple) grows over a 

 smaller range than does A. sacchamm. It does 

 not grow as far north or south but is more 

 abundant in the western part of its range. This 

 tree is similar to A. saccharum in both sap 

 production and appearance. Its principal distin- 

 guishing feature is the large drooping leaf of 

 midsummer (chart 2). 



Other species of maples commonly found in 

 our hardwood forests are the red maple Acer 

 rubrum L.) and the silver maple (A. saccha- 

 rinum L.). These trees, readily identified by 

 their leaves (chart 2), are not good sources of 



RED MAPLE "' SILVER MAPLE 



Chart 2. — Leaves of the sugar maple (Acer saccharum 

 Marsh.), red maple (A. rubrum L.), silver maple (A. 

 saccharinum L.), and black maple (A. nigrum Michx. 



F.). 



maple sirup because their sap is less sweet than 

 that of A. saccharum and A. nigrum, and it 

 often contains excessive amounts of sugar sand. 

 The red maple, the more common of the two, is 

 easily identified in the spring by the red color of 

 its buds. 



The Sugar Grove 



Most maple sugar groves, commonly called 

 sugar bushes, are parts of stands of old hard- 



