452* . [AssKMBLir 



gro\yth since the country has been cleared and settled, and now 

 form excellent sugar groves, the most beautiful seen In our 

 country 



The young trees yield the sap much more freely and in greater 

 qtaantity than the old trees, but drawing the sap from young trees 

 stops their growth, and in a few years will kill them. A tree 

 o»ght to arrive at the age of fifty years before it is used for sugar. 

 We have known full grown trees to produce 500 quarts of sap in 

 one season. From two to eight pounds of sugar a tree, is a good 

 yield for a sugar grove iu one season. 



The flowing of the SMp is influenced by the wind and weather ; 

 a southerly and westerly wind in a clear day will start a full flow 

 of the sap, but a northeast wind of two hours' duration will stop 

 the running of the sap, even when the iamp(?rature of the air is 

 lowered but a very few degrees. 



The tree often starts up on the moat rocky and rough portions 

 of land, hut in Kentucky and Ohio, we are told that the maple is 

 found in immense groves on rich and low grounds. The tree is 

 found from the Uulf of Mexico to Labrador and llndson's Bay, 

 and from the Atlantic to the Pacific Oceans. It ilwarfs in a warm 

 climate.. Frost seems essential to the growth of this tree. 



The fuel of tliis tree is one of the best known, but the timber 

 soon dec'iys when exposed to the weather ; hence it is little used 

 for lumber to cover the outside of buildings ; but for timber when 

 »ii«<.l 'iiider cover and protected, it is strong and durable. The 

 birds-eye and curled maple timbers are elegant for cabinet work. 



T<arge and bushy trees that stand in the open grounds, insular, 

 and in lavorabie situations for soil and light, sometimes yield 

 great quantities of sap. It is said that a single tree has been 

 known to furnish thirty gallons of sap in twenty-four consecutive 

 bmjrs ;; biit this can only hapj>en where the tree eiijoys pecidiar 

 a^i vantages for growth and location. The sap is a delicious drink ; 

 all animals are fond of it ; it comes away from the tree as clear 

 as ciystaJ, but in tvventy-four hours it will change its color, and 

 in i^ baurs begin.j to sour and put on more or less of the saci'liar- 



