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NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



Dec. 



MAPIiE SUGAR. 



The making of this important and delicious 

 article will probably be of unusual interest to a 

 portion of our readers, the coming sugar-season, 

 — and we, therefore, hasten to lay before them 

 the plan of an Arch, with the description for its 

 construction, together with details of operation 

 to make sugar profitably and of high quality. 



From several drawings and descriptions which 

 we have received we have selected that of Mr. 

 Bassett, as appearing to us, in our limited 

 knowledge of the matter, to be the most perfect 

 and economical, all things considered. When 

 the sugar orchard is not large, perhaps a smaller 

 and cheaper arrangement may answer the pur- 

 pose. Our object, however, is to give the most 



perfect plan we can, hoping that the same prin- 

 ciples may be employed in the construction of 

 smaller and cheaper fixtures. 



Mr. Bassett's description will probably be un- 

 derstood, but if further information is required, 

 we have no doubt he will cheerfully communi- 

 cate it, if called for, through the Farmer, so that 

 all may have the benefit of it. 



We would express our obligations to all the 

 gentlemen who have sent us drawings and de- 

 scriptions, and say that they are preserved and 

 may be used, if other plans are thought desirable. 



Mr. Editor : — In your weekly of May 4th, I 

 saw an inquiry for the best manner of building an 

 arch. I have been waiting with the hope of see- 

 ing a reply from some of our Vermont friends, 

 but none appearing, I propose to take up the 



d 



Plan of Shed and Apparatus. 



whole subject of Maple Sugar Making, and more 

 especially the modern improvements, which are as 

 numerous and valuable as in any other branch of 

 farming. 



The accompanying plan of shed and boiling ap- 

 paratus shows better than any description in 

 words the idea I intend to convey. The shed is 

 22 feet wide, entered with a team by large doors 

 at 8, 8. The boiler occupies a space 50 inches 

 wide. 1 is the position of the doors to fire grate 

 and ash pit. 2 and 3, the places for the boiling 

 pans ; 4, the place for the heater ; 5, the chimney ; 

 6, heavy cast iron bars crossing the arch for the 

 pans to rest upon ; 7, small doors opening into a 



platform four inches higher than the top of the 

 arch, and behind which is another platform, a foot 

 higher still, upon which are placed the store tubs, 

 with a long door opening upward behind them for 

 unloading the sap from the gathering tubs. The 

 shed can be made as long as desirable, the space 

 beyond the doors being used for fuel, storing 

 pans, tubs, &c. 



Cook's Sugar Evaporator is considered by many 

 the boiler, but there are some objections to it, 

 which lead most of our sugar makers to prefer 

 sheet iron or copper pans. It must be evident 

 that, unless the flow of sap and the amount of fire 

 are properly proportioned, the syrup will either 



