52 



MAPLE-SAP SIRUP. 



covered buckets, and in West Virginia neither of the two camps 

 visited used them ; in New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania the per- 

 centage is higher, namely, 23 out of 56, 24 out of 106, and 25 

 out of 43, respectively. So, by far the greater number of the makers, 

 considering all sections, deemed their use superfluous, even though 

 by keeping out the rain and snow, reducing the time of boiling, etc.,] 

 the maker would soon be reimbursed for the extra expense of the 

 covers (fig. 2). 



At most of the smaller camps a sled with a covered wooden tank 

 is used for the collection of the sap, but at nearly all of the larger 

 ones metal vessels, especially constructed .with a funnel top fitted 

 with screens, were employed. 



FIG. 4. Collecting tank. 



EVAPORATION OF SAP. 



SAP HOUSES. 



Most makers boil their sap under a simple lean-to shed, with thd 

 evaporator pans in the center, the receiving tank on one side, and r| 

 pile of dry wood on the other. Others boil the sap in the open without 

 any covering, using pans or kettles. Only a small number have well- 

 planned evaporation houses, though possibly these manufacture 

 the greater part of the product, being the largest makers. In sucr 

 houses the sap is received in an outside tank connecting with thd 

 evaporator on the inside by a rubber hose. The best arrangement 

 seen had the fire-door opening on the other side of a partition 

 which prevented ashes or smoke from getting into the boiling sirun 

 when firing. Nearly all of the houses visited had chimneys and open- 

 ings in the roofs for the escape of the steam. 



