VERMONT MAPLE SUGAR 179 



the Kathan family until 1862. One of the largest 

 of these trees was cut in 1858, and the number of 

 concentric rings of growth showed that nearly 

 a hundred years had then passed since the tree 

 was first boxed for sap. In 1894 another was cut, 

 having a box mark only three inches beneath the 

 surface of the wood, showing that in this tree at 

 least someone had gone back to the ancient method 

 not more than half a generation before the date 

 of cutting the tree. Probably scattered trees of 

 the groves of a century and a half ago still stand 

 in other portions of the State, carrying deep in 

 .. their heart wood the scars of the old-time sugar 

 making. 



The Vermont laws against the adulterating of 

 maple sap products are now quite strict, and it is 

 probable that original packages from the State 

 are reasonably sure to be what they are sold for. 

 The syrup weighing eleven pounds to the gallon 

 is practically at the point of saturation, a gallon 

 weighing even an ounce more than this showing 

 a deposit of crystallized sugar. It was formerly 

 considered that the intermixture of cane syrup 

 could not be detected, but modern methods of 



