386 



FOREST PRODUCTS 



Immediately after tapping, the spout is inserted. Care should be 

 used to remove all chips, bark, etc., from the hole, before inserting the 

 spout. It should be done immediately, followed by the hanging of the 

 pail. 



In long or intermittent flowing seasons, when the tap holes are likely 

 to be contaminated, the holes should be reamed out once, using a reamer 



Photograph by U. 'S. Forest Service. 

 |FiG. loo. — Tapping a sugar maple in the Adirondacks at Horseshoe, New York. 



rs in. larger than the original tap hole. This cleans the exposed surface 

 of all slimy substance and induces stronger flow. 



There has been considerable discussion regarding the number of taps 

 per tree. There is no question but that overtapping not only impairs 

 the life of the tree, but seriously interferes with tapping during suc- 

 ceeding years. The writer knows of one very large tree on which 30 

 buckets were hung in one year. The ensuing year the tree sickened 



