MAPLE SYRUP AND SUGAR 



393 



The cost of labor per bucket is also less because while two men with 

 one team can take care of 500 buckets, with the above equipment, three 

 men with two teams could easily handle 2000 buckets. 



Manufacturers of evaporators, sugaring-olif arches and other sugar 

 makers' utensils usually provide for the payment of the initial equip- 

 ment out of the profits of the business from year to year. It is"esti- 

 mated that the average annual gross income from each bucket in the bush 

 varies from 25 to 40 cents. The average cost of operations, including 

 interest on equipment, depreciation of utensils and tools, labor taxes, 

 etc., will total about 15 cents per bucket in a sugar bush of 500 buckets. 



Photograph oy U. S. Forest Service. 



Fig. 104. — Gathering the sap in a northern New York sugar bush. Sufficient snow is still 

 on the ground when the sugar season is on to require the use of snowshoes. 



The expense per bucket decreases directly as the number of trees increases. 

 Prom the profits of from 10 to 15 cents per bucket, therefore, together 

 with the depreciation charges, this initial cost of equipment can be 

 readily paid off. 



There are several types of evaporators or " arches," as they are 

 called, on the market. Each make has certain advantages claimed for 

 it but in general the same principle is followed in all. As mentioned 

 before they vary in width from 2 to 6 ft., and from 6 to 24 ft. long. They 

 cost from about $40 for a small capacity type for a 50-bucket bush up to 

 around $500 for the largest size, which has a capacity of from 350 to 500 

 ^al. of sap per hour. The latter are only used in the largest sugar 



