FISHERIES, GAME AND FORESTS. 



319 



syrup, the price varying somewhat with the quality of the article and the condition of 

 the market. Some makers, by supplying families direct with a choice grade, obtain 

 better figures. The prices charged by the retail dealers are necessarily higher than 

 those just quoted. 



A bounty on maple sugar was paid by the United States during the years 1892, '93 

 and '94 ; after that time payment ceased through a repeal of the bounty law, a statute 

 which included in its provisions all granulated sugars, cane, beet and maple. Under 

 this Act of Congress a bounty of two cents per pound was paid on maple sugar testing 

 90 by the polariscope, and one and three-quarter cents on that reaching 8o°. No 

 bounty was paid on maple sugar or syrup that would not stand the test of 8o°. Of 

 the total maple product in the United States, only six per cent, received the bounty. 

 But few, comparatively, of the sugar makers asked for it; the preparation of the 



SECTIONAL VIEW OF STEEL ARCH; "GRANITE STATE EVAPORATOR." SHOWING ARRANGEMENT OF GRATE-BARS 



AND LINING OF FIRE BRICK. 

 A, damper; B, chimney damper; C, upper flue; D, lower flue. 



applications and affidavits, together with the tests and other requirements, offset in 

 most cases the small sum which could be collected, except in case of a large production. 

 For the fiscal year ending June 30, 1893, the general government paid $66,119.32 in 

 bounties on maple sugar, of which amount Vermont received $36,225.23, and New 

 York, which stood second, received $11,703.90. It is interesting to note that, of the 

 applications for bounty, 6,012 came from maple sugar makers, while only 584 came 

 from cane sugar producers, although the latter represented eighty-three per cent, of 

 the total granulated product ot the United States. 



The complaint is often heard that maple sugar is adulterated, and that it lacks the 

 true maple flavor of the old fashioned product. The genuine article as now made is 

 so different in color and taste from the product of former years that the consumer is 

 suspicious of its purity. But the " true old fashioned " flavor was too often due to 

 impurities, not purity. The peculiar taste was caused largely by sour sap, burned 

 sugar, smoke, cinders, leaves, bark, and the rain or melted snow that dripped from the 



M 



