34 BULLETIN 12, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGEICULTUEE. 



mated that G,000 maple trees Avere destroyed in clearing the average 

 NeAv York or Pennsylvania farm/ He snggested that one-third of 

 them should be left standing, not for the wood but for the maple 

 sugar they would yield. He presented figures which he thought 

 proved that the maple trees of the eastern part of the United 

 States could meet a large part of the world's demand for sugar. 



It was not possible for the early settlers to use the countless 

 thousands of maple trees cut in clearing land. There were, however, 

 some ways in wdiich they could use part of the timber. Household 

 fuel was always in demand. The large open fireplaces sent probably 

 90 per cent of the heat up the chimney, but wood was plentiful and 

 was piled in the fire with the utmost liberality. Maple backlogs 

 were in special demand. Long after it had ceased to be a virtue to 

 burn as much wood as possible the farmer laid in his supply of 

 maple backlogs for the winter. As early as 1807 maple fuel was 

 shipped from Maine to Boston. 



Charcoal burners cut maple when they could get it. Iron furnaces 

 consumed large quantities in Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, 

 and elsewhere. Blacksmiths wanted maple charcoal for forges, and 

 this created a wide but not large demand. The charcoal was in 

 demand by gunpowder makers, too, and some of the superfluous 

 maple timber w^as put to that use, although not enough to make a 

 perceptible inroad on the supply. Potash manufacturers preferred 

 this wood. A century ago the potash shipped from New York and 

 Boston was 80 2:>er cent of maple. The value of maple in the potash 

 industry will be further considered under the heading ''Ashes," on 

 page 16. 



The characteristic rifle stocks of pioneer days were usually of 

 curly maple, because the wood was strong and stiff and could be 

 worked down very small without endangering its usefulness. The 

 wood was carefully selected to display the curly and bird's-eye 

 effects to best advantage. 



Violins were not abundant in this country in early times, but they 

 were occasionally made, and the material was largely figured maple. 

 The makers of those instruments constantly kept choice maple in 

 stock, air-drying it during several years. 



Runners of sleighs were largely of maple, and sled soles were 

 frequently made of it. Occasionally it was made into ox yokes. The 

 wood has great strength under constant strain, but is apt to break by 

 sudden jar. 



Various articles of household necessity w^ere made of maple, such 

 as rolling pins, potato mashers, butter printers, bread boards, chop- 

 ping blocks, ladles, and bowls. A place for it of more than ordinary 



1 Transactions of American Philosophical Society, vol. ?>, p. CA. 



