70 
THE CANADIAN NATURALIST. 
tree in succession^ emptying into their pails the contents of 
each bucket, and replacing it under the tree, until their pails 
are filled, when they carry them to the camp, empty them 
into a large cask called a holder, and proceed again on their 
round. When this holder is nearly full, it is considered time 
to begin boiling. — Taste this sap, and tell me how you 
like it. 
C — ^ It is a pleasant drink, perceptibly sweet, but not cloy- 
ing : it is like water with a very little sugar dissolved in it. 
How much sugar will a tree produce in one season, on an 
average ? 
F. — From two to four pounds, in a favourable season, 
for as much depends on the season in this, as in any other 
object of the farmer's attention. Two thousand pounds 
weight are sometimes made by a farmer in one spring, worth 
perhaps fivepence per pound, making a sum of upwards of 
forty pounds currency. 
(7. — What are the men engaged in, when not carrying 
sap, or boiling ? 
— Chiefly in felling trees, and cutting and splitting 
them up for firewood, to be used in boiling down, as this 
process consumes a large quantity of fuel. They select those 
hard- wood trees that stand near the camp, such as superan- 
nuated maples, beeches, birches, &c. 
C — I see a fire yonder : I suppose that is the camp. 
F, — Yes : we will go thither, as they are boiling ; it 
may interest you to see it. You perceive here are 
two forked poles stuck into the ground, across which another 
strong pole is laid, from which the large boiling kettle is sus- 
pended by a chain over the fire. In some parts of the pro- 
cess it is necessary to stop the boiling very suddenly, and 
we do this by throwing shovelfuls of snow on the fire ; but 
I have seen it managed in a much neater manner, thus : — The 
