379 
a pint, according to the greater or less heat of the air* Mr* Low informed 
Arthur Noble, Esq* that he obtained near three and twenty gallons of sap 
in one day (April 14, 1780)? from the single tree which was before men¬ 
tioned, Such instances of a profusion of sap in single trees are however not 
very common. 
There is always a suspension of the discharge of sap in the night if a 
frost succeed a warm day. The perforation in the tree is made with an axe 
or an auger. The latter is preferred from experience of its advantages. The 
auger is introduced about three-quarters of an inch, and in an ascending di¬ 
rection (that the sap may not be frozen in a slow current in the mornings or 
evenings) and is afterwards deepened gradually to the extent of two inches. 
A spout is introduced about half an inch into the hole, made by this auger, 
and projects from three to twelve inches from the tree. The spout is gene¬ 
rally made of the Sumach* or Elder,j- which commonly grow in the neigh¬ 
bourhood of the sugar trees. The tree is first tapped on the South side; 
when the discharge of its sap begins to lessen, an opening is made on its 
North side, from which an increased discharge takes place. The sap flows 
from four to six weeks, according to the temperature of the weather. Troughs 
large enough to contain three or four gallons made of white pine, or white 
ash, or of dried water ash, aspen, linden, poplar, or common maple, are 
placed under the spout, to receive the sap, which is carried every day to a 
large receiver, made of either of the trees before mentioned. From this re¬ 
ceiver it is conveyed, after being strained, to the boiler. 
To preserve the sap from rain and impurities of all kinds, it is a good 
practice to cover the troughs with a concave board, with a hole in the 
middle of it. 
It remains yet to be determined whether some artificial heat may be 
applied so as to increase the quantity and improve the quality of the sap. 
Mr. Noble informed me, that he saw a tree, under which a farmer had acci¬ 
dentally burnt some brush, which dropped a thick heavy syrup resembling 
molasses. This fact may probably lead to something useful hereafter. 
During the remaining part of the spring months, as also in the Summer, 
and in the beginning of Autumn, the maple tree yields a thin sap, but not 
fit for the manufactory of sugar. It affords a pleasant drink in harvest, and 
* Rhus. 
'j- Sambucus canadensis. 
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