American Agriculturist, March 1, 1924 
Two Buckets Per Tree Best 
in Making Maple Syrup 
B. H. Paul 
H OW many buckets should be hung to 
a maple tree in order to get the 
maximum flow of sap and at the same 
time injure the tree as little as possible? 
Experiments at the Michigan Agricultural 
College during recent years have sought 
to answer this question and determine 
other valuable information useful in the 
management of a sugar bush and in the 
manufacture of maple syrup or sugar. 
Results thus far show that to use two 
buckets per tree is the most profitable 
practice. Hanging three or more buckets 
may at times increase the yield, but not 
enough to warrant the extra expenditure 
in time and equipment. Two tap-holes 
vield twice as much sap as one. Up to 
the present time, no detrimental effects 
have been observed from the additional 
tap holes on trees over twelve inches in 
diameter. It should be remembered, 
however, that the presence of additional 
tap holes increases the possibility of 
decay. 
The trees used in the experiment were 
all sugar maple ranging from 14 to 20 
inches in diameter. Care was taken to 
choose normal trees growing under similar 
conditions. 
Production Per Tree Varies 
The amount of syrup that can be pro¬ 
duced by a given number of trees is very 
variable, depending upon many factors, 
including the size and condition of the 
trees, the climatic factors, the site, and 
the sugar content of the sap. One tree 
may yield twenty times as much sap one 
day as on the next, whereas a neighboring 
tree of the same size may vary only one- 
tenth as much on the same days. 
A statement of the average costs of 
making maple syrup during 1921 and 1922 
for a sugar bush of 667 trees is given here. 
Operation 
Cost per 
Per cent of 
'gallon 
total 
ost 
Gathering sap. 
$0.68 
30 per 
cent 
Fuel. 
.53 
23 “ 
Boiling sap. 
.47 
20 “ 
Containers—gallon cans. 
.20 
9 “ 
Depreciation in equipment. 
.17 
7 “ 
Tapping trees. 
.12 
5 “ 
Washing buckets. 
.11 
4 “ 
Taking up buckets. 
.05 
2 “ 
Total. .... 
2.33 
It should be remembered that these 
costs include all labor charges necessary 
to make the syrup. Many farmers could 
consider such labor charges largely profit. 
Maple sugar costs vary considerably due 
to variation in producing power, to 
efficiency of organization and equipment, 
and to the number of trees tapped. For 
this reason no average costs for any 
particular region can be given, but results 
have shown that the sugar bush, if properly 
managed, is a decided asset on any 
farm. 
The trees which give the largest returns 
are the sugar maple and the black maple. 
Other maples, while yielding sweet sap, 
do little toward augmenting Ahe profits 
of the venture. Trees having large 
crowns give more sap than trees with small 
crowns. Tap holes should be placed 
several inches from those of previous, 
years. A small tap hole yields about as 
much sap as a larger one and heals over 
more quickly. A 13/32 inch bit seems to 
give the best results. As most of the sap 
is found in the sapwood nothing is gained 
by boring, into the heartwood. Tap holes 
one and one-fourth to two inches deep 
are usually sufficient. Covers aid in the 
production of high quality syrup and 
they prevent the collection of rain water. 
A number of satisfactory covers are on 
the market which do not increase the 
cost of gathering the sap nor hasten 
souring, the usual objections made to 
their use. 
Covers alone, however, will not produce 
high quality syrup. Cleanliness and 
careful boiling are absolutely necessary 
if clear, high-grade syrup is desired. All 
containers must be kept scrupulously 
clean. In addition, all impurities must 
be skimmed off in boiling and the syrup 
carefully strained before canning. 
213 
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