72 
MAPLE  SUGAR  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 
The  author  asserts,  that  by  attending  to  the  above  recom- 
mendations, even  very  small  quantities  of  soda  may  be  precipi- 
tated ;  but  it  is  indispensable  that  the  liquid  to  be  examined 
contain  no  metallic  salts,  the  other  oxides,  with  the  exception  of 
potassa  and  ammonia,  being  precipitable  by  antimoniate  of  po- 
tassa. — London  Chemist,  November,  1857,  from  Neuer  Lahrbuch 
filr  Phar made. 
ON  THE  MAPLE  SUGAR  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 
By  M.  J.  B.  Arcquin. 
The  sugar  maple,  Acer  saccharinum,  is  very  common  in  the 
Western  and  Northern  States  ;  these  trees  often  cover  entirely 
a  very  extensive  surface  of  land ;  but  they  are  most  commonly 
dispersed  in  forests  amongst  other  trees ;  and,  in  this  case,  we 
may  expect  to  find  from  25  to  30  per  acre  of  forest.  This  tree 
grows  especially  in  rich  soils,  in  which  it  attains  the  height  of 
the  green  oak,  or  of  strong  apple  trees.  The  trunk  is  sometimes 
from  two  to  three  feet  in  diameter.  In  the  spring,  the  maple  is 
covered  with  flowers,  before  the  appearance  of  the  leaves.  It  is 
supposed  to  arrive  at  its  complete  development  at  the  age  of  20 
to  25  years. 
The  sap  of  the  maple  is  procured  by  perforating  the  trunk  to 
the  depth  of  one  or  two  inches.  A  tube  is  then  adjusted  to  the 
hole,  in  an  inclined  position  ;  but  so  as  not  to  penetrate  to  the 
bottom  of  the  hole  ;  under  this  is  placed  a  vessel  to  receive  the 
liquid  as  it  flows.  It  is  the  custom,  first,  to  perforate  the  tree 
on  the  side  facing  the  south ;  when  the  sap  begins  to  flow  less 
abundantly,  another  issue  is  then  opened  on  the  northern  side. 
The  most  favorable  season  is  the  commencement  of  spring,  in 
February,  March,  and  April ;  the  sap  flows  for  five  or  six  weeks. 
The  more  sap  is  obtained  as  the  days  are  warmer,  and  the  nights 
cooler.  The  quantity  collected  in  24  hours,  varies  from  one 
quart  to  five  gallons.  The  temperature  of  the  air  exerts  the 
greatest  influence  on  the  evacuation  of  the  sap  ;  for  example,  it 
totally  ceases  during  a  frosty  night,  after  a  very  warm  day. 
These  trees  do  not  appear  to  suffer  from  many  repeated  perfora- 
tions ;  a  tree  is  mentioned  which  continued  to  flourish  after  having 
