In early spring the sugar maple wakes up from her winter sleep and a mysterious thing happens for a few
short weeks; a sweet watery sap begins to flow through her branches. The Native Americans discovered
long ago that by collecting this substance and heating it, they could make a pleasing sweet syrup.
History tells us that they did this by heating large rocks on a fire and placing them in containers of the
sap. When the sap had boiled long enough, there was a sweet residue left behind.
As the white man settled in New England he learned that this residue could be used as a sweetener.
Therefore, he set about to perfect the process. Thus it was that the wooden spiles were fashioned and
inserted into holes that had been bored into the sugar maples. Pails were hung beneath these spiles,
and the sap dripped into them. When the containers were full, the sap was collected. Most often horses
were used to haul a large tank on a sled over the snowy ground to each tree. The sap was dumped into
the tank and taken to a central location where it was boiled over an open fire. When it got to the exact
consistency and temperature, it became maple syrup, a very sweet liquid.
short weeks; a sweet watery sap begins to flow through her branches. The Native Americans discovered
long ago that by collecting this substance and heating it, they could make a pleasing sweet syrup.
History tells us that they did this by heating large rocks on a fire and placing them in containers of the
sap. When the sap had boiled long enough, there was a sweet residue left behind.
As the white man settled in New England he learned that this residue could be used as a sweetener.
Therefore, he set about to perfect the process. Thus it was that the wooden spiles were fashioned and
inserted into holes that had been bored into the sugar maples. Pails were hung beneath these spiles,
and the sap dripped into them. When the containers were full, the sap was collected. Most often horses
were used to haul a large tank on a sled over the snowy ground to each tree. The sap was dumped into
the tank and taken to a central location where it was boiled over an open fire. When it got to the exact
consistency and temperature, it became maple syrup, a very sweet liquid.
Over the years, the equipment has changed, but the process
remains essentially the same. Instead of individual pails hanging
from each tree, we now use tubing to connect the trees. Plastic
spiles are first inserted into holes which have been drilled into the
trees. Long lines of plastic tubing, connected to the spiles, trail from
tree to tree. These all lead into a larger line which ends at a large
collection tank. From here hundreds of gallons of sap are collected
by means of a pump which pumps the sap into a large plastic
container hauled by a tractor.
The sap is then taken to the sugar house. Here it drains into an
evaporator, which is actually a large pan divided into sections. This
pan is over a fire box. A very hot fire keeps the sap flowing from
section to section as it thickens. When it gets to the right
temperature (219 degrees Fahrenheit), it is drained off as maple
syrup. It takes approximately forty gallons of sap to make one
gallon of syrup. While still hot, the syrup is bottled and sealed.
remains essentially the same. Instead of individual pails hanging
from each tree, we now use tubing to connect the trees. Plastic
spiles are first inserted into holes which have been drilled into the
trees. Long lines of plastic tubing, connected to the spiles, trail from
tree to tree. These all lead into a larger line which ends at a large
collection tank. From here hundreds of gallons of sap are collected
by means of a pump which pumps the sap into a large plastic
container hauled by a tractor.
The sap is then taken to the sugar house. Here it drains into an
evaporator, which is actually a large pan divided into sections. This
pan is over a fire box. A very hot fire keeps the sap flowing from
section to section as it thickens. When it gets to the right
temperature (219 degrees Fahrenheit), it is drained off as maple
syrup. It takes approximately forty gallons of sap to make one
gallon of syrup. While still hot, the syrup is bottled and sealed.
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