 |
| Our "small tree" setup: this tree is about 8" diameter. |
This is our third year "syrupin": For 2011, we have 16 taps in a dozen trees, up from the 6 taps in 5 trees we've had the past two years. We picked out and tagged all of our maple trees last fall, while the leaves were still on, and found a few good sized maples that we've missed in previous years. Each year, we've gotten about 3 pints of finished syrup, which means we reduced about 120 pints, or 15 gallons or so of sap. This year we hope to have close to two gallons of finished syrup: I don't like a real sweet, thick syrup, so we leave it a bit dilute, but it has a full maple flavor and is plenty sweet . . perfect to soak homemade whole wheat pancakes with, or for a maple-pecan pie!!
The picture left shows our "small tree" setup. This 8" diameter maple has just one tap. We have luck with a simple, poly 5/8" flexible tubing as a "spile". We drill holes about 2 in. deep, once we are through the bark......the "sapwood" is in the external growth rings of the tree. Marty put a small shim in to keep the hose in place. I've been saving plastic jugs, and.I made a loop in a piece of cord, wrapped it around the tree and connected the loop to the jug with a small S hook made from a piece of coat hanger. This holds the plastic jug in place, low enough to keep the plastic hose in, but not so far in that the hose draws sap back up the tree, which will happen if it is warm, and the hose is down in the sap . ..the same force that takes the sap up to nourish the little buds will pull sap right back out of the pail!! It happened to us on a warm day last year!
The picture left shows our "small tree" setup. This 8" diameter maple has just one tap. We have luck with a simple, poly 5/8" flexible tubing as a "spile". We drill holes about 2 in. deep, once we are through the bark......the "sapwood" is in the external growth rings of the tree. Marty put a small shim in to keep the hose in place. I've been saving plastic jugs, and.I made a loop in a piece of cord, wrapped it around the tree and connected the loop to the jug with a small S hook made from a piece of coat hanger. This holds the plastic jug in place, low enough to keep the plastic hose in, but not so far in that the hose draws sap back up the tree, which will happen if it is warm, and the hose is down in the sap . ..the same force that takes the sap up to nourish the little buds will pull sap right back out of the pail!! It happened to us on a warm day last year!
