2010 a new year and a new bush

[VA maple guy]

Ok I have been away from the trader for quite a long time. But I'm back now.
I got started today. 100 taps went in on my reds and Norways.
Tomorrow, if the weather holds. Snow is in the forecast and I don't have to go
plow for VDOT I will go tap my new sugar bush. Sugar maples are pretty rare
around here so when you find one it's pretty special. Last summer I was on a bike ride when I came across a long driveway that was flanked
on both sides by large sugar maples. A friend of mine who will help me this year got
permission to tap them. The trees have seeded the woods on the downwind
side of the driveway. This patch of woods is now 75% sugar maples
ranging from saplings to 24" trees. I'm hoping to get 100 to 150 taps
in. YES!!! I'll update after i tap them.
Gerry

[KenWP]

What does the sap of a Norway maple make for syrup. Most of my info says to not tap them as the sap is milky.

[farmall h]

Vikings?! I can't help it...still on my 1st coffee.

[Father & Son]

Gerry,
How's the 2x6 working out for you? Have you made any modifications or improvements to it?

Jim

[ejmaple]

i have a few large norway maples that were planted probley 50 - 75 years ago. they were used as ordimental trees or planted around new developements due to their rapid growth. my norways always produce alot of sap, and the sugar starts around 3 %. it does seem to bud earlyer than the sugars though.

[VA maple guy]

Monday I got my new bush tapped, 184 taps all on sugars. I never thought i'd see that many sugars in one spot around here.
KenWP the Norway maple makes fine syrup. The sap is just as clear as
any other maple. If you break off a growing green twig in the spring or summer it will have milky sap in it.
Farmall h good one.
Jim the 2x6 is doing great. I took off the 7" stack and and replaced it with
an 8", I put a 150 cfm blower with a rheotstat on it. Next year i'm
thinking about replacing the pans.

[VA maple guy]

I was finally able to get to my trees on Saturday. We still have about 12 to 18 inches of snow on the ground. I picked up 420 gallons and boiled it off
over two evenings. I never thought my first boil of the year would come
a on 2/22 about a week before the end of a normal season. More snow
on the way for Thrusday.
Gerry

[VA maple guy]

Well It's all over down here. I only fired up the evaporator three times this
year. About 900 gallons of sap is all I got.
Brandon & Mark, I hope you guys get that cold weather you need so much.
I had it pretty tough over here this year with the 36+ inches of snow on
the ground, but I can't imagine what you guys are going through with the
amount you got.
Jim, what was the best gph you ever got on the old Leader 2x6. I played
around allot with how I fired it and got it up to 35 gph for a couple hours.
On my last boil this year, It was only 160 gallons, I got 32 gpg from start up to shut down.
Hope next year will be a little closer to normal.
Gerry

[Father & Son]

Gerry,
If you got over 30 gph on that rig you did better than I did. I was thinking 30 gph tops is about all I got. The new 2x6's have 4 ft flue pans, that old rig only has a 3 ft flue pan. New pans would increase it alittle bit.

Jim