Newb to the art.

[Jarhead Jim]

Hey all, from southwestern Nebraska and just started making syrup from Box Elder. Started with pots on the stove with disastrous results. Made a large flat tray and did most of the evaporating over a wood fire towards the end result that I did in a large kettle in the stove inside. Did some research on the Internet and this site and that helped a lot but still have questions.... I ordered a sap hydrometer which has yet to arrive. Want to check the sugar percentage on this sap. I believe it is around 1-1/2. 35 gallons of sap got me 2 quarts of syrup. Is this the correct answer? Jim

[Bucket Head]

At that percentage of sugar, it would take 58.6 gallons of sap to make a gallon of syrup. You divide 88 by the percentage of sugar in your sap. This formula is called the Jones Rule.
I'd say your close.