WV MAPLER TAPPED 02/11/06

[WESTVIRGINIAMAPLER]

Wouldn't be much fun in stopping, I guess that's when it's time to quit. I will be running out of things in a couple of years, but always room for a couple of little things each year! :wink: :wink: Of course, a bigger evaporator is not one of those things like someone I know! 8O :wink:

[220 maple]

Brandon,
Henry is doing pretty good however he is still on crutches. He was boiling Sat. when I was there. I visited three other camps that day one in Maryland near the West Virginia. They were at half crop, only boiled 40000 gallons of water this year but hoping for some big runs this week. Their trees was to cold to run. Last year they made syrup in April, and are planning to do the same. Mckensie's Camp on river Rd. in Salisbury was Three barrels short of last year. They believe they will make it this week.
Milroy Farms also on River Rd. in Salisbury had only boiled 65000 gallons of water which is half crop, They also are hoping for a couple big runs.
Henry is also hoping for some big runs, however some of the people he buys sap from did not open their trees due to the weather.
I questioned the price of Commercial syrup, unless something unforseen happens, it is probably going to be at or near record price. 1.30 a pound
Mark 220 maple

[WESTVIRGINIAMAPLER]

Finished canning everything last night and cleaned up evaporator. Thanks to mapleman3, the vinegar does work great and pans look like new. I have some buildup like calcium on the 2 center divers in the syrup pan that it wouldn't take off, but everything else is clean as new. Next year, I may try to leave it in there for a few days and see what happens. I brought it up to a boil for about 20 minutes and it cleaned up pretty much by itself.

I finished up the year at 73 gallons. I have never seen so much sugarsand in all my life. I probably had 2 or 3 gallons or more last night and it was such a bear filtering. It backs up my theory that I have always thought was the case. The most of the sap that I canned last night was slightly cloudy and lower quality and had a much higher bacteria count and overall as a season, was by far the worst sap I have ever seen. Temps to warm nearly every week and the sap had no choice. Ended up at a 56 to 1 ratio which is the worst I have ever seen. Producer south of me with 1700 taps was 45 to 1 last year and 60 to 1 this year. 8O 8O 8O Goes to show what this warm weather is good for. Last year, cold all winter other than 2+ weeks first of Jan and extremely cold entire 6 week season and this year, the ground never really even froze other than a little on top. :?