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Ornno Weekly Times, Wednesday, March -17, 1982, 5 Sýpring brings about, Maple Syrup season Woods, Water, and WildIlfe fly: Ron Red, Federatlon of Ontario Natturalist Though the woods may be stil deep in snow, the sunny days of Marcb bring once again the rituai that heralds spring - the boiling down of maple syrup. Across the pro- vince, about 2,000, producers will be beaded ta the sugar bush, each engaging in a tradition that pays band- somnely ini personal satisfac- tion, if poorly in dofl4rs per hour. By the time the three- week season is over, their labours wil have produced aver 250,000 gallons of the sweet brown llquid know as mnaple syrup. The making of mnaple syrup, and of its by-product maple sugar, is a North- Amnerican tradition. The Philosophical Transactions of the Rayai Society of Lon- don reported in 1864 that "the savages of Canada.. bave practiced this art longer than any now living amnong themn remember'" The In- dians used a bollaw stem of sumac or eider for a spout ta callect the sap from the trunik of a maple. But while these have been replaced by metal spiles and spohiciated plastic tubing ta collect th'e sap, the basics are stii the sane. It still takes 32 gallons of sap ta boil down ta one gallon of syrup. And it still takes the crisp nigbts and warm days of late March ta start the run of sap each year. The sugar in maple sap is actually the result of the previous year's photosyn- thesis, wbicb stores sugar produced by the green leaves ini ail parts of the tree. During the wiviter, this stored energy is actualiy in the form of starcb, but the alternate freezing and thawing of early spring transforms it ta solu- bic sugar, ready ta fuel the bursting buds. The samne ris- ing temperatures thaw the water contained in the wood celle, -and help it ta circulte throughout the tree - up through the sapwood, and back down the inner bark. Just haw this pumnping systemn ope rates, ta move sap from deep in the roots ta perhaps 120 feet in the air, is net actually understood. Occasionally syrup is aso made red or silver maples, or even fromn butternut trees, but it is the majestic sugar maple that forms the mainstay of the maple syrup industry. In many Ontario communitlies, local conserva- tian agencies or individual producers welcome visitors ta their operatians. For a taste of spripg, such a visit is hard ta beat. Oshawa move would start Region breakup Counc. Cowman at Mon- day's Town of Newcastle counicil meeting referred ta the move by the City of Oshawa ta seek an amnend- ment ta the establishing Act for the Region of Durham ta allow Oshawa ta set up their own Industrial promotion department. Cowman said she fet that the Town of Newcastle should be concern- cd over this mnatter. She asked what impact would thîs have on the Town of Newcastle if sucb an amendment was ap- proved by the Resion and Province. Mayor Rickard said it was bis opinion that if Industrial promotion was turned over the individual municipalities it wauld be the first mnove ta breaking up the Region. He said the next move would be ta turn over water and sewers ta local maunicipalities then planning ta a point where they would be back to the Old Caunty systema of Govermnent. on motion of Cowmani and Hamre the. Town Ad- ministrator is Ibefibg askcd ta, prepare a repart on' such a move and that the repart ta be presented at the Generai Purpase Committee Meeting. Counc. Ted Woodyard in- formed council on Monday that a taxpayer in the Town had approacbed him pointing out that because bis taxes were paid after three o'clock at a bank an February 26th be has naw ta pay a penalty for late plymient. Woodyaid pit out the! becuse thepayentwas mae t heb k t t ;re o'clck i wasnclued n the baksbusiness day the -olwigMonday and thus wvas past due. Woodyard asked wa couhd be donc ta correct this condition. Thie Town treasurer, Kathryn Campbell, said she had nat had such complaint but could understand that it could happen. She said in somne banks they do keep a wicket, open ta take care of Friday's business but was nat sure if such a policy was car- ried out in ail banks. The treasurer also said it was aimast impassible ta check through Town records ta pick out such incidents. She said it was impassible tco determine such cases frorn stubs. The treasurer is to, prepare a report on the matý teýr and ask co-operation from the banks wihereby a tax, bill being paid an the ast business day of the week ta be included in that days business, esp-cially if the ac- coaunt would be overdue if beld over ta the following Monday. A good time for tree pruning One of the best methods ta get the mast out of your fruit trees is to maintain tbemn pro- perly by proper pruning and spraying. This is the time of year ta get started witb the sbaping and forming the praper bran- ching effcct for maximum production and aiso ta get the best fruit possible. Most fruit trees are pruned wrong witb the common mistake that the tree should be pruned round. When a tree is pruned that way onhy the top half of tbe tree will get the sun and of course the fruit on the bottom wiIi not colour up, giving an inferior product. For this reason trees sbould bc shaped inta tbe form of a Christmas tree with the bottom branches out tbe furthest and then graduaily rising ta a point at the top. if yaur trees are young then yau can start from scratch, and form the branching systemn in such a way tbat you will bave 4 main leaders and anc cen- tral leader. The central leader is the anc that shouhd go straight up and bc the bighest at ail times. This does not mean however that it should not have any side branches from the central leader are getting heavy they shauld bc cut back severehy. This of course will also allow the sun ta came inta the centre of the tree and wiil help ta give the fruit in that area the max- imum light for good colour plus the added benefit tbiat the tree wiil witbstand insects and fungus better with this open concept so tbat the spray can get right thraugh the tree and caver ail the sur- face area of branches, leaves and fruit. As I raid before the main leaders sbould be spac- cd evenly around the central Asthmna Information Series April l9th' Does someone in your faniily bave asthma? Then you wilh be interested in the Asthma Information Series conducted by Durham Region Lung Association. The series cansists of four ,.vening sessions and wil begvin on M4onday, April 19th. at 7-.15 p.m. in the McLaughlin Gallery, Civic Centre, Oshawa. The meetings will be beld on consecutive Mlonday and Wednesday nights (con- .1 bding Wednesday, April -th,) Registr-ation for the eesis $5 .00. Speakers, dTwnfrom the area are, Sscasand other mnedicai piro m. ey wil caver opics whvýîch include proper useî- of ecton effects of the environment and some phscholIogical aspects of astbmna. For more information on this Christmas Seal service, cail Durbain Region Lung Association at 723-3151. leaders and try ta get them ta corne out evenly as possible from the main trunk. Then anl branches coming from these main leaders shauid form the pyramid shape, mostly coming out toward the outside of the tree. Always keep in mind that the mast growth is on the top so that anytbing growing up straight should be pruned back or removed. Branches that are crossing each other should be removed or pruned bavk 50 that the tree bas an orderly form. This type of pruning has been done in Europe for cen- turies and especially since the introduction of the dwarf fruit trees ta, allow as much light and air for proper fruit production. Most fruit tres sbould be pruned this way witb the ex- ception of the pear trees. They have a tendency to grow straight up and they should be tramned ta grow sideways, always pnaning tbem with an outside bud anxd even pruning back the new growtb on the top by as mucb as two-thirds. This is the best time of the year for pruning. When mak- ing extremneiy large cuts caver the wound with healing coin- pound sucb as Braco. Another interesting theory is the one about how much ta prune back the end growtb of the branches. Well 1 was aiways taught that if you can climb in the tree and the branch does not break then leave it. But if it appears that the branch is going ta break cut it back severely since if it, will not hold you it eill not hold any fruit cither. Until next week, Happy Gardeningi Riegistration Basebali Soccer T - Ball March 27 -28 10 A.M. - 12 NOON ORONO ARENA ORONO ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION COACHES REQUIRED Denis Mumford 983-9443 Mike Sawyer 983-5270 SING LES WORLD DININO, DANCING, CRUISES, TOURS DANCE NIGHTS, Members $2.00 - Non-Members $3.00 Wednesdays & Fridays 8 p.m.' 2nd & 4th Sundays 7 p.m. Sunday Buffet 5 p.m. - $5 99 includes Dance Admission CAROUSEL INN BALLROOM Bloor St & Stevenson Rd., Oshawa Information - (416) 579-6595 Local taxpayers miss deadline date through bank payment of tax