The sap will run both directions in the tree up and down in one day cycle. The screw can let pressure off the vein your in and slow the sap production.

We finish with a propane turkey cooker or deep fryer. It is best to fill bottles with the syrup warm 180 ish then put the bottle on its top right away to clean or sterilize the cap. The cap will seal like caning and will keep mold free for very long time. Once open we keep it in the fridge because it is thicker when cold.

We have a stainless steel flask and a hydrometer to get the sugar content right. If you use a ladle you can get the feel for it how it runs off when pouring it out of the ladle. The size of the bubbles too is an indicator your close.

We have about 60 buckets and the rest on line. Its alot less work.

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7/8th of an acre, Perch only pond, Ontario, Canada.