Sugar Bush
The sugar bush is generally a climax growth of both maple and other varieties of trees. In some parts of the country, maples and beech grow together. The maple grows with a shallow root system, while the beech has a deep root system. Thus, they leave room for each other underground. The beech protects the maple from high winds with its above ground bulk and stability from the deep roots. Although the beech does not produce fine flavored syrup, it is of great importance in and to the sugar bush.
Maple trees grow best in moderately cold, moist climates. The sap of the hard maples (sugar and black) generally yields more sugar than the soft maples (red and silver).
The size of a sugar bush is expressed by the number of tap holes rather than by the number of trees tapped. A given sugar bush may range from 200 to 6000 tap holes.
Other plant saps contain sugar too. Birch syrup is being produced in Finland and Alaska. But added materials in the sap of the maple tree gives the peculiar flavor we like in our maple syrup and candy.
Visit the following websites for information on maple trees: