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- [Mark] This is Mark Isselhardt,

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maple specialist with
University of Vermont Extension,

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and this is another
"Vermont Maple Minute."

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A modern maple operation
relies on a tubing system

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with vacuum to maximize sap production.

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The innovation of plastic
tubing originally came

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as a labor-saving device and
not to increase sap yield

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from individual trees.

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As the materials used
to produce maple tubing

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became more robust and
vacuum pumps were employed,

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the increases in sap yield became obvious.

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There are many questions about how the use

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of vacuum tubing does or
does not impact the tree

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or the sap harvested from the tree.

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Research at the University of Vermont

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Proctor Maple Research Center sought

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to answer some of those questions.

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To answer the question
if the internal wounding

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associated with tapping is larger

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when more vacuum is
applied to the tap hole,

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groups of trees were tapped and exposed

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to various levels of vacuum,

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ranging from 15 inches
to 25 inches of mercury.

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Inches of mercury is a unit
also used in weather reporting,

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and it is a measurement
of intensity of vacuum.

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A control treatment

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with no applied vacuum was also included.

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After the season was completed,
the trees were felled,

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and the size of the tapping
wound was quantified.

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The results indicate that
the size of the wound

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was no different in trees
tapped with or without vacuum.

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As with many experiments,

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the results lead to more questions

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and the need for additional research

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This is Mark Isselhardt,

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maple specialist with
University of Vermont Extension,

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and this is another
"Vermont Maple Minute."