For the Record

After cold winter weather led to a delay in the start of maple syruping operations this year, Farmer Jim thought 50 gallons of finished maple syrup--an average year--was probably a good estimate. However, even old masters are sometimes surprised. With chilly weather lingering until the very end of March, the buckets of sap just kept collecting. Today, the count of finished syrup is up to 74 gallons, and, with more sap going through the evaporator, this season will almost certainly break the all-time record set at Howell Farm last year: 76 gallons.