02-22-2018, 09:30 AM
From my limited understanding, the Director’s explanation is correct. Tapping a maple tree correctly may or may not have an impact on the longevity of the tree. For a tree worth many thousands of dollars and benefitting many people, though, I can’t see how it’s worth the risk to let one individual tap it and potentially curtail its life.
In this case, it hopefully the fellow has done his research, knows not to tap in the same place in consecutive years, and will know not too tap too deep and so on. His last quote (“I’m sure if there was real big risk (of harm for) tapping your tree”) doesn’t suggest he’s got a lot of knowledge of the techniques, though- absolutely, tapping a tree in certain ways can cause premature death.
I strongly dislike articles like this by local media. “But the city won’t let him” is not quite accurate. He didn’t ask permission. He didn’t, it seems to me, do his due diligence before tapping a tree on someone else’s property. Why is it news when the city asks him to remove something from a tree they own?
By the way, I don't think you ought to put more than two taps in any size tree, but obviously if it's on your property, it's your business.
In this case, it hopefully the fellow has done his research, knows not to tap in the same place in consecutive years, and will know not too tap too deep and so on. His last quote (“I’m sure if there was real big risk (of harm for) tapping your tree”) doesn’t suggest he’s got a lot of knowledge of the techniques, though- absolutely, tapping a tree in certain ways can cause premature death.
I strongly dislike articles like this by local media. “But the city won’t let him” is not quite accurate. He didn’t ask permission. He didn’t, it seems to me, do his due diligence before tapping a tree on someone else’s property. Why is it news when the city asks him to remove something from a tree they own?
By the way, I don't think you ought to put more than two taps in any size tree, but obviously if it's on your property, it's your business.