I grew up in New England. I know about maple syrup and, in fact, the pastor of our church when I was a kid used to tap a few trees on the grounds of the parsonage and try to make his own syrup. Never heard how (or if) it came out.
Just read some comments about a throw-away movie in which the claim was made that one of the protagonists had planted a solitary maple tree amid a grove of pine trees, for the purpose of getting lighter, sweeter syrup. My immediate thought is, "BS." Pines grow much faster than maples. I think the maple would be completely blocked out by the pines and never grow. More to the point -- it was presented as if this was a common Vermont strategy. If so, it has escaped my notice for 74+ years.
Does anyne know if there might be a grain of truth to this little tale?