Sugaring -- the production of maple products including sugar and syrup -- is an old tradition in New England in general, and Vermont in particular. Despite its small size, Vermont leads the United States in maple syrup production. It was common in years gone by for townsfolk to plant sugar maples along paths and roads, as this made it easier to collect the maple sap for boiling. As a result, one can often find large maples by the roadside, like these golden beauties that line the crest of Somerset Road, about three miles from the reservoir.