THE LONG HISTORY OF MAPLE "TAFFY": 1955 FOOTAGE When spring time in New England meant "sugaring off parties" and...as the French say, tire d'erable! Waking up this morning to a giant sapsickle hanging off the Japanese maple in the front yard planted by Maria Herrick around the turn of the last century reminded me of the story of when maple syrup was first discovered. First for the legend. According to Native American folklore, in the latter part of the 15th century Chief Woksis of the Iroquois d