Think of the word convert as meaning change, whether it is a person who adopts a new belief, or a changing action, such as when you convert dollars into euros. Many times we can catch a word's meaning by looking at its origins. In this case, the Latin con means around, while vertere means turn..
Maple sap runs best when it freezes at night (e.g. in the high 20-degrees Farenheit range) and then warms up above freezing the next day (in the range of 40-degrees Farenheit and hotter). If it stays warm at night and warm during the day or if it freezes at night but barely goes above freezing the next day, sap does not flow as well or hardly at all.
To tap a maple tree, you will need a bucket with a cover (to keep things from falling in), a spile, and a drill. It may also be helpful to have a large clean trash can or similar vat to use as storage for all the sap you will tap. 1  Thoroughly clean the spile, bucket, and cover with bleach and water.ap the side of the tree that gets the most sun throughout the day, ideally the south side. 1  If you can, it is best to tap above a large root or below a large branch. 2  If the tree you are tapping has been tapped in the past, make sure that your new spile is inserted at least 6 inches away from the old hole.