212 ORCHARDS. 



little practice. Every fruit grower should provide himself 

 with t>ne or more of these implements. 



MANUFACTURE OF CIDER. 



Cider^ or Cyder, a sharp, cool, vinous beverage made by 

 fermenting the juice of apples. Some connoisseurs in this 

 liquor are of opinion, that the juice of the more delicate table 

 fruit is generally more cordial and pleasant than that of the 

 more harsh kinds; though others assert the latter to be in 

 many respects preferable. In Virginia, very fine cider is 

 made late in the Fall, with common seedling apples of various 

 qualities, from those most sour and harsh, to those that are 

 sweet and tender. Goo 1 cider is also made during the Sum- 

 mer from early seedling varieties. The best keeping cider, 

 and that of the very best quality, is manufactured at the ap- 

 proach of Winter from varieties recommended in this work 

 for that purpose. 



There have been numerous receipts published to make cider, 

 some of which have occasioned considerable losses. A few 

 general, and important rules will be given, for insuring good 

 cider, and afterwards some particular directions founded on 

 experience. 



1st. The first and indispensable requisite for making good 

 cider, is to choose perfectly ripe and sound fruit, carefully 

 picked and free from trash, leaves and twigs. Farmers, in 

 general, are very inattentive to these points, but it is utterly 

 impossible to make good cider unless they are attended to. 



2d. The apples ought to be hand-picked, or there should he 

 a mulching of straw or soft litter placed under the trees when 

 they are shaken. When they fall on the ground they become 

 bruised, and, as frequently happens, that they remain some 

 time before pressing, the apples are apt to communicate a bad 

 taste to the liquor from the bruised parts. 



3d After having sweated, and before being ground, the 

 apples should be wiped, in order to remove a clammy mois- 

 ture which covers them, and which, if permitted to remain, 

 would impoverish the cider. This is a little tedious, but it 

 will pay well. 



