vi. PREFACE. 



The first active measures for the improvement of the Cider 

 Orchards were taken on the Continent. La Societe Centrale 

 d' Horticulture de la Seine- Infer ieure appointed a Pomological 

 Committee, presided over by Monsieur C. Lesueur, of Rouen, for the 

 special study of Cider and Perry fruits, which had worked for some 

 years, when in the Spring of 1862, the Society extended its operations 

 by calling to its aid all persons interested in the Orchards. By 

 these efforts, assisted by those of Messieurs de Boutteville, of Rouen, 

 Michelin, of Paris, Thierry, of Caen, and several of the leading 

 pomologists of France, the Government was induced in 1864, to 

 appoint a Congres pour L'^tude des Fruits a Cidre, with its 

 centre of operations at Rouen. This Congress held its meetings 

 successively in the leading Cider districts of France, viz. : at Caen 

 (Calvados) in 1864, where it first took a definite form ; at Rennes 

 (Ille-et-Vilaine) in 1865 ; at Alengon (Orne) 1866 ; at Beauvais 

 (Oise) 1867 ; at Saint L6 (Manche) 1868 ; at Bayeux (Calvados) 

 1869; and at Yvetot (Seine-Inferieure) in 1871. The results of all 

 these labours were arranged systematically, by Messieurs L. de 

 Boutteville and A. Hauchecorne, and published in 1875, under the 

 title of " Le Cidre." This work is of a highly scientific and com- 

 prehensive character. It is thoroughly practical, and it has rendered 

 very great service to the Orchards of Normandy. 



The Soci^T^ Centrale d'Horticulture de la Seine 

 Inferieure has continued its labours since this period, with the 

 same energy and perseverance, until at the present time, the Society 

 has nearly four hundred varieties of Cider Apples and Perry Pears, 

 modelled in wax, and carefully coloured to Nature, in the rooms at 

 the Hotel des Societes Savantes, at Rouen. These fruits have all 

 been carefully examined, and their juices analysed. A Catalogue 

 has been drawn up, which gives in a tabular form the name of each 

 variety ; its periods of blossoming and of maturity ; the flavour of 

 the fruit ; the quality and density of the juice, and the amount 

 of Sugar, Alcohol and Tannin it affords ; together with a brief 

 notice of the general character and habit of the tree. The Fruits 

 in the Catalogue are divided into Classes according to merit, and 

 for the convenience of distinction a colour is attached to each 

 Class. 



