THE ORCHARD IN ITS COMMERCIAL ASPECT. 75 



become exhausted, and, with the exception of a few trees, are apt 

 to yield only a sprinkling of fruit for the next two or three years. 

 This irregular mode of bearing leads to the direct inference, that 

 with proper care, and a good supply of manure, the trees would 

 bear with much greater regularity. 



The French have published a few systematic observations on 

 this point. In the Report of the French Congress "Z^ Cidre" is 

 often quoted ; it is stated (p.p. 339-40), that M. Varin-Simon, the 

 proprietor of a celebrated Orchard for Cider Fruit, at Yvetot, kept 

 an exact Register of the annual yield from 105 apple trees, for 38 

 years in succession. His books show that each tree from 5 to 20 

 years old, gave an annual average over this series of years, of 2 1 6 

 litres (or 40 gallons) ; and each tree from 20 to 80 years old, 

 yielded 307 litres (or 57 gallons) ; or taking all the 105 trees 

 during the 30 years preceding 1869, each one gave the annual 

 average of 2 hectolitres, 6 litres (or 45 gallons). This return 

 of course denotes the highest cultivation, good soil, and an 

 excellent climate ; but it is still so extremely favourable on the 

 annual average, that we may well believe the popular saying in 

 Normandy " Le dessus vmit mieux que le dessous" the trees are more 

 profitable, than the ground beneath them. The actual return, at 

 this rate, would amount to about 10 hogsheads per acre, even if the 

 trees were 60 feet apart, which is double the distance of a thickly 

 planted orchard. 



Little information is handed down from early times, as to the 

 Commercial Value of Cider and Perry. Evelyn speaks of Redstreak 

 Cider which sold for sixpence the wine quart, " not for the 

 scarcity but for the excellency of it," and he mentions also, 

 that it was sometimes exchanged, on equal terms, for the best 

 French Wines. 



In the Household Accounts at Holme Lacy in 1662, the price 

 of the hogshead of cider is set down at ;^i 14s. od., whilst beer 

 cost only ^x 4s. od. the hogshead. 



In a letter dated "Bristoll, 20 November, 1691," addressed by 

 one Thomas Wattmore, a Vintner to Sir Barnabas Scudamore " at 

 his seate neare Citty of Herriford," the writer states, that he bought 



