CIDER APPLES. I47 



Far other cause of glee supply ? 

 Is not the Redstreak's future juice 



The source of your delight profound 

 Where Ariconium pours her gems profuse 



Purpling a whole horizon round." 



Shenstone. 



The Redstreak has been the most fortunate of all cider apples 

 for the renown it has obtained. It appeared at a time when the 

 greatest attention was paid to the Herefordshire Orchards. It at 

 once found a patron of remarkable energy and influence, and its 

 praises have been said and sung, in prose and verse, beyond all 

 other apples. It seems to have originated about the beginning of 

 the 17th century, and was first brought into general notice by Lord 

 Scudamore. Evelyn (1706) is the first author who mentions it as 

 " the famous Red-strake of Herefordshire, a pure Wilding within the 

 memory of some now living, surnamed the Scudamore's Crab, and 

 then not much known, save in the neighbourhood. Phillips next 

 took up its praise, and in his poem Cyder says : — 



" Let every tree in every garden own 



The Redstreak as supream ; whose pulpous fruit 



With Gold irradiate, and Vermillian chines. 



Tempting, not fatal as the birth of that 



Primseval interdicted Plant, that won 



Fond Eve in hapless hour to taste and die. 



This of more bounteous Influence inspires 



Poetic Raptures, and the lowly Muse 



Kindles to loftier strains ; even I perceive 



Her sacred Virtue. See ! the numbers flow 



Easie whilst cheer'd with her Nectarious Juice, 



Her's and my Country's Praises I exhalt. 



Hail Herefordian Plant ! that does disdain 



All other fields ! Heaven's sweetest Blessings, hail ! 



Be thou the copious Matter of my Song, 



And thy choice Nectar ; on which always waits 



Laughter and Sport, and care beguiling Wit, 



And Friendship, chief Delight of Human Life, 



What should we wish for more." 



The Redstreak apple was thus brought into the highest popular 

 favour, and its sweet and pleasant cider was deemed " a fitting 



