258 ENGLISH BOTANY. 
spring frosts and dry winds. The Devonshire cider differs from that of Worcestershire 
and Herefordshire in being sweeter, weaker, and not so likely to keep good. 
The Apple-tree sometimes attains a considerable age ; several now exist in this 
country which must be above two centuries old ; and one is still standing at Horton, 
in Buckinghamshire, which is said to have been a large tree in the time of Milton, who, 
in his boyhood, sat under its shade. Gerarde tells us that the use of Apples in an 
ointment made of “swine’s grease and rose-water, for the purpose of beautifying the 
face and take away roughnesse of the skin, gave rise to the name pomatum, because of 
the apples whereof it is made.” 
The Apple-tree flourishes best on hill-sides with a southern aspect, and prefers a 
rich deep soil ; but it will grow in almost any situation but in bog or loose sand. Stag- 
nant water is very injurious to it, and an orchard should always be well drained. Since 
the latter end of the last century the Apple-trees have been injured by the attacks of 
an aphis, which often covers the branches with a cotton-like exudation, and occasions 
a diseased growth, which is often destructive to the tree. In order to get rid of these 
troublesome creatures, there is no way but cleaning them off with a brush and water or 
lime-water, and even to amputate the branches when they have been some time at work. 
Other remedies are suggested and employed by gardeners, but they require care and 
skill in the application, lest the structure of the tree be injured. We find a mixture of 
sulphuric acid and water recommended with which to wash the tree, also a mixture of 
vegetable tar and corrosive sublimate to be smeared on the trees, and train-oil is by some 
thought to be a good application. Much of the success, however, attendant on the use 
of any composition depends on its being carefully and thoroughly applied. We rather 
think frequent and careful applications of a stiff brush and simple water is as effectual 
as any other remedy. In order to store Apples well in a fruit-room, it must be remem- 
bered that there must be plenty of ventilation, and, if possible, a fireplace ; and the 
fruit should be laid apart on shelves one above the other, made of open or lattice-work, 
if the fruit is desired to keep well and for some time. 
The Apple-tree seems to be associated with our very earliest notions of a garden 
and the fall of man, and is not only thus interwoven with our earliest religious im- 
pressions, but it is also the tree which is distinguished by legends in the mythology 
of the Greeks, Scandinavians, and Druids. The golden fruit of the Hesperides was an 
apple; and it was the apple of discord which caused so much calamity to the fair 
goddesses amongst whom it was thrown. The Druids paid particular reverence to the 
Apple-tree, because the mistletoe was supposed to grow only on it and the oak. Hercules 
was worshipped by the Thebans under the name of Melius, and apples were offered at 
his altars. Even in recent times, the custom of christening or saluting Apple-trees 
exists in some parts of the country on Christmas-eve. The farmer and his men proceed 
to the orchard, bearing a bowl of cider with a toast in it ; they pour the cider about the 
roots of the trees, and place the toast on its branches. Having offered their oblation, 
they sing somewhat in the following words :— 
“ Here’s to thee, old Apple-tree 
Whence thou mayst bud and whence thou mayst blow ; 
And whence thou mayst bear apples enow. 
Hats full! caps full ! 
Bushel, bushel, sacks full ! 
And my pockets full too! 
Huzza!!” 
