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CHAP. XLII. ROSACEX. PY RUS. 899 
liquor, like a scum, will appear on the surface: this must be removed, and the 
liquor strained, before it is mixed with apples, as before. This scum is the tartaric 
acid, which would spoil the raisiné, and prevent it from keeping, but which is not 
perceivable when the grapes have ripened in a southernclimate. The raisiné,when 
properly prepared, is sweet, but with a slight flavour of acidity, like lemon mixed 
with honey. The best raisiné is that of Burgundy. In Normandy a similar 
marmalade is composed of cider and pears ; but it is not so good as the other 
kind, being apt to ferment. In some cases, the pears are put into an earthen 
vessel without water, and placed in a baker’s oven after the bread has been 
drawn, previously to mixing with the cider. The best raisiné is considered very 
wholesome, particularly for children, who eat it spread on bread, and for per- 
sons in delicate health, whose stomachs will not bear butter, and is in France 
what marmalade is in Britain, and more especially in Scotland. Raisiné is 
abundant and cheap in Paris; where, however, a composition is often sub- 
stituted for it, made of honey and water, instead of wine; an imposition 
which may be detected by putting the raisiné in water, with which it will not 
unite if pure. In Italy, the raisiné is eaten with preparations either of Indian 
corn, or of maccaroni, to give a flavour to these dishes. (Nowveau Cours 
Complet d’ Agriculture, tome xiii. p. 44.) 
Poetical and legendary Allusions. The apple tree was formerly supposed to 
be the tree of knowledge, the fruit of which was eaten by Eve in Paradise; 
and it is a curious fact, that the apple tree is also distinguished by legends 
in the mythologies of the Greeks, the Scandinavians, and the Druids. The 
pagans believed that the golden fruit of the Hesperides, which it was one of the 
labours of Hercules to procure, in spite of the fierce dragon that guarded them 
and never slept, were apples; though modern writers have supposed them 
oranges. (See Encyc. of Gard., edit. 1835, p.4. and p.5.) In the Edda, we 
are told that the goddess Iduna had the care of apples which had the power 
of conferring immortality ; and which were, consequently, reserved for the 
gods, who ate of them when they began to feel themselves growing old. The 
evil spirit Loke took away Iduna and her apple tree, and hid them in a forest, 
where they could not be found by the gods. In consequence of this malicious 
theft, every thing went wrong in the world. The gods became old and infirm ; 
and, enfeebled both in body and mind, no longer paid the same attention to 
the affairs of the earth; and men, having no one to look after them, fell into 
evil courses, and became the prey of the evil spirit. At length, the gods 
finding matters get worse and worse every day, roused their last remains of 
vigour, and, combining together, forced Loke to restore the tree The druids 
paid particular reverence to the apple tree, because the mistletoe was supposed 
to grow only on it and the oak; and also on account of the great usefulness 
of the fruit. In consequence of this feeling, the apple was cultivated in 
Britain from the earliest ages of which we have any record; and Glastonbury 
was called the apple orchard, from the great quantity of apples grown there 
previously to the arrival of the Romans. (See p. 22.) 
Hercules was worshipped by the Thebans, under the name of Melius; and 
apples were offered at his altars. The origin of this custom was the circumstance 
of the river Asopus having, on one occasion, overflowed its banks to such an ex- 
tentasto render it impossible to bring a sheep across it which wasto be sacrificed 
to Hercules ; when some youths, recollecting that an apple bore the same name 
as a sheep in Greek (mé/on), offered an apple, with four little sticks stuck in 
it, to resemble legs, as a substitute for the sheep ; and, after that period, the 
pagans always considered the apple as especially devoted to Hercules. (See 
Reid’s Hist. and ‘Lit. Bot., vol. i. p.103.) In Britain, as we have already 
stated, the apple tree has been held in respect ever since the time of the 
druids. The ancient Welsh bards were rewarded for excelling in song by 
“ the token of the apple spray ;” and Gwaichmal thus sings : —“ The point of 
the apple tree, supporting blossoms, proud covering of the woods, declares 
every one’s desire tends to the place of his affections.” (Davies’s Welsh Bards.) 
“ On Christmas Eve, the farmers and their men, in Devonshire, take a large 
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