26 



That the quality of the German fruit is quite inferior for cider 

 makincr to that of the best French fruit seems to be evident from 

 chemical data g-iven in this report. It does not appear, however, that 

 the studies of the fruit and the ciders made therefrom in certain 

 districts have been carried out with as much care, from the labora- 

 torj^ point of view, in Germany as in France, thouo^h German factory 

 work seemed quite superior, as remarked above. There are certainly 

 some very important points awaiting- investigation in regard to the 

 effect of soil and climate upon the composition of apples and the result- 

 ant qualities of ciders made therefrom. A comparative study of this 

 sort on the German and French fruit would be interesting- and yield 

 data of much practical importance. 



The English Cider Districts. 



The wonderful variety of geological formations occurring in such a 

 small country as England confuses the stranger and renders observa- 

 tions somewhat difficult. However, after traveling twice over the 

 chief fruit sections of the country, the writer was able to discrim- 

 inate somewhat as to the character of the orchard lands. 



The l)est development of orcharding observed was in Hereford- 

 shire, Worcestershire, and Gloucestershire. The second best was in 

 Somersetshire, though Devonshire which has a rather ])etter reputation 

 than Somersetshire, was not visited. The general statement current 

 in England is that the orchard counties are Herefordshire, Devon- 

 shire, and Somersetshire, in the order named, but certainl}^ portions 

 of Worcestershire and Gloucestershire should not be omitted from 

 this category. 



In the excellent monograph of Dr. Henry Graves Bull, of Hereford- 

 shire, on the Vintage Fruits,'^' he points out that in the first two 

 counties named the good orchard lands are situated on like geological 

 formations, viz, the old red sandstone. In Herefordshire the great vigor 

 and f ruitfulness of the old orchards, on the fine rolling red lands, were 

 specially noticeable, and the ciders made, especially at Hereford and 

 at Hellens, near Dymock, were as tine as one often finds. Equal praise 

 can, however, be given to the fine cider and perry made on the estate 

 of Lord Sudley, near Winchecombe, Gloucestershire. But as soon as 

 one mounts the Cotswolds he is aware that he is off the fruit lands. 



The apple growing seen in Somersetshire did not impress one favora- 

 bly, and the soil did not seem to produce anything like the fine trees 

 observed in the more northern counties mentioned. It was rare, indeed, 

 that the orchard plantings seemed to be placed with care, and the 

 impression made was that as an industry there was no modern devel- 

 opment perceptible. As to orchard growing in England, the best tech- 



«A popular treatise based on Dr. Bull's great monograph, The Herefordshire 

 Pomona. 



