io8 THE BOOK OF THE APPLE 



his day. Various mechanisms have been devised for 

 reducing the necessary labour connected with the 

 Screw-Press, all of which may be studied at the 

 works of such firms as Messrs Barnett & Foster, of 

 Eagle Wharf Road, London, Messrs Lumley, of 

 America Square, London, and Messrs Workman, of 

 Slimbridge. Whilst it is desirable that all the machinery 

 should be as easy as may be in working, it is yet advis- 

 able to employ as few complications as possible, since 

 every part omitted is one less part to get out of order, 

 and so cause trouble and disappointment. 



Opinions are somewhat divided as to whether or not 

 the very best cider can be made from any single variety 

 of apple. Certain kinds of apple are markedly rich in 

 sugar, and consequently yield a cider strong in alcohol ; 

 others are rich in acids and yield a high-flavoured 

 wine, whilst others are rich in extractives and yield a 

 rich, well-bodied cider. Whether, however, any one 

 variety of fruit contains these ingredients in the best pos- 

 sible proportions, so that the addition of any other variety 

 affords no gain to the product, may well be doubted. 



The following are a few of the most desirable cider 

 apples : Foxwhelp (which is advantageously blended with 

 a bitter-sweet variety), Cherry Pearmain, Strawberry 

 Norman (an excellent bitter-sweet), Redstreak (which 

 should be blended with bitter-sweets), Royal Wilding (a 

 somewhat flavourless but useful bitter-sweet), Kingston 

 Black (a splendid cider apple), and Hangdown. 



In apples intended for the making of cider it is im- 

 portant that all possible starch shall have been converted 

 or ripened into sugar, as it is from sugar alone that the 

 alcohol is obtained in the process of fermentation. This 

 ripening process is able partly to be effected after the 

 apples have been picked or shaken from the trees, but 

 during this period of storing they should not be piled 

 in great heaps, as is usually done, but should be thinly 



