54# AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS, TOOLS, ETC. 



CASKS. Among the subordinate occupations of the autumn, 

 the manufacture of cider was occasionally important. The 

 reader will observe that the production of this beverage was 

 far more general in the Middle Ages than at present, though 

 the use of beer was universal. In fine autumns the apple crop 

 was very abundant. Thus in the year 1332, which seems to 

 have been a season of great abundance, no less than five and 

 a half tuns of cider are manufactured from the Cuxham apples, 

 together with a pipe of perry. The tun contained 252 gallons; 

 and thus the produce of the Cuxham orchard was 1386 gallons 

 of cider and 126 of perry. None of this cider is sold, but 

 remains till the close of the year (the summer of 1333) in the 

 custody of the bailiff. The perry is transmitted to the college. 



In order to store such abundant produce, and indeed for 

 other purposes connected with the economy of the farm, four 

 casks (tuns) and a pipe were bought. These casks, with three 

 others held in stock, were put into the hands of two carpenters, 

 who were engaged for four days on this work, and for four 

 other days in putting the apple-mill in order, and repairing c le 

 pressour et le vys.' A person (homo) is hired to make the 

 cider, who is occupied twelve days in the task. 



It appears that these casks were empty wine-tuns, and 

 occasionally it is expressly stated that the tun contained lees. 

 An average taken from the price of such casks in nineteen 

 years of the first period gives is. *]d. One entry only is found 

 for the period after the Plague, which gives zs. lod. It may be 

 observed, however, that the price on this occasion is less than 

 the average of that at which the Cuxham bailiff supplied his 

 needs in 1332, for he gives 2,s. ~Li\d. It is natural to conclude 

 that such an article would be extremely sensitive to demand. 

 After the separation of Guienne and the interruption of the 

 wine trade, as wine became dear, French casks would be 

 dearer also, and the needs of the English market would be met 

 by the cooper at home. Old casks were used, as we may see 

 from vol. ii. p. 567. iv., for garden pales. 



Apples were pressed in a mill with a screw or vice, and, as 



