A DEVONSHIRE CIDER FROLIC. 237 



" The trees are planted, to a large extent, apparently without considering 

 what sort of soil or situation is best, and without making any previous 

 preparation ; a situation is chosen, a pit is dug with a curious clumsy bit 

 of iron, having a large socket-hole at one end of it, in which is driven a 

 large, strong pole, which answers for a handle ; it is worked with both 

 hands over one knee ; the depth that the roots are buried does not seem to 

 be of any moment, provided the trees are firmly fixed, so as to prevent the 

 wind from driving them down. I have never observed any pruning per- 

 formed, except such as is done by bullocks, horses, donkeys, etc. ; and as I 

 have not observed any " horse-ladders " here in use, of course the pruning 

 is not very effectively performed about the top part of the very lofty trees. 

 The only digging or stirring the surface of the ground among the trees that 

 I have observed is done by pigs, which are occasionally allowed to rove in 

 some orchards, at certain seasons of the year, with the rings taken from 

 their snouts. In a moist season these intelligent animals occasionally turn 

 up the ground in a tolerable regular manner ; and where this is the case 

 the good effects of their industry are obvious. However, it is only on rare 

 occasions that they are allowed to perform this surface operation. The 

 animals that do the pruning are the principal business-performing creatures, 

 as, in addition to that operation, they tread down the under crop of grass, 

 weeds and other rubbish, take the fruit to the cider-mill, and the cider to 

 the consumer ; besides, on rare occurrences, a little manure is conveyed by 

 them, and placed over the roots, close to the trunks of the trees ; it is some- 

 times, although rarely, placed at the great distance of three or four feet 

 from the trunk. Bipeds, notwithstanding, perform some of the most inter- 

 esting and essential parts, such as planting, collecting the fruit, consuming 

 it in part, and assisting in making the cider ; together with shooting at 

 trees annually on Old Twelfth-night. Let it rain, hail, blow or snow, this 

 very essential and interesting ceremony is always commenced at 12 o'clock 

 at night, a tremendous fire being kept up for several hours afterwards. 

 They repeat or sing the following interesting song, with all tie might which 

 their lungs will permit. The juice of the fruit is generally made use of for 

 many hours, pretty freely, previously to this interesting ceremony, so that 

 a perfect ripeness of address and expertness in gunnery is the result. Guns 

 and firelocks long laid by are on this remarkable occasion brought forward. 

 The following is what I have heard sung on these occasions, although much 

 more is added in some localities : 



