230 VEGETABLE SUBSTANCES. 



on the north of the channel, and Somerset and 

 Devon on the South. In appearance, they have a 

 considerable advantage over those counties in which 

 grain alone is cultivated. The blossoms cover an 

 extensive district with a profusion of flowers in the 

 spring, and the fruit is beautiful in autumn. Some of 

 the orchards occupy a space of forty or fifty acres; and 

 the trees being at considerable intervals, the land is also 

 kept in tillage. A great deal of practical acquaintance 

 with the qualities of soil is required in the culture 

 of apple and pear trees; and his skill in the adapta- 

 tion of trees to their situation principally determines 

 the success of the manufacturer of cider and perry. 

 The produce of the orchards is very fluctuating; and 

 the growers seldom expect an abundant crop more 

 than once in three years. The quantity of apples 

 required to make a hogshead of cider is from twenty- 

 four to thirty bushels; and in a good year an acre of 

 orchard will produce somewhere about six hundred 

 bushels, or from twenty to twenty-five hogsheads. 

 The cider harvest is in September. When the 

 season is favourable, the heaps of apples collected 

 at the presses are immense consisting of hundreds 

 of tons. If any of the vessels used in the manufac- 

 ture of cider are of lead, the beverage is not wholesome. 

 The price of a hogshead of cider generally varies 

 from 2J. to 5/., according to the season and quality; 

 but cider of the finest growth has sometimes been 

 sold as high as 20/. by the hogshead, direct from the 

 press a price equal to that of many of the fine wines 

 of the Rhine or the Garonne. 



The varieties of the apple are so many, and they 

 are so rapidly multiplied, that it would be impossible 

 for us, within our limits, to present any account of 

 them which should be either useful or interesting. 



