ON PLANTING ORCHARDS AND MAKING CIDER, 



By introducing the subject of cider, my ob- 

 ject is not to enter into the history of the apple, 

 nor to discuss the merits of the different modes 

 of making eider, nor to describe the vast variety 

 of cider fruit ; but knowing that certain preju- 

 dices and erroneous opinions exist, that much 

 depreciate the value of that, which, when well 

 made, is a wholesome and delicious liquor ; and 

 that such prejudices and opinions absolutely de- 

 prive many districts of the profit and pleasure, 

 resulting from the growing and making good 

 cider; I entertain the hope of being able to 

 state such observations and facts, as will assist in 

 removing those obstacles. 



In the first place, it is a general opinion that 

 the soil of those districts that are famous for 

 good cider, such as Devonshire, Herefordshire, 

 Somersetshire, &c. is the grand cause of the 

 superiority of their productions ; but this is an 

 egregious error; it is by no means the case: the 

 soil has little effect on the quality of the cider ; 

 as it is well known that in those counties, cele- 

 brated for good cider, the prime ciders are 



