154 



GULTURE AND MANAGEMENT 



" 7. It is of great consequence to prevent the 



escape of the carbonick acid, or fixed air, from cider, 



as on this principle all its briskness depends. To 



effect this, various expedients have been contrived. 



In the state of Connecticut, where much cider is 



made, it is a common practice to pour a tumbler of 



olive oil into the bung-hole of every cask. Upon 



the same principle we have lately heard of a man, 



who boasted that he had drunk brisk beer out of 



the same cask for five years, and that his secret 



was to cover the surface of the liquor with olive 



oil. Dr. Darwin also says, he was told by a gen- 



tleman who made a considerable quantity of cider 



on his estate, that he procured vessels of stronger 



construction than usual, and that he directed the 



apple juice, as soon as it was settled, to be bunged 



up close, and that though he had had one vessel or 



two occasionally burst by the expansion of the fer- 



menting liquor, yet that this rarely occurred, and 



that his cider never failed to be of the most excel- 



lent quality, and was sold at a great price. 



" To prevent a succeeding fermentation, put in 

 a handful of powdered clay ; and to preserve it, 

 add one quart of apple brandy to each barrel. 

 Every cask must be filled up and closely bunged. 



"8. When care has been taken to prevent the 

 precipitation of the feculent matter which rises in 

 the cidei, good liquor will generally fine without ar- 

 tificial means ; but sometimes it is necessary to fine 

 after the last racking, when the above mentioned 

 article has been found to answer very effectually, 

 if used in the following way. For a barrel, cut 

 one ounce of isinglass fine, put it into a pint of wa- 

 ter, stir it frequently, and make a thick jelly. Di- 

 lute this with cider, strain and mix it well with the 

 liquor in the cask, by means of a long clean stick. 



" The editor has known an ounce of orris root, 

 in powder, give a pleasant flavour to cider. 



