OF FRUIT TREES. 161 



" * As they are gathered,' says the Herefordshire 

 planter, ' I have them sorted according to their seve- 

 ral degrees of ripeness.' 



" The French writers are equally urgent on the 

 importance of selecting the fruits best adapted for 

 cider, and in planting those of an analogous or simi- 

 lar nature in one orchard. 



"It may be said, there are great difficulties in 

 procuring trees of approved sorts. Where can we 

 get the Hughes's crab and Hagloe crab, and the 

 other celebrated apples? it may be asked. 



" We answer, there never will be a supply till 

 there is a demand. It is believed that as many 

 thousand trees of the best cider fruit can be pro- 

 cured annually, as will be wanted. Trees can be 

 imported from England and France, or from New 

 York, and sold here for thirty cents a piece. In a 

 few years we should have nurseries here, whenev- 

 er our farmers shall think it best to have the most 

 productive apples, and those which experience has 

 shown to be calculated to make the best cider. 

 But while they are contented with an orchard, one 

 half of which consists of bad fruit, some trees ripen- 

 ing in August, some in September, and some riot 

 ripe in October; while they are indifferent as to 

 the quality of their cider, and esteem an acid, musty 

 liquor as well as a vinous, well-flavoured one, no 

 doubt good apple trees will be dear, or not to be 

 had. It is true that we probably have m-iny natu- 

 ral apples equal to the most famous of Hereford- 

 shire. 



"Our climate is much better suited to the apple, 

 Our trees are fairer and finer than those of the best 

 cider counties in Great Britain. We must have 

 probably some excellent native apples. But then, 

 who knows where to get them ? The reputation 

 of an apple hardly goes beyond its village, and many 

 farmers know nothing of the quality of their own 

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