[ m ] 



roughly ripe, are picked with great care*. They are then put in 

 heaps to ferment, and remain in that state for three or four weeks ; 

 after they are ground, and the liquor is expressed, it is suffered to 

 remain in tubs, from thirty to forty hours, when a scum, or froth, 

 will rise on the top ; this they narrowly watch, and when it breaks, 

 they rack for the first time into vessels; after which unremitting 

 attention is necessary to prevent excessive fermeuiation by early and 

 frequent rackings. 



Where the natural soil is not good of itself, such manure should 

 be mixed with it as best suits its temper. 



If the soil be a cold heavy clay, horse dung, coal, and soapers 

 ashes, will bring it to a due temperament. 



It it be light and hollow, marl, or mud from ponds and rivers, 

 highway dirt mixed with lime, cow dung, &c. will mellow and in- 

 rich it, and if the spade be occasionally employed to dig around, 

 without wounding the roots, a fruit tree may be made to bear more 

 abundantly, and to produce richer fruit. 



Improvement of the heads is also of as much consequence as of 

 the roots ; and this should be particularly attended to in the early 

 growth of apple trees. This is reckoned a very material part of 

 tree husbanding, for according as the head of the tree is first 

 trained, so it will grow in a form more or less regular. Even in 

 old orchards, judicious pruning has frequently made unfruitful 

 trees, bear in great abundance. 



The second division of this district, includes the parishes of 

 Combflory, Bagborough, Stowey, Stocourcy, Crowcombe, Sto- 

 gumber, Williton, Watcher, Dunster, Minehead, Porlock, Tim- 

 berscomb, Cutcomb, Withy Pool, Winsford, Dulverton, Wivelis- 

 comb, &c. &c. together with the forest of Exmoor. 



The soil of some part of this district is but little inferior to that 

 of the former, but the hills, and forests, are for the most part left 



* I would here particularly caution all farmers possessing orchards, not to fall 

 in with the usual custom of beating down the apples with sticks. 



Early in the autumn the buds for the succeeding year are formed, and being 

 Under, are soon destroyed. To this violent attack on the branches, iray ift 9 

 great degree be attributed the incapacity of trees to bear fruit two years fol- 

 lowing. 



in 



