of Perry and Cider. 583 



merited and clarified, for removal in the following spring; at 

 which time, and at which time alone, the cider merchants 

 send off large quantities to all parts of the kingdom ; nor is 

 any quantity sent to a distance, which does not pass through 

 their hands. The Oldfield perry is almost the only sort pur- 

 chased by the cider merchants to any extent, to the exclusion 

 of all others, except the Teinton squash, and meadow pear, 

 of which but small quantities can be obtained. In scarce 

 seasons the cider merchants are occasionally induced to take 

 a few hogsheads of Longland, Bache's white, and HufTcap, 

 which are usually designated indiscriminately as perry, and 

 not, as is the case with the others, specifically named, and 

 which do not bear comparatively so high a price. The mea- 

 dow pear is a sort only within these ten years brought into 

 cultivation to any extent, and the squash is nearly worn out. 



This observation brings me to another remark of Mr. Lind- 

 ley's, wherein he combats the idea that the golden pippin is 

 incapable of being longer continued in cultivation. He ad- 

 duces facts in support of his position, and on facts alone 

 shall my arguments against it be founded. Know, then, that, 

 notwithstanding the continual efforts, varied in every conceiv- 

 able manner, exerted by many from their desire to retain this 

 valuable fruit, the quantity thereof yearly diminishes. On 

 one estate (Sir J. Cotterell's, in Herefordshire), where for- 

 merly eight or ten hogsheads of this cider were made in an 

 average season, there are not now gathered sufficient to sup- 

 ply the dessert table ; and the same is universally true. I can 

 only learn of one house in the trade, which has been able to 

 purchase any golden pippin cider within these twenty years, 

 and that quantity was only sixty gallons, and at four times the 

 former current price. Within the memory of some individuals, 

 golden pippins were so plentiful that they were ground up 

 promiscuously with the other fruit, while now they are all 

 carefully gathered to supply Covent Garden and the other 

 markets of which Mr. Lindley makes mention. Then, the 

 golden pippin tree needed no " warm or sheltered situation," 

 and no protection from the " cold blasts." The old trees, in 

 some instances, yield good crops; but they are continually 

 dying off, and great difficulty is encountered in rearing young 

 trees, v/hich canker and dwindle after a few years' growth. 

 One gentleman (the former rector of Kemerton), on a favour- 

 able soil, after trying every other means, was only partially 

 successful in obtaining fruit on a wall. Mr. Lindley states that 

 the golden pippins will kee}) two months ; I have eaten them 

 in high perfection in the May of the year following that in 



which they ripened. 



p p -i 



