266 SKETCHES OF RURAL AFFAIRS. 



reign of Charles I. that cider orchards began to be 

 planted in Herefordshire ; and when cider was first ma- 

 nufactured, so great was the estimation in which it was 

 held, that it was expected to supersede the use of foreign 

 wines. In the time of Charles II., cider was the gene- 

 ral beverage ; and in later reigns its manufacture was 

 much encouraged and recommended, especially when our 

 country was engaged in wars with France, and when it 

 therefore became an act of policy to discourage as much 

 as possible the use of French wines. While the cider 

 districts were thus becoming celebrated and important, 

 the general cultivation of the apple also improved, and 

 several fine old varieties were brought into commou use. 

 Some of these varieties are now lost : but we have a 

 great abundance of new varieties in the place of them. 

 While some plants scarcely vary at all, others are 

 subject to almost endless varieties ; and this is the case 

 with the apple. In its wild state the apple is nothing 

 more than the sour crab of our hedges ; but in its 

 domesticated state, it seems susceptible of improvement 

 to almost any extent. About fourteen hundred varieties 

 of apple are described in our modern works on Horti- 

 culture, and this is said to be not more than half the 

 number really known. This being the case, it will be 

 necessary to name only a few of the most esteemed sorts. 

 The White Juneating is one of the earliest table apples. 

 It ripens in July, and being sweet, and slightly per- 

 fumed, is a welcome addition to the dessert. The /Summer 

 Golden Pippin and the Red Quarrenden are also ex- 

 cellent early dessert apples. Later in the season the 

 Early Nonpareil, the Red and Yellow Ingestrie, the 

 Autumn Pearmain, the Kerry Pippin, and the other 

 favourites, arrive to vary the dessert ; while in winter 

 there is a further change in the abundant and delicious 

 Ribston Pippins, Doumton Pippins, Golden Reinettes, 

 Sykehouse Russets, &c. The varieties fitted for kitchen 

 use are also exceedingly numerous, among which for 

 summer use Codlins are universally known and valued. 



