278 SKETCHES OP EURAL AFFAIRS. 



fine cider of different flavours and of different degrees 

 of strength may be obtained from the same orchard, 

 and mixed afterwards, according to the pleasure of the 

 owner. But it may be added that this requires skill 

 and experience on the part of the maker, and has 

 sometimes failed in private hands ; so that the old 

 method of making cider with mixed fruits is on the 

 whole more likely to succeed, under common manage- 

 ment, than that of the separation of the fruits. 



There are two great districts in which cider is ex- 

 tensively made : these are the Herefordshire district, 

 and the Devonshire district, each of which includes 

 several counties. The cider made in the former district 

 is strong, but harsh and acid ; that of the latter is 

 sweet and delicious, often equalling, if not surpassing, 

 the lighter descriptions of wine. In fact, the best and 

 sweetest cider is largely used in the adulteration of 

 wines, or rather it forms the staple of many wines of 

 superior flavour, sold as foreign. 



The manufacture of cider is conducted in a rude and 

 imperfect manner. The mill in which the apples are 

 ground is worked by horse-power in large cider- 

 makings ; but for private use the hand-mill is much 

 employed. A horse-mill consists of a circular stone 

 trough for the apples, about eighteen feet across, called 

 the chase, round which a heavy circular stone, called the 

 runner, is turned by one or sometimes two horses. In 

 this way the fruit is ground until it is entirely reduced 

 to a pulp called must, which will pass without lumps 

 between the fingers, and which shows by the white 

 spots in it, that even the pips of the apples have been 

 crushed in the process. 



The hand-mill * consists of two wooden teethed 

 rollers, or, which is preferable, two iron- fluted ones, 

 arranged in the manner of other mills, with a feeder at 

 the top, and the means of turning by hand. As the 

 cylinders are capable of being removed to a greater or 

 * See vignette at p. 259. 



