282 SKETCHES OF RURAL AFFAIRS. 



best methods of treating cider ; for although it makes 

 the liquor flat at the time, this is soon recovered, and 

 there is far less trouble with it afterwards. 



The juice of the pear is made into perry by the 

 same process as that above described ; but this is a 

 less common drink, as the pear is a less useful arid less 

 generally cultivated fruit than the apple. The pear- 

 tree will thrive on a rich loamy soil where there is good 

 drainage ; but should the subsoil be of clay, or of any 

 other description which will not allow water to pass off, 

 the tree will not prosper. Shallow planting, and a 

 porous subsoil, are essential to this fruit. 



Both the apple and the pear are turned to good 

 account among foreign nations as well as in our own 

 country. The French and the Americans are perhaps 

 the most ingenious in the preparation of various dishes 

 and confections from these fruits. Preserves and sweet- 

 meats of every description are much used in America ; 

 and among the several prepai-ations, preserved apples, 

 apple-butter, apple-sauce, and dried apples are in great 

 request. Owing to the extremes of heat and cold in 

 that country, it would be quite impossible to preserve a 

 sufficient supply of apples throughout the season, were 

 it not for the custom of drying apples in very large 

 quantities, both as an article of trade and for private 

 consumption. This is an important business of the 

 American autumn, and is conducted as follows : The 

 excellent apples which are so abundantly produced in 

 that country are collected, pared, divided, and cored, 

 and then spread out on a temporary scaffolding to dry 

 in the sun. The scaffolding slopes towards the south, 

 and the cut apples are laid in to the depth of three or 

 four inches, and allowed to remain three or four days 

 exposed to the sun. They are turned and moved 

 about that they may dry the better, and if the weather 

 become unsettled they are taken to a place of shelter ; 

 but in fine weather they remain day and night on the 

 scaffolding, with no other protection than a linen cloth 



