352 HOW TO GROW GOOD ORCHARDS. 



his London relative would make at a draught of his 

 " own peculiar; " and yet he of the town professes to 

 like sweet cider ; but as his knowledge of sweet cider 

 is obtained from the summer drink of the London 

 houses, called " Prime Devonshire Cider," the follow- 

 ing recipe will explain it : — 



Take of Vinegar (or sweeter still, cider) 1 pint. 



Brown sugar (or treacle) 1 pound. 



Water 7 quarts. 



The following will be found in Cooley's " Cyclopaedia 

 of Practical Receipts : " — 



Cider, Made. — An article under this name is made in Devonshire 

 for the supply of the London market, it having been found that the 

 ordinary cider will not stand a voyage to the metropolis without 

 some preparation. The finest quality of made cider is only 

 ordinary cider racked into a clean cask, and well sulphured ; but the 

 mass of that which is sent to London is mixed with water, treacle, 

 and alum, and then fined down, after which it is racked into well- 

 matched casks (i. e., a burnt-sulphur match). The larger portion of 

 the cider sold in London, professing to be Devonshire cider, would be 

 rejected even by the farmers' servants in that county. 



No wonder, then, that cider is not a favourite 

 beverage when it is only used as a summer drink 

 in some sophisticated form ; but, when understood 

 and obtained at all good, we believe it to be whole- 

 some and palatable, and, indeed, we know it to 

 be preferred before even the best ales in cider 

 districts. 



There is a common error amongst town-folk who 

 prefer the above mixture that cider is not intoxicat- 

 ing, that it has no strength in it ; but we regret 

 to say that it is not only intoxicating, but we 

 believe more exciting than beer : it is true that its 

 effects pass off sooner. 



