22 APPLES, PEACHES, PLUMS AND QUINCES. 



They approach some tree that has failed the previous year in 

 its crops, with a wassail-bowl of cider, on which floats a written 

 toast, pour on its roots some of the cider as an oblation, 

 hang up the toast on a branch, form a circle of cider drink- 

 ers around the tree, join hands and sing songs like the follow- 

 ing specimen : 



" Here's to thee, old apple tree, 

 Whence thou mayst bud, whence thou mayst blow ; 

 And whence thou mayst bear apple enow, 



Hats full ! caps full ! 

 Bushels and sack full ! 



Huzza ! " 



We know the apple was cultivated very early in many 

 parts of England, from the fact that the Anglo-Saxons were a 

 drinking people ; a part of their religion, in very early times, 

 consisted in drinking deep potations to their gods, and he 

 who drank the most was the most worthy worshipper. The 

 Saxon Chronicles speak of their cider on festive occasions, 

 although beer was the principal drink then, as now, among 

 that people. 



Many of the celebrated orchards gave the names to towns 

 that have come down to us, as Appleton, Apple-garth, Apple- 

 bottom, Appleby and Applegate. 



The king of Ithica, Ulysses, homeward bound from the 

 sack of Illiuin, found them in Alcinus' garden, for he says of 

 fruits, 



" On apples apples, figs on figs arise." 



The pilgrims of Plymouth, soon after making a settlement, 

 planted the apple ; most of the trees, however, were from 

 seeds brought from England — grown without either budding 

 or grafting — the chief object being the manufacture of cider 

 and vinegar, and, occasionally, apple-butter. If the wild 

 European crab is the parent of our Baldwins, Porters and 

 Newtown Pippins, (which is doubtful,) a vast improve- 

 ment has taken place in quality at the expense of health 

 and durability of the stock, a principle holding good in all 

 organisms. 



