198 THE DAILY LIFE OF OUR FARM. 



least is undoubtedly deleterious, being very strongly 

 impregnated with sulphate of lime. Very good, then» 

 the cider-apple, a positive hedgerow weed, the fruit of 

 which you cannot chew to your gratification, yields the 

 liquor needed by the human system, that is gi'own upon 

 this particular geological formation. The cocoanut is 

 meat and drink to the fortunate native who lives upon 

 the reefs whereon its parent tree springs luxuriantly 

 from a seed that was an ocean waif ; buttermilk is the 

 comfort and mainstay and luxury of the rich meadow 

 butter-making counties (it's a fine drink too — experto 

 crede) ; whey, that of the cheese district ; and so I've 

 come to persuade myself that cider is essential to the 

 native (small or adult) of the apple counties. It is 

 rather astounding when fry, just as high as your table, 

 ask for " fourpence a day and their drink," just as it is 

 to see a female worker in harvest time pack up her can 

 in her basket as an essential implement for the day's 

 performance ; but under proper regulation I have come 

 to think it is required. I have given them tea, but it 

 did not do — beer and it intoxicates ; acidulated drinks 

 I saw recommended in the Times, and so to acidised 

 cider I reverted. The only thing is, observe method in 

 the distribution. The reason of all this is, of course, 

 obvious enough to anyone who will take down John- 

 son's Atlas, and note the various character of the foods 

 and products of difterent latitudes ; but what drew me 

 iuto this discussion was the contemplation to-day of 

 several cider messes at different stages of development. 

 After all, what have we not read of the way in which 

 London bread used to be kneaded, and the moist sugar 

 squeezed ? Nasty enough each one, anyhow. 



It was curious yesterday that a number of thrushes 



