The PREFACE. 



dlone n>it bin tvrcnty wiles c&m^afs, making fu> lefs,yo»rly ^ thaffFi&y 

 tho*ftnd Hogftieads) the commutniioR vpould (If^rj-a^ade My feif) 

 rob MS of fM great Advantage ^ hut prefint «x with one cf the moli deli- 

 cious and wholesome Beverages in the World, 



It was by the plain Induftry t^ one Harris ^a Fruiterer to King Hen- 

 ry the Eighth) that the Fields, and Environs of about thirty Towns, in 

 Kent omly^ vpcre planted with Fruit, to the nniverfal benefit^ and general 

 Improvement of that County to this day ^ as by the noble example of my 

 Lord Scudamor, and of fame other publickjpirited Gentlemen in thofe 

 parts, all Hcreford-lhire // become^in a manner, but one intire Orchard : 

 And when his Majefty jZuZ/^»f e be pleas'd, to command the Planting but 

 of fome Acres, for the beS Cider-fruit, at every of his Royal Manfions, 

 amongU other of his molt laudable Magnificences \ Noblemen, weal- 

 thy Purchafers, and C'mzens wi// (doubt lefs^fol/oiv the Ex3imY>\e, till 

 the preference ^ Cider, wholefome, and more naturalDnnks, do quite 

 vanquijh Hopps, and banijh all other Drogues of that nature. 



5»^ fAij Improvement (fay fome) would be generally obHru&ed by 

 the Tenant and High-lhoon-men, who are all for the prefent profit ; 

 their expectations jeldome holding out above a year or two at moit. 



To this 'tis anfwer'd ^ That therefore pould the Lord of the Mannour 

 xot enely encourage the Work by his own Example, and by the Applaufe of 

 jkch Tenants <ts can be courted to delight in thefe kjndes of Improve- 

 ments 5 hut pould alfo oblige them by Covenants to plant certain Pro- 

 portionr /^f them, and to preferve them beingplanted. 



Tofortijie this profitable Defign, It were farther to b« defir'd, that an 

 Kdiof Parliament might be procur'dfor the Setting but of two or three 

 Trees in every Acre of inclos'd Land, under the Forfeiture of Six-pence 

 per Tree, for fome publick and charitable Work, to be levfd on the De- 

 faulters. To what an innumerable multitude would this, in few years, in- 

 fenfibly mount i, afjording infinite proportions , and variety of Fruit 

 throughout the Nation, which now takes a Potion /tfr a refrejhment,and 

 drinks its very Bread-corn ! 



Ihavefeen a Calculation of twenty Fruit-trees to every F'lvc-pounds 

 of yearly Rent '-ifourty to Ten -^ftxty to Fifteen ^ eighty to Twenty j and 

 Jo according to the proportion. Had all our Commons, and Wafte-lands, 

 one Fruit-tree but at every hundred foot distance, planted, and fenc' d at 

 thepuhlickcharge, for the benefit of the Poor, (whatever might dy and 

 mifcarry') enough would efcape able to maintain a Stock, which would af- 

 ford them a moli incredible relief. And the Hedg-rows, and the Cham- 

 pion-grounds, Land-divifions, Mounds, 4»<5/ Head-lands (where the 

 Plough not coming, 'tis ever abandon d to Weeds and Briars) would 

 addyet conftderably to thefe Advantages, without detriment to any man. 

 As touching the Species, if much have been faid to the preference of 

 the R.ed-fi:rake before other Cider-Apples, thk is to be added -^ That as 

 the beji Vines, of richeji liquor, and greateji burden, do not jpend much 

 in wood and unprofitable branches 5 Jo nor does this Tree ; for though 

 other Cider may Jeem more pleafant (Jince we decline to give Judgment 

 of what k unknown to us^ we yet attain our purpofe, if This pall appear 

 beJi to reward the Planter, of any in prefent pra&ife ^ ej^ecially, for the 

 generality ^ bccaufe it will fit the moji parts which are addiHed to thefe 

 Liquors, but mifs of the right kinds, and prove the moJi fecure from 

 external injuries and Invaders. 



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