47 



O F 



CIDER 



By Capt. T A 11 L % 



fErefordJIjire affords fcveral forts o{ Cider-apples ^ 

 as the two forts of Red-jirakes , the Gennet- 

 ntoyk^ the Summer-viokt or Fillet^ and the 

 Winter-fillet ; with many other forts which are 

 ufed only to make Cider. Of which fome ufe 

 each Cortfimply ; and others mix many forts 

 together. This County is very well ftored 

 with other forts of Apples 5 as Pepins , Pear- 

 ntains^ &c. of which there is much Cider made, but not to be 

 compared to the Cider drawn from the Cider-apples ; among 

 which the Red-jirakes bear the Bell j a Fruit in it felf fcarce edible 3 

 yet the juice being preded out is immediately pleafant in tafte, 

 without any thing of that rejiringency which it had when incor- 

 porated with the meat^ ovfiefl) of the Apple. It is many times 

 three moneths before it comes to its clearnef^ and fix moneths be- 

 fore it comes to a ripenefs fit for drinking ; yet I have taftedof it 

 three years old, very pleafant, though dangeroufly ftrong. The 

 colour of it, when fine, is of a fparkling yellow, like Canary, of 

 a good full body , and oyly : The tafie , like the Flavour or 

 perfume of excellent Peaches , very grateful to the Palate and 

 Stomach. 



Gennet-moyles make a Cider of a fmallet body then the former, 

 yet very pleafant, and will laft zyear. It is a good eating plea- 

 fant (harp fruit, when ripe, and the beft Tart-apple (as the Red- 

 jirake alfo) before its ripenefi. The Tree grows with certain knot- 

 ty extuberancies upon the branches and boughs 3 below which knot 

 we cut oft boughs the thicknefs of a mans vpriji, and place the 

 knot in the ground, which makes the root ^ and this is done to 

 raife this fiuit ; but very rarely hy gracing. 



0£ Fillets of both forts (viz. Summer andWinter) I have made 

 Cider of that proportionate tafte and fVrength, that I have decei- 

 ved feveral experienced Palates, with whom (iimply) it hath paf^ 

 fed for white-wine j and dafijing it with Red-wine, it hath paifed 

 for Claret '^ and mingled with the Syrupe of Ra^'yes it makes an 

 excellent womans wine : The fruit is not fo good as the Gennet- 

 moyle to eat : The Winter-fillet makes a Ufiing Cider , and the 



G 2 Summer 



