582 Fruits used, in the ''Manufacture 



each rope has an equal bearing, so as that the ladder may 

 stand secure; and the more perpendicularly the ladder is placed 

 the better. The ropes need not be thicker than common sash 

 cord ; and the reason why I place them under the top stave 

 of the ladder, and slip them over the top end, is, that they 

 may not pull out the sides of the ladder, which they otherwise 

 would do, 



I remain, Sir, yours, &c. 

 Old Baseford, Feb. 24. 1830. E. M. Mather. 



[See Mr. Saul's device for effecting the same object, 

 Vol. VII. p. 26. — J,Z>.] 



Art. XXVI. On the Fruits used in the Manufacture of Perry and 

 Cider. By J. C. K. 

 Sir, 

 Allow me to be the means of correcting an error, which, 

 having originated with Mr. Knight, has now been transferred 

 by Mr. Lindley to his work on The Orchard and Kitchen-Gar- 

 den ; and which, emanating, in the first instance, from so 

 great an authority, has obtained a credence to which it 

 appears it is in nowise entitled. In the article on the Barland 

 pear (Lindley' s Guide, &c, p. 414.), there occurs the following 

 passage : — "It (i. e. the perry) may be mixed in consider- 

 able quantity with new port, without its taste becoming per- 

 ceptible. It sells well whilst new to the merchants ; and, as it 

 is comparatively cheap, it probably forms one of the ingre- 

 dients employed in the adulteration of this wine." Now, it is 

 possible that it would not be easy to detect, by the taste, the 

 admixture of a portion of the juice of this pear ; but it would 

 infallibly excite fermentation in the wine, and very speedily 

 convert it into vinegar. The Barland perry is even more 

 likely to do this than any other: for it is a notorious fact, that 

 the cider merchants rarely, if ever, purchase it ; because, 

 though early in the season it is a very good perry, or even 

 afterwards if not moved, yet it is so liable to the acetous 

 fermentation as to entirely unfit it for transmission to long 

 distances. The passage above quoted does not specify whe- 

 ther wine or cider merchants are intended : but it cannot 

 mean the former; for how are wine merchants, living at a 

 distance, to obtain, while new, a liquor which immediately 

 on its expression from the fruit requires the greatest atten- 

 tion ; and which, if sent only a few miles, would inevitably, 

 from its active fermentation, burst the vessels that contained 

 it, if they were closed ? It is only fit, after being duly fer- 



