58o 



Cider Orchards. 



[JAN., 



December, and the orchard accordingly not being available 

 for grazing purposes during that period ; that the tendency is, 

 therefore, to gather varieties before they are properly ripened, in 

 order to get the orchard cleared of fruit ; that in gathering, the 

 task of keeping different varieties separate is difficult, if not 

 impossible ; that there is not a sufficiently large quantity of 

 any of the varieties to enable cider of a regular standard to 

 be made ; and that the number of varieties utilised for cider 

 purposes is so large, that it is impossible to become properly 

 acquainted with the vintage qualities of more than a few 

 sorts, and that therefore it renders control of the quality of 

 the product practically impossible. 



There are clearly then the following points regarding the 

 general arrangement of the orchards which might with ad- 

 vantage be adopted : — 



(a) The varieties having different ripening periods should 

 be separated into distinct orchards. There should be at least 

 three classes of orchards : — Early, containing varieties ripening 

 from September to the end of October ; mid-season, containing 

 varieties ripening from the end of October to the end of 

 November ; and late, containing varieties ripening in December 

 and later. The advantages of such a system are obvious. 



(b) The number of different varieties should be restricted, 

 and this should be followed by the propagation of a 

 relatively large number of trees of the selected varieties. 

 By this means only can the comparative uniformity of a 

 maker's produce from season to season, which is so essential 

 for commercial success, be attained; and that control 

 guaranteed, which is the outcome of a thorough knowledge 

 of the qualities of the varieties in use. 



(c) The varieties selected for any orchard should be chosen and 

 planted in such proportions that the whole of the fruit grown 

 in that orchard, if mixed together, would yield a good cider, 

 that would not require blending. The object in view here 

 is to make each vintage orchard self-contained for vintage 

 purposes, and quite independent of other orchards. The 

 advantage to the maker in such a case would be considerable. 

 While the number of varieties, which it would be necessary 

 to plant, depends upon the characters of those selected, it 

 would probably be advisable in order that the total produce 



