XVI. 



THE BEST BACHE. 



This apple does not appear to have been known to the 

 writers of the century before the last ; for it does not occur 

 in any old catalogue of the varieties of apples of that period ; 

 and it is not improbable that it is a variety of more recent 

 date. The origin of the name is unknown : it may possibly 

 have been obtained from the name of the field, or farm, 

 where the original tree grew ; but as it has sometimes been 

 called Bache's Kernel, it more probably derives its name 

 from that of the person who first raised it from seed, or was 

 subsequently supposed to have improved it by culture: for 

 the planters of the 17th century erroneously conceived that 

 the character of every variety might be permanently chang- 

 ed, and improved, by appropriate management of the ma- 

 ture seed, and of the plant, subsequently to its evolution. 



The Best Bache is principally cultivated in the South-east 

 part of Herefordshire. The specific gravity of its Juice is 

 about 1073. 



