III. 



THE FOXWHELP. 



This splendid apple is merely mentioned in Evelyn's Po- 

 mona as a variety which " some commend;" and it probably 

 did not, at that period, deserve greater commendations than 

 were given to it. For the variety being then new, and the 

 trees young, the fruit might attain a larger size, as well as 

 abound with juice; and in this state the Foxwhelp affords 

 a cider, which, though strong and well flavoured, is harsh 

 and rough. But as the trees and the variety have grown 

 older, much of the fruit has (in some soils and seasons par- 

 ticularly) become small and shrivelled, and under these cir- 

 cumstances the expressed juice is extremely rich and sac- 

 charine ; and enters, in a greater or less proportion, into the 

 composition of many of the finest ciders now made in 

 Herefordshire, to which it communicates both strength and 

 flavour. 



Many of the old trees of this variety still appear healthy 

 and vigorous ; though grafts taken from them do not grow 

 well : some attempts are nevertheless still made to propa- 

 gate it; but I venture to predict that they will not be 

 successful : for the grafts necessarily partake of a life that 

 is nearly two centuries old, and the young stock can give 

 nutriment only, not new life. The specific gravity of 

 the juice of the large and juicy Foxwhelp I found to be 

 1076, and that of the same variety, when small and shrivelled, 

 to be 1080. This apple is, I believe, certainly a native of 

 Herefordshire. 



