lO 



English Orchards. 



Society, and in other parts of the country, plainly show that 

 these efforts have been very successful in raising the standard 

 of the fruit in size, colour, flavour, and in all the qualities 

 essential for dessert and culinary sorts. And although there 

 has not been such general and energetic action with regard 

 to cider fruit — for it has been difficult occasionally to get 

 young trees of established varieties, and grafts true to name 

 of sorts noted for cider-making — yet a good deal has also 

 been accomplished in this direction, and the cider-making 

 industry has been lately re-established in several districts 

 from which it had entirely disappeared. Nurserymen in cider- 

 making counties have turned their attention to getting true 

 grafts of old-established favourites, and to producing new 

 varieties, so that the number of valuable additions made to 

 the list of cider-apples of late years has been more than 

 may be generally supposed, though there has not been much 

 readiness on the part of cultivators to plant them. In 1883 

 the Pomona Committee of the Woolhope Naturalists' Field 

 Club reported that the experiments they had caused to be 

 carried on during four years for the restoration of the Fox- 

 whelp and Skyrme's Kernel apples, and the Taynton Squash 

 pear, had completely succeeded, and that they had 800 young 

 trees in vigorous health. The efforts made in recent years 

 to improve the condition of the cider-orchards and the 

 quality of cider have done considerable good, and will with- 

 out doubt bring about much-desired results. 



[To he continued^ 



