I 
176 liecent Improvemenh hi Cider and Perry MoMng. i 
i 
3, The tree should be hardr, of vigorous and rather 
upright growth, as those -o-ith a drooping habit are j 
very liable to have the lower branches broken off by \ 
the cattle which would graze the orchard after it < 
was firmly established. ^ 
Unfortunately, as a general rule, the best fruits are apt to I 
be rather shy bearers, or produce a crop every other year, while j 
many of the second-class varieties are very free bearers and 
growers. This being the case, it would always be judicious to 
plant some of the latter, as they would furnish a certain quantity | 
of liquor, which could be strengthened and improved by the | 
admixture of that derived from the former — the best fruits, in | 
short, supplying what the second-rate ones lack. When the i 
best fruits, however, do bear well, they make ample amends for 
their capriciousness by the enhanced value of their cider or j 
perry. I 
In order to lay before the reader at a glance the best fruits 
for his purpose, a table has been prepared showing the name of i 
the fruit ; growth and habit of the trees ; time of blossoming i 
and ripening its fruit ; the density of the juice after twenty-four 
hours' exposure to the air ; the percentage of sugar contained ' 
in each 100 parts ; the percentage of tannin, mucilage, and ! 
salts in the same quantity ; the principal locality in which the 
particular fruit is commonly grown ; and other remarks which • 
may add to the value of the description (see next and following i 
For assistance in compiling this table the writer has to tender , 
his warmest thanks to a number of gentlemen, most of them 
strangers to him, who have so kindly supplied him with lists of , 
the best fruits gro^Ti in their respective districts, and notably to j 
Messrs. J. H. Arkwright, of Hampton Court, Leominster; John i 
Watkins, Pomona Farm, Withington ; Lt.-Col. Halifax Wyatt, i 
Croxteth Park, Liverpool ; Messrs. R. Welch, Stocklinch, II- 
minster ; Le Comu. Jersey ; and H. C. Mewburn, of Stamford, 
Co. Welland, Ontario. , 
Of the above, those marked with an asterisk are considered | 
the best grown in England for cider and perry making ; but an 
eminent cider and perry manufacturer in the West Midland 
District, Mr. John Watkins of Withington, writes as follows : — 
" If I were proin;^ to plant an orchard for cider and profit only, I should \ 
plant broad-leaved Norman to get the crop, Kingston Black and Cherry - 
I'earraain the llavour, and Cherry Xorman, Wliite Bache, and Handsome | 
Norman the saccharine matter ; the three first I consider the most profitable." 
IMany other kinds would be as profitable in the writer's ' 
estimation, but probably the crops would not be so sure, notably 
the Foxwhelp, Skyrme's Kernel, and the Poyal Wilding, as 
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