516 
The Farm-Prize Competition, 1884. 
In the south of Shropshire, and throughout Herefordshire, 
orchards occupy a considerable area, and cider-making is an 
important feature. Generally the juice is expressed by revolving 
stones, similar to a mortar-mill. In one instance, that of 
Mr. Peter Davies, of Tenbury, an American mill is used. A 
short description of the process may be interesting. The fruit, 
which is shaken off the trees when ripe and allowed to remain 
in heaps for a time in order to further mature — though care 
should be taken to avoid decomposition — is put through the 
mill, which consists of a drum running at about 2000 revolutions 
per minute, working against a set of lever rasps or scrapers, 
which give way if a stone or other hard substance gets into the 
mill. The pulp is next filled into hair bags, pressed in a 
Bulmer press, then placed in water to macerate for 24 hours, 
6 gallons of water to each hair ; * then reground, repressed, and 
the liquid added to the first expressed juice. Underneath 
the manufactory is a large commodious cellar. The juice is 
run by flexible tubes into barrels holding 400 to 500 gallons 
each, where the fermenting process takes place. On this farm 
of 475 acres there are 42 acres of orchards, mostly in grass, 
and producing very useful keep for sheep and cattle. The 
waste pulp is usually thrown about the orchards and con- 
sumed by stock, and what is uneaten makes manure. The crop 
is very uncertain. That of 1883 was very abundant, and was 
estimated at 14,000 gallons, which at 6(7. a gallon, an average 
price in good years, equals 350Z., about 8/. IQs. an acre, besides 
the value of the grass, which is certainly not less than IZ. lO.f., 
making a total gross return of lOZ. an acre ; but this is of course 
much above the average, and the cost of manufacture is con- 
siderable. It may be taken as a general rule that a well-stocked 
orchard, with trees in good bearing, is worth about 5Z. an acre. 
In every case where cider was made, and in some instances 
where it was bought, it forms part of the wages, a custom 
which, to our minds, would be more honoured in the breach than 
the observance ; and in many instances the farmers were of the 
same opinion as ourselves ; but the tyrant custom has been 
hitherto too strong for them. Mr. Davies, for instance, gives 
his men the option of 2 quarts a day throughout the year, 
or Is. 6(/. a week additional money. Almost universally liquor 
is preferred. The consumption averages 250 gallons a month, 
with an additional 500 gallons in harvest, that is, 3500 gallons 
a year, at 6rf. a gallon, 87Z. 10s. Another large grower tried 
money for a time, but such was the dissatisfaction that he had 
• This is the technical name of the bag, made of coarse hair, in which the 
pulp is placed for the press. 
