( 7 2 ) 
mellow, his Method was, by racking the oft- 
ner, and Humming every Calk with a lighted 
Match, or Rag dipt in Brimftone every Rack- 
ing; and by this only Means he made it as pa- 
latable as you pleafed to have it ; but then oh- 
ferve, that the Strength of the Cyder was lef- 
fened by every fuch Racking. I never drank 
the like Cyder any where ; his Fruit left well to 
ripen on the Tree and fall off; he never ga- 
thered any, and fweated them in Heaps two or 
three Weeks. — As this Farm lay but a Mile or 
two from this Place, I always went and bought 
my Cyder for my own Tafte, which he’d ever 
fuit as I thought proper by the aforefaid Means, 
and fometimes it would require a Ride or two 
to effedt it. Now Sir, faid he, this here Cyder 
is juft now come fit for Sale, but I would not 
recommend it to you, for what comes foon ripe 
and fine, is not fo good as what lies longer on 
the Lee ; it has not fo good a Body, but two or 
three frofty Mornings, and feveral Rackings, 
will make it as fine, fweet, and pleafant as pof- 
fible. Now, if you will take my Advice, faid 
he, take this Hogfhead, which at prefent is ill 
tafted, foul and rough, it has a good Body, and 
a few Rackings will mellow it down to your 
Palate. It did fo ; and I always followed his 
Advice. But, upon the Whole, his Art of Ma- 
nagement was nothing more than fimple Rack- 
ing, ripe Fruit, clean Veflels, large Cheefes, 
and no very hafty Preffing/becaufe of the Apple 
Pips, which, by flow Preffure, gave a Bitter- 
