GENERAL INTRODUCTION. 
“Sunt nobis mitia poma 
Castanet molles, et pressi copia lactis.” 
Virgil. Eel. I., 81-2. 
“Now cheese and chestnuts are our country fare, 
With mellow apples for your welcome cheer.” 
Dry den. 
“and such the groves 
WHICH BLITHE POMONA REARS ON VAGA’s BANKS.” 
Akenside. 
“What soil the Apple loves; what care is due 
To Orchards; timeliest when to press the fruits, 
Thy gift, Pomona.” 
Philips. Cider. 
The Fungus Forays, commenced by the Woolhope Naturalists’ Field Club in the year 1867, 
and carried on with so much success every Autumn since that period, have given considerable 
renown to the Club, and have attracted annually many scientific men, British and foreign, to its 
meetings. These Forays could not fail to impress upon the members the sad state of neglect into 
which the orchards of Herefordshire had been allowed to fall, since their decaying trees formed a 
rich field for many interesting varieties of the Fungus tribe. On one of these Fungus Forays (in 
the year 1872), when the conversation had turned upon the apples cultivated here, the observation 
was made, that “ celebrated as Herefordshire is for its orchards, it was very remarkable that so few 
of the best varieties of apples should appear in the markets, or in the fruit shops, of Hereford.” 
This remark, though not followed up, or commented on at the time, was not lost. The celebrated 
mycologist, the Rev. Miles J. Berkeley, M.A., F.R.S., &c., was present at the Foray. At that 
time he was the scientific authority of the Royal Horticultural Society of London, and in the following 
March (1873), with thoughtful kindness, he induced the Council of the Society to send to the 
