press purpose, knowing how little even the botanical terms are understood by the farmers, and many gardeners in the country..

Mr. Knight, in his Pomona Herefordi ensis, says, "It is necessary to contrive that the two trees from which you intend to raise the new kind, should blossom at the same time; therefore if one is an earlier sort than the other, it must be retarded by shading, or brought into a cooler situation,. and the latest forwarded by a warm wall or a sunny situation, so as to procure the blossoms at the same period."

The apple blossom contains about twenty stamina or males, which are represented in Plate I. No. 3. and generally five pointals or females, which form the centre of the cup or cavity of the blossom, as in Figure No. 4. The males stand in a circle, just within the bases of the petals, or flower leaves, and are formed of slender threads, each of which terminates in a small yellow ball or anther, as in Fig. 5. As soon as the blossoms are nearly full grown, as in Fig. 1. they must be carefully opened, and all the male stamina cut or extracted, so as not to injure the pointals or females, which will then appear as in Fig. 4.

The blossoms are then

closed again, as in Fig. 1. and suffered to

remain till they open spontaneously. From the blossoms of the tree, which it is proposed to make the male parent of the future variety, must be taken a portion of their pollen or farina, when ready to fall from the mature anthers, and deposited upon the pointals of the blossoms, which consequently will afford seed. By shaking the blossoms over a sheet of white paper, you will ascertain when the pollen is ready. It is necessary in this experiment, to cover the branches on which the prepared blossoms are, with a thin muslin or gauze, so as not to touch the flowers, or keep off the sun or air, but to prevent the bees or other insects from inoculating them with the pollen of other blossoms, which would make the experiment uncertain; and in order to obtain the fruit and the seeds of a large size, it is best to leave but few blossoms on the tree, and, at all events, to clear the branches on which the prepared flowers are, from all other blossoms. When the fruit is quite ripe, the pips or seeds should be sown at a proper season, and in suitable soil, and in about four or six years fruit may be expected. Mr. Knight has also made some curious experiments between the peach and the almond, which will be found in the account of the former fruit.

Among the new apples which the world have to thank Mr. Knight for, is the Grange apple, which fruited first in 1802, and obtained the prize of the Herefordshire Agricultural Society: it is the offspring of the Orange Pippin and the Golden Pippin. He also obtained the annual premium of the same society, in 1807, for the Siberian Harvey, an apple which fruited for the first time in that year. This tree was raised from the seed of the Yellow Siberian Crab and the pollen of the Golden Harvey. Mr. Knight also raised the Foxley apple, from the seed of the Yellow Siberian Crab and the pollen of the Orange Pippin: this fruit also received the premium in 1808, and it is said to rival the Golden Pippin in sweetness.

The cultivation of this, our most valuable fruit, has been attended to with so much care of late years, that one of our great gardeners, (Mr. Hugh Ronalds, of Brentford,) exhibited at the Horticultural Society, in August 1818, sixteen varieties of apples, and in September he exhibited fifty-eight other sorts, all grown in his own garden, and considered the finest collection ever exhibited. In the month of October of the same year, he exhibited fifty-three sorts, making in the whole a variety of 127 kinds

of this our staple fruit, which, in point of 'real value, takes place of all others, and affords a variety for all seasons of the year, both for the dessert and for culinary purposes, as well as the drink of which Phillips in Miltonian verse has sung,

Some ciders have, by art or age unlearn'd,
Their genuine relish, and of sundry vineş
Assum'd the flavour; one sort counterfeits

The sparkling nectar of Champaigne; with that,
A German oft has swill'd his throat, and sworn,
Deluded, that imperial Rhine bestow'd

The generous rummer, whilst the owner, pleas'd,
Laughs inly at his guest, thus entertain'd

With foreign vintage from his cider cask.

Thomson has thus beautifully described the cider season:

The fragrant stores, the wide projected heaps
Of apples, which the lusty handed year,
Innumerous, o'er the blushing orchard shakes;
A various spirit, fresh, delicious, keen,
Dwells in their gelid pores; and, active, points
The piercing cider for the thirsty tongue.

Apple-wine is admired as a summer beverage, but it is by no means equal to the cider made from Golden Pippins, which, when given in good condition, and well timed, surpasses every other refreshing drink, The spirit extracted from cider is equal to

brandy for preserving fruit, or mixing in made wines or liquors.

A solution of iron in the juice of the Golden Rennet, evaporated to a thick consistency, proves an elegant chalybeate.

Dr. Short informs us, that cider was first invented by a Norman, who much admired the delicate flavour of apples; and "long observation," says he, "assures us, that such as chiefly drink cider, are more healthy and strong, and have better complexions, than those that are accustomed to wine or ale." Both Lord Bacon and Dr. Baynard tell us of several persons near a hundred, and some above, who, having seldom used any other liquor, were very active and vigorous at that age. It is certainly more nourishing than wine, for not being so thoroughly fermented, its spirits are less subtile and impetuous.

"There is made an ointment," says Gerard, "with the pulp of apples and swine's grease and rose-water, which is used to beautify the face, and to take away the roughness of the skin, which is called in shops pomatum, of the apples whereof it is made."

As the Horticultural Society of this country has been established for the purpose of benefiting the world by their attention to the improvement of our various fruits, and