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The Alimentall and Physicall use of Fruits.
Fruit-trees being Planted, and duly Ordered to fruit-bearing, then comes the joyfull Harvest, the End of all our Labours: And then we make use of all the Fruits for our greatest Profit, and because some have ways to order fruits for advantage, which others know not of, I thinke good to say something concerning the use of fruits, in respect both of their Alimentall, and Physicall Ʋse.
First concerning the use of Apples.
When Apples are ready they may be Disposed of Divers wayes, some for Syder, others for Sale, others for daily Dishes to the Ta∣ble.
Syder is usually made of such Apples as are moist sommer fruits, some are fit to make Syder so soone as they are gathered, others may lye a certaine time to mellow, as they use in some places, whereof most excellent Syder is made if the Apples are ta∣ken when they are just ready, and fit to eate, being the crude, or raw spirit is then digested.
The Apples being ripe, gather them, & being cleane picked from Stalks and leaves, grind them in the Mill, or pownd them small in Trows of wood, or stone, then straine them, & tunne up the Liquor, immediately, & let it not stand as some do, it looseth spi∣rits: And having filled a Vessell great, or small, take Clay, and lay it round about the Tunne hole, not to stop it up, but make it hollow round about, to containe so much Syder, as that (when it hath done working) the Vessell may yet be full, put in a small quantity of Mustard, to make it worke the better, and when it hath done working then stop it up presently, very close, and it will keep better then if the Vessell were not full.
In drawing of it, give it no more Aire then needs must.
If you hang divers kinds of Spices (bruised) in the middle of the Vessell, in a thin Linnen Bag, they give the Liquor an excellent relish: put it not in, till the Syder have done working.
If you boyle Syder (with spices) newly strayned, such will be cordiall; you may colour it with juyce of Mulberies or Rasberies, or of the Great-bearing-Cherry, and make it like Clarret-wine.
Syder may be kept perfect good many yeares if (being setled)