Now, although there can be little doubt but that the quality of cider is much influenced by the sort of fruit from which it is made, we are inclined to the belief that the nature of the soil has, if possible, a still more decided influence upon the result. We therefore now direct attention to some of the best cider districts in England, which may be classed as follows:— Devonshire, Cider of the sweetest and richest kind; Somersetshire, Cider rich and not so sweet; Dorsetshire, Cider somewhat poor; Herefordshire, Cider and Perry, very strong, but somewhat harsh; Worcestershire, Perry and Cider, rich and not too harsh; Gloucestershire, Cider and Perry, strong but not sweet. The prevailing geological formations of these cider-producing counties may be arranged as follows:— 1. Oolite Sands—Dorset, and parts of Somerset. 2. Lias—Gloucester, Somerset, and Dorset. 3. New Red Sandstone—Worcester, Devon and Hereford, in part. 4. Old Red Sandstone—Hereford and Devon. 5. Silurian System—Hereford, in part. Hence, then, cider and perry are grown on the sub-soils of five geological substrata, if, indeed, No. 1 should not here be classed with No. 2, for the extent of orcharding upon the inferior oolite sands of Somerset and Dorset is rather due to its extension from the contiguous lias, and this on account of an occasional depth and tenacity of soil. Its produce, however, is usually inferior. In Gloucestershire orchards always stop when the top of the lias is reached, and it is curious to see the sides of the Cotteswolds occupied with well-to-do orchards until the oolite is reached, and then they cease altogether, except in some few instances, which are here referred to by way of warning. Gloucestershire, for our present purpose, may be said to rest on liassic valleys and oolitic hills. In the valleys are small farms with small enclosures, much of which is in orchard and meadow, whilst on the hills are large farms with fields of from 30 to 100 acres devoted to arable cultivation. Hence, then, this has brought about two sets of farms: the vale, with its fruits and dairy stock, producing good cider, perry, butter, and cheese; the hills, mutton, wool, roots, barley, &c. Now, it happens as a rule that the hill farmer stands higher in his profession than he of the vale, for on the hills he can say— “Ay, marry, now my soul hath elbow-room.” The skill and enterprise in breeding the magnificent Cotteswold sheep, for which there is each year such a spirited competition, attest to this fact.