Together with the blossoms and leaves

As are necessary to distinguish the various sorts from each other

The New York Public Library has thrown open the vaults of their digital collection and is encouraging the reuse of rare beauties. Among them, and of interest for lovers of apple cider and perry, is an English title wholly dependent upon semi-colons to survive it’s delightfully descriptive long-windedness: George Brookshaw’s Pomona Britannica: A collection of the most esteemed fruits at present cultivated in this country; Together with the blossoms and leaves of such as are necessary to distinguish the various sorts from each other

Rare Book Division, The New York Public Library. “Pomona Britannica ; or, A collection of the most esteemed fruits at present cultivated in this country; together with the blossoms and leaves of such as are necessary to distinguish the various sorts from each other … [Title page]” The New York Public Library Digital Collections. 1812. http://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47dc-8838-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99

The book is worth browsing from beginning to end for its rapturous depiction of gooseberries and cherries and prunes and peaches and grapes and pineapple and melon. The best bit is near the end, when the apples and pears make their appearance.

They’re quite lovely, really.

Rare Book Division, The New York Public Library. “Apples (French crab, Mincham’s crab, Cockagee, Red streak, Holland berry and the New Town pippin varities).” The New York Public Library Digital Collections. 1812. http://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47dc-8b7e-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99

Rare Book Division, The New York Public Library. “Apples (Phoenix and the Norroway’s beauty varities).” The New York Public Library Digital Collections. 1812. http://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47dc-8b6a-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99

Rare Book Division, The New York Public Library. “Apples (Striped Holland Pippin, Marygold , Sullenworth Rennet, Saint Germain, Watkin’s large dumpling and the Beauty of Kent, or the Flower of Kent varities).” The New York Public Library Digital Collections. 1812. http://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47dc-8b74-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99

Rare Book Division, The New York Public Library. “Apples (Robertson’s, Blanchard’s, Rasberry, Lemon, Aromatic. Fern’s, Embroidered and the Spitsburgh Pippins).” The New York Public Library Digital Collections. 1812. http://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47dc-8b77-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99

Rare Book Division, The New York Public Library. “Apples (White Colville, Red Colville, Norfolk Beefin, Norfolk paradise, Norfolk storing varities).”The New York Public Library Digital Collections. 1812. http://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47dc-8b7a-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99

Rare Book Division, The New York Public Library. “Apples (Rhenet Gray, Padly’s Pippin, Bigg’s Nonsuch, July flower, Kirk’s scarlet admirable and the Ribstone Pippin varities).” The New York Public Library Digital Collections. 1812. http://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47dc-8b83-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99

Rare Book Division, The New York Public Library. “Pears (Valley, Petit Russelet, Doyenne, or Saint Michael, and the Russselet de Rheims, or Gross Russelet varities).” The New York Public Library Digital Collections. 1812. http://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47dc-8996-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99

Rare Book Division, The New York Public Library. “Pears (Michaelmas, or Autumn Bergamot, Summer, Orange and Gansell’s bergamots).” The New York Public Library Digital Collections. 1812. http://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47dc-899d-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99

Cidrbox.com connects people seeking orchard-driven cider with the artisans who make it. Each month we visit a single, distinctive American heritage orchard — where small producers grow, harvest, press, ferment and refine their cider — and we ship their cider to our subscribers. We also sit down for a tasting with the maker, and we share that tasting with you at cidersessions.com.

p.s. When we say cider, we mean hard cider: Artful fermentations of heirloom apples by master cidermakers. You must be at least 21 to drink what we deliver, and you will be asked for your ID and signature at the door.