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Cider Making

Cider making at Little Boundstone went exceptionally well this year with 54 Gallons being produced in the new oak Hogshead cask.  The mix of apples used in this years production were 1/5 Devon Pine and 4/5 Kingston Black. Scratting and pressing took ten days with help being provided by Howlers Stewart-Reed and Smith. In addition to the new Hogshead cask a novel scratter was constructed based upon a kitchen sink waste disposal unit. This proved to be a much faster and efficient method than those employed hitherto. It produced a very good pulp which released its juice more easily than we had experienced using other scratting methods. Initial specific gravity was measured at 1065 indicating a potential alcohol content at the finish of 7.5%. When fermenting was complete and settling was done, 12 gallons (rough cider) were siphoned off into an oak Anker cask and shipped to the Crealock Arms Pub in the village where it was sold in support of the Harbour charity in Bideford, raising £86.00.  The remainder has been bottled and will now rest until the apple blossom is back on the trees - the signal that the cider should be fit to drink.  Many thanks to helpers, apple donors and bottle providers, drop by for a sample once the blossom is back on the trees.

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Bee Keeping

The honey bees will soon be preparing to swarm.   This means that half of the original colony, along with the old queen, will fly off in search of a new place to settle.   Meanwhile, the half colony which remains will build up with a new queen.   Thus, one colony becomes two!

In the past, swarms would find  a hollow tree where they could set up a permanent home.   Unfortunately, due to imported diseases and the problems caused to honey bees by the dreaded varroa mite, it is now almost impossible for honey bees to survive without the support of an experienced beekeeper.

A swarm of bees hangs in a cluster from a tree, hedge or something similar.   Between the size of a grapefruit and a rugby football the swarm gathers around the queen to keep her safe.

If you come across a swarm please phone me on 01237 471928 - I'll collect them free of charge and re-hive them safely. 

If the bees you observe are seen going in and out of a nest on the ground, these are bumble bees and can be left alone to pollinate your flowers and vegetables.   They live in small colonies of about 80 bees and are very, very unlikely to sting you.   By autumn they will die out, except for the fertile queen bumble bee who will hibernate through the winter and emerge to start a new nest in a different location in the Spring. 

Sue Tait  (The Bee Team)

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Gardening

Guess the variety of apple

Clue - It originates in the Vale of Taunton Deane, this apple variety is a shy bearer of high quality, crimson red fruit which gives a refreshingly crisp flavour to cider.  It is highly prized for its clean full bodied aromas and well balanced, soft and juicy taste.

Further Clue - the name of the tree is Bob (Marley) honest! So what is the apple variety? Top Marks to Muddlehead of Parkham who correctly identified the variety as Kingston Black.

Picture of young man harvesting Apples

Spot the cordwangles

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Links

Royal Horticultural Society