334 cvnoxiA vulgaris. , 



two prcroding, ami being of a more vigorous growtli, it is hrttor adapted for stocks 

 to Lirat't upon. It is not so good a bearer as eitber of tbe olbiT two varieties; and 

 tbe iVuit is not of so deep an orange; but it is considered tbe best for marniahide, 

 as its pulp turns to a fuie purple or crimson, wlicn stewed or baked, and becomes 

 mueb solter, and less austere. 



Gcou^r<ii>lnj (ind History. Tbe ([uince is supposed to bave been originally a 

 native of Siilon, a city of ancient Crete, now tbe island of Candia; but it is much 

 more probable tbat it was only first brougbt into notice in Ibat city. It is con- 

 sidered, at present, as indigenous to tjie soutb of France, particularly on the 

 borders of tbe (Jaronne, and to (Jerniany, on tbe banks of tbe Danube. IJy some, 

 tbe tree is tiiougbt to be indigenous to Britain ; and Pbillips states, in bis " Poma- 

 rium Hritaiuiicum," that quinces grow in such abundance in some parts of the 

 AVealds of Sussex, as to enable private families to make (piince wine in quanti- 

 ties of from one hundred to two hundred gallons in a season."' 



The quince was known to the Greeks and Romans, and both nations held it in 

 high estimation. Columella says, " Quinces not only yield pleasure, but health." 

 He speaks of three kinds the ''iStruthian," the " Must Quince," and the "Orange 

 Quince." Pliny mentions many kinds, some growing wild in Italy, and others 

 in cultivation, so large that they weighed the boughs, on which they grew, down 

 to the ground. He also says that some were of a green, and others of a golden 

 colour, the latter of which were called chrysomela. The only kind that was 

 eaten raw, he states to have been raised by grafting the large quince upon the 

 stock of a small variety, called stnithla. "All kinds of this fruit," contin- 

 ues he, "are grown in boxes, and placed within the waiting-chambers of our 

 great personages, in which men wait to salute these personages as they come 

 forth, every morning." It appears from the same author, that quinces were used 

 to decorate the images of the gods, which were placed, in sleeping-chambers, 

 round the beds; whence it follows, that the Romans did not think that there was 

 anything either injurious or unpleasant in their smell. He gives directions for 

 preserving the fruit, by excluding the air from them, or boiling them in honey; 

 or, by plunging them in boiling honey, a practice in use with this, and other fruits, 

 in Genoa, at the present day. He also writes much on the medicinal qualities 

 of this fruit. " Quinces," says he, " when eaten raw, if quite ripe, are good for 

 those who spit blood, or are troubled with hemorrhage." The juice of raw 

 quinces, he states to be a sovereign remedy for the swollen spleen, the dropsy, 

 and difficulty of taking breath, particularly to those who cannot conveniently 

 breathe, except when in an upright position. The flowers of the quince, either 

 fresh or dried, he tells us, are good for inflamed eyes. The root of the tree was 

 used, not only as a medicine, but as a charm against scrofula. 



The date of the introduction of the quince into Britain is unknown. Gerard 

 mentions it as growing in gardens and orchards, and as being "planted often- 

 times in hedges and fences belonging to gardens and vineyards ;" from which we 

 may infer, that it was by no means rare in his time ; and, indeed, in all proba- 

 bility, it has existed in England from the time of the Romans. 



The largest recorded tree of this species in Britain, is in Radnorshire, at Maes- 

 lough Castle, which is twenty-one feet in height, with a trunk ten inches in diam- 

 eter, and an ambitus,or spread of branches,of twenty-two feet. 



The quince, like most of our orchard fruits, was probably introduced into 

 the North American colonies at the early periods of their settlements. It is very 

 generally cultivated for its fruit, and is usually planted in clumps of bushes, 

 '-.ther than as individual trees or shrubs. Of late, however, orchards of it have 

 been formed on the rich loamy spots of Long Island, and other parts of the 

 country, and doubtless, in time, their owners will derive a handsome profit. 



Mythological and hegcndary Allusions. The quince was considered by the 



