The Quince in Western New York. 619 



us thus far, it is not only comparatively unproductive, but the 

 fruits have always been very variable in size and they have been 

 particularly subject to the black-spot. I am hoping that as our 

 trees become older, the variety may sustain its advertized reputa- 

 tion. 



The Chinese or Hong Kong quince, which now and then appears 

 in catalogues, represents a wholly distinct species from our ordin- 

 ary quinces (it is Pyriis Cathayensis of botanists), and it is a very 

 distinct and unique fruit, and the tree is wholly unlike an ordin- 

 ary quince tree. It is not hardy in the northernmost states, al- 

 though it was fruited in Weschester County, New York, so long 

 ago as 1845. The fruit is oblong and very large, often weighing 

 over two pounds. 



Two of the newer quinces of which I have seen fruit and which 

 are promising, are the Johnson and Bourgeat. The Johnson is a 

 mild or sweet apple-shaped quince of the season of the Orange, or 

 a little later. It originated with W. B. K. Johnson, Allentown, 

 Penn. It promises well for home use. The Bourgeat is a variety 

 recently imported from France. It is a firm apple-shaped quince 

 of medium or large size, ripening just after the Orange. 



Leaf-blight and fruit- spot. — The quince falls an easy prey to 

 various insects and fungi, although there are only three of the 

 insects and two of the fungous diseases which are serious, in this 

 state, so far as I know. The one most serious aud wide-spread 

 perplexit}^ is the fungus (^Entomosporium rnaculatuni) which spots 

 the leaves (Fig. 6) and causes them to fall early, and produces 

 the black-spot of the fruit (Fig. 7). This disease is probably al- 

 ways present upon quince trees, although it may not always pro- 

 duce serious difficulty. It is undoubtedly most serious in its effects 

 upon orchards in sod, or those which are otherwise neglected. 

 Yet every orchard is liable to be ravaged by the fungus. In 

 most orchards the leaves begin to fall more or less in August and 

 early September from the effect of the disease, and it is not infre- 

 quent to see plantations almost entirely defoliated while the fruit 

 is not yet fully grown. In perfectly healthy trees, the foliage 

 should persist until after the fruit is harvested. The loss of the 

 foliage deprives the fruits of nourishment when they are complet- 

 ing their growth, and they usually remain small, and immature ; 



