SUMMER MEETING AT OREGON. 131 



Fayette, Howard County, Mo., May 24TH, 1888. 



To the President of Missouri State Horticultural Society and Others 

 Convened at Oregon, Mo. : 



May I say it would afford me great pleasure to be present and enjoy 

 your annual gathering and discussions on horticulture, but am providen- 

 tially hindered, but would give you an item of experience on Quince 

 Growing : 



In my native State, New York, we grow fine quinces, and when I 

 found in the old garden in my place here thrifty quince bushes, but bear- 

 ing no perfect fruit, I wondered why it was, little thinking it was so far 

 removed from either ocean or a salt water atmosphere; but perusing a hor- 

 ticultural paper some years since, and finding a Mr. N. Ohmer, of Dayton, 

 taking the premium in the State of Ohio on best quinces, I wrote him for 

 his experieiiC:e in quince growing, which he kindly gave me, saying the 

 only secret was a quart of salt hoed in about the tree early in spring and 

 then another quart applied the same way when the quinces were about 

 as large as <i robin's q%^, sowing the salt broad-cast as far as the roots 

 would run. I followed instructions and was rewarded with a full crop — 

 149 quinces on one tree the following fall. I have now something over 

 100 quince trees growing in orchard and garden, and those that are old 

 enough are now showing good prospects of a crop this year ; the salt is 

 a good prevt;ntive of borers in trees as well as a special fertilizer. 



All along the Atlantic coast as also in California, Oregon arid Wash- 

 ington Territory the quince is at home and yields abundant crops. One 

 more word on ripening the crop : One or more heavy frosts are requisite 

 to the perfection of the fruit; it will endure unharmed more cold weather 

 than a Jeniton apple. 



A. SPENCER WOLCOTT. 



