1869.] THE QUINCE STOCK. 231 



noticeable progress we have made has been in the culture of fruit. In 

 this department we have certainly divested ourselves of many cumbrous 

 notions, and dispensed with even more cumbrous appliances. Ends 

 are accomplished nowadays with a rapidity that would have astonished 

 our ancestors. Many, with an interest in futurity — which is becoming 

 strange amongst us — planted trees, and were content if they saw the 

 first-fruits thereof, leaving them as a legacy to their descendants. And 

 let us admit, that but for their foresight in this respect many a fruit- 

 room in these days would show but a scant supply. Now, however, he 

 who plants expects to reap. Gardens and orchards spring up con- 

 temporaneously with bricks and mortar; and when the wealthy retired 

 man of business takes possession of his new mansion, he expects to 

 find his garden furnished with trees bearing fruit after their 

 kind, and the entire horticultural department in an already 

 matured condition, and prepared to contribute to his comfort as 

 regularly as his kitchen or dairy. This is all very gratifying, 

 no doubt, and speaks for itself, and may be called gardening on 

 the Donein and Quince principle; but however adapted to meet 

 special ends, it lacks the elements of durability, and should not 

 be pushed beyond its special province. We have a partiality for the 

 old, luxuriantly-laden orchard, the feature of many a homestead, 

 and chief source of supply in many an establishment. I always 

 find that where there is a reserve of this kind the fruit-room is better 

 filled. Quantity is always as important a consideration in a garden as 

 quality, and it is comforting to have a supply to fall back upon after 

 the limited produce of the orchard-house is exhausted. Miniature 

 fruit-gardens and orchard-houses are undeniable realities, however, and 

 commendable institutions ; but, compared to the fail-me-never ances- 

 torial trees in the cottager's garden, they are what the thumb -pot 

 Oaks of the Chinese are to their English congeners for the purposes of 

 shipbuilding. 



These remarks have been suggested by reading the very able and 

 exhaustive papers of Mr M 'Millan on the ' Cultivation of Hardy Fruits, ' 

 though they are not intended to apply to him. I see, however, that, like 

 many others, he is impressed in favour of the Quince stock — whether 

 from practical experience or not, he does not say ; and if I understand 

 him aright, he would only be guided by considerations of soil and 

 climate in adopting it generally, in preference to the Pear, for standards 

 or pyramids. I feel quite sure Mr M'Millan will excuse me for men- 

 tioning his name in connection with the subject, while a friendly dis- 

 cussion on the merits of the Quince will do no harm, I hope. We are 

 experimenting on a limited scale with the Apple on the French Para- 

 dise stock, and may have something to say about it some other time ; 



