1885.] 



AND HORTICULTURIST. 



109 



have acquired the stock. The following is from 

 Mr. Moore's description published in the Garden- 

 ers' Chronicle for December 8th, 1883. 'This goes 

 far to support the ideas of those who believe in the 

 crossing of ferns, whether the process is truly des- 

 cribed by the term hybridization or not. It was 

 raised between A. cuneatum and A. Bausei, the 

 latter also a so-called hybrid fern. The charac- 

 teristics of the two sorts are unmistakeably blended 

 in the new form which has the densely fronded 

 stocky growth of A. cuneatum with its spreading 

 fronds and cuneate pinnules, with the singularly 

 deflexed pinnules of A. Bausei ; this hanging 

 position of the pinnules gives the plant a very 

 distinct appearance. The plants are dense and 

 compact in growth, on which account they are 

 well adapted for grouping in small baskets and 

 jardinettes. Their bright and cheerful green color 

 adds much to its value as a decorative fern.' 



" Adtantum rhodophyllum. — A most distinct 

 and beautiful Maiden Hair Fern allied to Adiantum 

 scutum, also raised by Mr. Bause, from whom we 



have acquired the entire stock. It is far superior 

 to A. scutum in its ornamental qualities. The 

 fronds are densely crowded and attain a height of 

 15 to 18 inches; the stipes are very slender and 

 erect ; the leafy portion of the frond is bipinnate, 

 deltoid in outline, and spreading. When first 

 developed the young pinnules are crimson ; they 

 gradually change with age to a rosy fulvous green 

 and finally to a soft pale green. In form the 

 pinnules are fan-shaped, truncate on the basal side, 

 very finely dentate and split on the outer margin ; 

 when mature they are an inch and a half across. 

 " The remarkable diversity of colors presented by 

 the pinnules at different stages of their growth, 

 and which are all to be seen on the plant at the 

 same time, renders this Adiantum one of the most 

 effective decorative ferns yet offered. To this 

 striking characteristic must also be added the 

 compact habit of the plant and the elegant contour 

 of its tufted fronds. First-class Certificate from 

 Royal Horticultural Society and Certificate of 

 Merit from the Royal Botanical Society." 



YnjjiT AND Vegetable Gardening. 



COMMUNICATIONS. 



THE FRUIT OF THE JAPAN QUINCE. 

 BY. GEN. NOBLE. 



We welcome the " utile cum duke," when if is 

 the honest boast of any plant of floral loveliness. 

 The mass of blooming plants yield us only their 

 fragrance and flowers. Of ornamental shrubs, I 

 think only the Berberry and Japan Quince, give 

 us a fruit that stores the promise of usefulness. 



Only lately has the Japan Quince, beyond a 

 theory, seemed prophetic of fitness for the table 

 as a conserve. Its round, plump, and enduring 

 fruit, has for years wasted on the ground, or been 

 gathered into the rubbish pile. Yet all the while 

 there have been floating rumors of its deserving a 

 better fate. Years since, I reported to your jour- 

 nal a story of its tried excellence for jeUies and 

 jams. Among other rumors of its use in the 

 household, came one from friends of that princess 

 of housewives, Mrs. H. W. Beecher. It was said 

 that she had tried, and prized this quince, as a 

 great culinary acquisition. 



I I am now able to say, from my own sight and 

 taste, that it makes a finer jelly, and as pleasant a 

 marmalade, as the Orange Quince. The jelly is 

 strongly acid, and of the most delicate tinge and 

 transparency. The marmalade from it is of much 

 lighter hue, and finer grain, than that of the com- 

 mon quince. 



It requires only the simplest treatment. Any- 

 one who can jelly any fruit, can succeed with 

 this. Just so as to the marmalade. Although so 

 hard in substance, the fruit softens easily when 

 cooked. Besides these merits, the Japan Quince 

 has no worm-eaten fruits ; all are smooth and fair, 

 unblemished by the worm-favors so annoying in 

 the old cultivated kinds. 



The variety of this shrub with cherry colored 

 blossoms, or that with pink and white blossoms, 

 yields the finest, largest, best flavored, and most 

 pulpy fruits. 



A plantation of this quince, set as closely as it 

 will flourish, would yield a very profitable crop 

 for a canning concern. It is a sure crop, has no 

 windfalls, does not rot, does not shrivel, and 

 stands the colds and frosts well up to winter. 



