WINTER MEETING. 185 



Mr. Durand — There are only a few damsons in our country, but 

 they seem to bear very well. This year they ripened well as far as I 

 «could see. 



Quinces for Preserves and How To Get Them. 



I shall not, in this paper, undertake to convince any one of the 

 ■profitableness of quince-growing in a commercial sense in this State. 

 In the first place, I do not think our soil is naturally adapted to that 

 Industry, and then there is so little demand for the fruit that the busi- 

 ness could not be engaged in extensively, as compared with other 

 •branches of fruit-growing, even under otherwise favorable conditions. 



It might be argued by some that a demand could be created if we 

 <}ould produce the fruit, and this may be true in a limited sense. But 

 it must be remembered that the quince is used only for flavoring, and 

 so strong is the flavor that but a comparatively small part of quince is 

 needed to do the work. The flavor of the quince, to many, is the most 

 exquisite of any of our domestic fruits, the peach and strawberry not 

 excepted. The much-abused Ben Davis apple in the hands of the 

 skillful housewife, and flavored with quince may be converted into a 

 •'nectar fit for the gods." 



Few quinces are consumed in this State and throughout the west 

 •generally. They seldom find their way to our small towns or into the 

 homes of our farmers. This state of things ought not to exist. The 

 bulk of the quinces consumed in this country are grown in Wes- 

 tern Xew York. Prof. L. H. Baily, of Cornell University Agricultural 

 Experiment Station, in a bulletin on the quince industry of his state 

 says that last year the fruit sold for $2 to $2.50 per barrel, which he 

 considers a "fairly remunerative price." At the prices quoted I think 

 we could ail afford to indulge in quince sauce, and I think many of us 

 would do so if our country merchants would bring the fruit from the 

 large cities and give us a chance to buy it. 



I know of no reason why our farmers may not grow their own 

 •quinces with reasonable success. If well cared for, the quinces comes 

 into bearing early— somewhat earlier than the apple. The variety 

 known as the Orange, so far as I have observed, is perfectly hardy and 

 is perhaps the only variety that ought to be planted in this State. 

 Some speak quite highly of the Champion, but my experience with it 

 has not been so satisfactory as with the Orange. 



The quince should be kept in a thrifty, growing condition, but it is 

 not best to stimulate too rank growth, else the energy of the tree will 

 be expended in wood-growth instead of fruit. Chip dirt, in connectioa 



