SOILS FOR THE QUINCE. 33 
CHAPTER IV. 
SOILS FOR THE QUINCE. 
THERE isa diversity of opinion as to what kind of soil is 
best suited for the quince. One class of observers, who 
have seen this fruit growing in high perfection in the rich 
accumulations washed down from the hill-sides for ages, 
insist on a moist or alluvial soil. Others, with a suc- 
cessful experience in a light sandy loam, may favor that. 
Others still, observing that quinces grow successfully on 
all kinds of soil, except dry sand or wet swamps, would 
plant it anywhere, from the low lands along the sea-coast, 
or margins of lakes and ponds, streams and rivers, to the 
higher plains and table-lands, or on the hill-sides and 
hill-tops of quite elevated locations. 
This fruit has attained high perfection in the moun- 
tain regions of Georgia, and North and South Carolina. 
J. Van Buren, of Clarksville, Georgia, says: ‘‘ It is not 
unusual to raise quinces five to five and a half inches in 
diameter, fair, smooth, and beautiful, and of high flavor.” 
The quince adapts itself to different soils and circum- 
stances with remarkable success. The soil may have 
a preponderance of sand, gravel, or clay, and yet be rich 
in those fertilizing materials which adapt it to all wants. 
An analysis of the wood, bark, and fruit will show that 
the soil and atmosphere together have supplied it with 
potash and Jime, soda and silica, alum and iron, mag» 
nesia and chlorine, phosphoric, sulphuric, and carbonic 
acids, and moisture. To these add decaying animal and 
vegetable matter, with needed water, light, heat, elec- 
tricity, and the aérial gases, and we have the perfection 
of fertility. A heavy clay soil will be improved by the 
addition of sand or silica, because it will make it warmer, 
and more open and friable. A light, sandy soil, will be 
