66 QUINCE CULTURE. 
cut should be made far enough above the bud to insure 
its not drying out, and near enough to grow over the 
end as the tree enlarges. The age of the tree, and its 
thriftiness or feebleness, must be taken into account in 
determining how far back to cut. 
The quince tree is naturally inclined to grow into a 
bushy head, but it also pushes up one or more leaders, 
and can be trained into a regular tree-form if that be 
desired. To secure an upright growth, cut back the 
leader to an inside bud. ‘To spread out branches, cut so 
as to leave the bud on the outside. Clean off a large 
portion of the little twigs that multiply and die along 
neglected branches, and besides saving resources, you will 
Fig. 45.—BUDS AND BRANCHES. 
improve the smoothness and beauty of the limbs. The 
fact that so many of these die along the limbs is Na- 
ture’s admonition to prune the tree. It is quite com- 
mon for the buds along a vigorous shoot to develop 
threefold, and it will add to the beauty and symmetry 
of the form to begin with the young tree and rub off all 
but the strongest bud ; and where limbs are not wanted, 
rub all off. This will direct the energy of the tree 
into the most desirable channels. It is worth while to 
go over a tree for this purpose a number of times 
during the growing season, because one strong shoot 
is worth more than two or three feeble ones having 
the same amount of material divided between them. 
