DECIDUOUS SHRUBS. 495 



PTELEA OR SHRUBBY TREFOIL. Ptelea trifoliata. 



This is a thin wild shrub, which can be trained into a miniature 

 tree six to ten feet high. Leaves of three ovate acute leaflets, on 

 long stalks ; they turn to a clear yellow in autumn. Fruit winged, 

 and in clusters, like those of the Halesia tetraptera, Fig. 143. 



THE QUINCE. Cydonia. 



THE COMMON ORANGE QUINCE, Cydonia vulgaris, is sometimes 

 one of the prettiest of shrubby trees. But it is so commonly seen 

 crowded into some corner of 

 the garden, or neglected grassy FlG> |64> 



ground, that the idea of its being 

 classed with favor among orna- 

 mental trees for small grounds will 

 seem to some persons almost ludi- 

 crous. Yet we have seen young 

 quince trees loaded with large 

 white blossoms, slightly tinged 



with pink, standing near masses of the finest varieties of lilacs, and 

 in full view of blossoming magnolias, horse-chestnuts, and apple 

 trees, and though lowly and shrubby compared with them, it was 

 yet not inferior to any in the beautiful profusion of its bloom, and 

 the pleasing setting that its polished young leaves make for their 

 flowers. Fig. 164 is a sketch of a pretty young quince tree of this 

 sort. When grown in the moist rich ground which it requires, the 

 foliage is always fine, and its low. broad form is well adapted to 

 gardenesque grounds. Its great golden fruit in autumn is among 

 the most showy of fruits while hanging on the tree, as well as the 

 most fragrant of native conserves. It grows quickly to the height 

 of six or eight feet, and afterwards gains more in breadth than 

 height, so that in ten or twelve years it forms a tree about eight or 

 ten feet high, and twelve or fifteen feet diameter of head. It is 

 best grown with a single stem, and allowed to branch about two 



