66 QUIKCE 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. 



