FRUITS 229 



low, and then allow three or four leaders to form 

 instead of one. This does not make as handsome 

 a tree, but in case blight infests one of these leaders 

 it can be cut away without losing the entire tree. 

 It is also best to carefully prune off all fruit spurs 

 tliat form on the trunk and larger limbs, thus con- 

 fining the flowers, which are such a source of danger, 

 to the twigs and smaller branches. There seems to 

 be a certain periodicity with this disease, and in 

 occasional years heavy losses will occur, notwith- 

 standing all these precautions. Ordinarily, however, 

 profitable crops can be secured if they are carefully 

 attended to. 



Tlie quince (^Cydonid) and the loquat (^Mespilits) 

 are two fruits related to pears and apples that are 

 considerably grown in some parts of the South, but 

 neither is of much commercial importance. The ordi- 

 nary, or French, quince does not thrive well, except 

 in the more northern districts, but the large, coarse 

 Chinese quince is at home in all parts. It is used, 

 like the other, for preserving, but has quite a dis- 

 tinct flavor. The loquat, or medlar, sometimes erro- 

 neously called "Japan plum," only occurs in Florida 

 and along the Gulf coast. It is quite abundant in 

 the neighborhood of New Orleans. As it blooms in 

 the fall, and ripens its fruit in early spring, it is a 

 welcome addition to the home garden in those re- 

 gions where it can be grown, but it cannot endure 

 much cold. It also thrives well in the tropics. 



The dwarf June berry, or service berry (^Amelan- 

 chier^, is another little fruit belonging to the apple 

 and pear family that is often found in Southern 



