water and three pounds of white sugar to every gallon of Quince juice. 

 When properly matured, Quince cider i.s considered to be a wholesome 

 and palatable beverage, hut it requires to stand about twelve months 

 before it is in the best condition. By distilling the fermented juice a 

 strong spirit can be obtained. Medicinally the seeds of the Quince are 

 considered to be useful for some complaints, and when boiled in water 

 they yield a mucilage which is sometimes used as a demulcent. The 

 fruit in various forms is considered to be cooling, slightly astringent, and 

 stomachic. 



CULTIVATION. 



The Quince may be cultivated in most parts of Australasia successfully, 

 and seems equally at home in the warm as in the colder districts. It will 

 also adapt itself to various soils and situations, but thrives best in rich 

 land and in localities where it can obtain a good supply of water at its- 

 roots. When practicable it should also be sheltered from stormy winds, 

 which in exposed places are apt to injure the fruit by knocking them 

 against each other. Prepare the ground as for other fruit trees, working 

 it deeply unless it happens to be very light and porous. Provide also for 

 drainage if necessary, as will be the case in heavy soils, as though the 

 Quince likes fairly moist ground it will not thrive when its roots are 

 soddened for any length of time. As a rule, the trees do not attain so 

 great a size as the Apple, Pear, and many ether trees, and eighteen feet 

 will be a sufficient distance apart. The trees should invariably be trained 

 with low heads. In pruning young trees the shoots should be thinned 

 out freely so as to get a vigorous growth and the plants into the desired 

 forms as quickly as possible. Mature trees require, as a rule, but little iii 

 the way of pruning. All that is necessary, except for special reasons, is 

 to thin out the branches when over-crowded, and regulate rank or 

 straggling shoots. The fruit is mostly borne upon wood of the previous- 

 season's growth, and also upon older spurs. The trees have generally a 

 tendency to produce a number of rank shoots from the main stems, as 

 also suckers from the roots, and these should be removed while young. 

 Very often, owing to local circumstances, such as the too free use of 

 manure, or a naturally over-rich soil, the trees make, year after year, a 

 heavy growth of wood and produce but little fruit. When this happens, 

 root pruning will generally prove an effective remedy. The most 

 favourable time lor pruning either branch or root is in July or August. 

 It is advisable to keep the ground as free from weeds as possible, and 

 before the hot weather sets in the ground should be mulched as far as the 

 roots of the trees extend. 



PROPAGATION. 



Propagation is readily effected by seeds, cuttings, layers, budding, and 

 grafting. Seedlings are raised chiefly for stocks upon which approved 

 kinds are grafted or budded, and Pears are often worked upon them. As 

 stocks for Quince many prefer them to cuttings or layers as giving 

 stronger, more durable, and cleaner stemmed plants. When used as a 



