34 



Potash and phosphoric acid may be used much more hberally with 

 young trees just set. A Y2 pound of a mixture made up of 3 pounds 

 of high-grade sulphate of potash and 5 pounds of acid phosphate will 

 give excellent results, and this may be gradually increased (always 

 having due regard to the way the trees respond) till at full bearing 

 the orchard may get from 100 to 250 pounds of potash and from 200 

 to 500 pounds of the phosphate, though for bearing trees I should 

 use, at least part of the time, basic slag meal as a source of phosphoric 

 acid instead of the acid phosphate. 



Varieties. 



Compared with other fruits there are very few varieties of quinces, 

 and, indeed, of these few a very small percentage is really of any 

 particular value. Thomas lists 14 varieties in his "Fruit Culturist," 

 and Budd and Hansen give 17 in their "Horticultural Manual." Out 

 of this number only 4 or 5 have reached commercial importance over 

 any extent of the United States. 



The varieties which seem to me to be of sufficient value, or to have 

 been sufficiently tested, to warrant one in including them in a list for 

 planting in Massachusetts, are as follows: — 



Orange, or Apple. — This variety, of European origin, is one of the 

 oldest and best known, and is often recommended as the only commer- 

 cial sort for Massachusetts. I do not quite endorse this view, but it 

 is certainly the leading variety. The chief objection to it is that it 

 has been so long propagated, often by seeds, that several strains have 

 been developed, some of which are not very valuable. The tree is 

 fairly vigorous and spreading in its growth. The fruit is variable, as 

 suggested above, but is typically rounded, not pear shaped and with 

 distinct flattening at the ends. The color is fine golden and the sur- 

 face not unduly fuzzy. It ripens about October, but will often keep 

 in good condition up to midwinter. The flesh is firm, but cooks up 

 tender and soft. 



Champion. — This is an American variety, having originated in 

 Connecticut. The tree is a vigorous grower, being more upright and 

 taller than the Orange, and the fruit matures somewhat later than that 

 variety; in fact, in some localities it does not ripen well. The fruit 

 is large and very distinctly pear shaped, with tender flesh and delicate 

 flavor. This would certainly stand next to the Orange in popularity. 



Rea, or Rea's Mammoth. — • This variety makes a smaU tree, but the 

 fruit is large, sometimes very large, distinctly and abruptly pear 

 shaped, a rich orange in color and with a very smooth skin. The 

 flesh is of excellent quality, and the fruit is ready for use earlier than 

 most other sorts. 



Meech or Meech's Prolific. — This variety also originated in Connecti- 

 cut, and resembles the Orange considerably. The fruit is usually 

 obscurely pyriform in shape, of a fine orange color, very fragrant, and 

 of fine quality. 



