194 CULTURE AND MANAGEMENT 



those set in dry situations, is said to possess a finer 

 flavour. The quince tree requires but very little 

 pruning; the most important part of their manage- 

 ment consists in clearing their stems from suckers, 

 and in cutting off such branches as interfere with 

 each other. All luxuriant shoots that strike up 

 from the middle of the tree, must be lopped off, 

 to prevent the head from being too much crowded 

 with wood, which might impede the growth of the 

 fruit. If the tree becomes diseased or rotten, the 

 dead parts should be cut away, and the composi- 

 tion applied, as in apple trees. We are advised 

 to plant quince trees at a good distance from apple 

 and pear trees, lest the farina become mixed, and 

 the fruits degenerate. The quince tree is liable 

 to the attack of the worm borer, the same as the 

 apple and peach tree ; and the same remedies are 

 to be recommended. * 



OF PEACHES. 



THE soil and climate of our southern and middle 

 states are considered as peculiarly congenial to the 

 growth of the peach tree, and, accordingly, it has 

 long been more generally and extensively cultivat- 

 ed there than in any other section of the union. 

 It is reared on every plantation, and not unfre- 

 quently peach orchards, covering many acres, and 

 consisting of several thousand trees, are presented 

 to the view of the traveller. It is, however, more 

 for the purpose of distillery than the luxury of the 

 table, that this species of fruit receives so much at- 

 tention from our southern brethren; an excellent 

 and highly-flavoured brandy being obtained from it 

 by distillation. It is exceedingly to be regretted, 

 that the peach tree of late years has become liable 



