VARIETIES. 



461 



than its shape corresponds to the general form of apples ; therefore we 

 prefer the name orange to apple-shaped. It is not rare to find it grown 

 from seed, and the seedlings sold as the Orange Quince, when, in truth, as 

 many of the seedlings are likely to produce the pear-shaped or even far in- 

 ferior fruit, as seedlings from a good pear or good apple, when the parent 

 was grown by itself. It is often gathered before ripe, which is not until 

 from the middle to the last of October. If gathered too early they do not 

 cook tender. Leaf, ovate pointed. Fruit, large, ovate, obtuse pyriform, 

 varying to obovate conical ; stem, usually in a slight depression ; when 

 well-grown and cared for, the skin is smooth, of a rich golden yellow ; 

 without care, it becomes small, knotty, and woolly ; core, large, and placed 

 nearest the blossom or calyx end ; seeds, reddish brown. 



PORTUGAL QUINCE. 

 Cydonia Lusitanica. 



This variety is readily distinguished in the tree, by its leaf being round, 

 or as wide as long, and very downy underneath. The true variety is yet 

 scarce in the West. It has the reputation of being a shy bearer, but trees 

 in our grounds have produced equally as abundant as the Orange Quince. 

 Fruit, medium to large, regular oblong pyriform, smooth, of a paler yellow 

 than the Orange variety; core, medium, and placed near the centre; seeds, 

 light brown , fash, mild, less astringent than other varieties ; cooks tender 



