CHAPTER III. 



THE QUINCE. 



THE Quince, a small, irregular growing tree, about ten or twelve 

 feet high, bears one of the best fruits for preserves and jellies, and 

 for giving additional flavor to apple tarts. It is usually propagated 

 by layers and cuttings. Propagation by layers is performed by 

 bending young shoots down in spring, and burying them so as 

 to leave a few buds at the extremity above ground, as described on 

 page 30 of this work. When the buds on the shoots have well 

 started, all are rubbed off or cut away but the best. They will 

 throw out roots by autumn, and may be removed from the parent 

 tree, and set out in rows ; those which do not root the first 

 year may be left till the second. If the ground is rich, and they are 

 kept well cultivated and straightened by stakes, the cuttings and 

 layers will produce trees fit for removal as standards in two or three 

 years. This mode is more commonly used in raising the Orange 

 quince as a fruit. In the extensive propagation of stocks for the 

 pear, layering by stools is adopted. They are made by cutting back 

 strong plants to within a few inches of the surface of the ground 

 early in spring, or before the buds swell, which induces them to 

 throw up a number of strong shoots, constituting the stools. These 

 are earthed up the following spring, so that the whole of the stem 

 and the base of all the shoots will be covered three or four inches 

 deep. Roots will be thrown out during the same season, and these 

 rooted shoots are separated from the plant in the autumn for trans- 

 planting in rows. The stools are well cultivated and dressed with 

 manure the following season, and will produce another crop of 

 shoots the second year. As each stool yields a crop in alternate 

 seasons, there should be two sets, so that an annual supply may be 

 obtained. 



The quince is extensively propagated by cuttings, both in raising 

 stocks and trees for fruiting. The details of the operation are 

 described on pages 29 and 137 of this work. 



