THE QUINCE AND CHERRY. 63 



CHAPTER XV, 



THE QUINCE AND CHEERY. 



ORIGIN, PROPAGATION AND GENERAL MANAGEMENT OF THE 

 QUINCE AND CHERRY. 



The Quince, Cydonia (Pyrus) vulgaris, is a native of Middle 

 and Southern Europe, where it was known and esteemed from 

 the earliest records of those countries. It is not a fruit that can 

 be used for dessert without cooking, but its aroma and peculiar- 

 ly agreeable flavor makes it a much prized fruit for preserves. 

 On account of the limited use that can be made of the fruit, it 

 will probably not be found profitable if grown in very large 

 quantities. 



PROPAGATION. The Quince is readily propagated by layers, 

 stools, and by root-graft. 



Layers. This consists in budding-down the lower branches in 

 the spring, and, after having pared off the bark upon the under- 

 side, they are covered with five or six inches of rich, moist soil. In 

 the autumn roots will have been thrown out and the layers may 

 be cut ofr and planted in the nursery rows. 



Stool*. This is a modified form of the layer. Stocks that 

 have been planted one or two years are cut off near the ground, 

 and from these numerous shoots will spring up. These are 

 banked up with rich soil the following spring, and in the autumn 

 they will be found well-rooted layers, and are to be separated 

 from the stock and planted in the nursery. After about two 

 crops of layers have been taken from the stool, they are allowed 

 to grow* again for a year or two before banking up again. 



Root-grafts.- Perhaps the most rapid method of propagation 

 is by grafting upon pieces of apple-roots. This is done during 

 the winter, as directed for the apple, upon the trimmings of the 

 apple seedlings that were used for apple root-grafts, or those not 

 large enough for that purpose or f ov budding. These root-grafts are 

 planted in the nursery, in rich, moist soil, and at the end of one 



