VARIETIES OF QUINCES. 65 



In good soil, tlie Quince begins to bear paying crops of fruit in 

 from four to six years from planting in the orchard, and con- 

 tinues to bear, with good treatment, for from twenty to forty 

 years. 



Harvesting. — The fruit should not be gathered until it be- 

 gins to turn yellow, when it may all be picked at once. Like the 

 varieties of apples with a yellow skin, it must be handled with 

 care, as severe bruises will make marks upon the surface. 



The fruit may be kept for one or two months in any cool cel- 

 . lar or shed, but to keep it beyond this time requires cold storage. 

 It does not generally pay to keep the Quince much beyond its 

 natural season of ripening, as it meets the most ready market 

 during the time when canning and preserving are mostly done. 



Varieties. — There are but few varieties in cultivation, and 

 these show less distinctive characteristics than those of almost 

 any other kind of fruit. Among the best are : 



Orange. — This is an old standard sort, nearly round in form, and 

 of a light yellow color ; tree moderately vigorous and productive ; 

 of fine quality. 



Rea's. — This is claimed to be larger and more productive than 

 the Orange, but it is no better in quality than the Orange. 



Champion. — A new variety originated in Connecticut. The 

 fruit is large, of the same form and color as the Orange, said 

 to be of better quality, and comes earlier into bearing. My ex- 

 perience with this variety is confined to young trees budded upon 

 the Orange stock. In this condition it is evidently a little earlier 

 in bearing than the Orange or Rea's, but this earliness may be 

 djie to the fact that they are budded trees. Any variety may be 

 made of better quality, and larger and finer in form, by good cul- 

 tivation than if neglected. 



The Pear Shaped Quince. — This is an old variety differing from 

 those mentioned above in form, but rapidly going out of cul- 

 tivation. 



Diseases. The Quince is comparatively free from disease. 

 It is sometimes attacked by the twig-blight. This is similar in 

 appearance to tlie fire-blight in the pear, but seldom destroys 

 more than the ends of the shoots. These should be removed and 

 destroyed by burning, as soon as they appear, for the sake of the 

 appearance of the orchard, if not to prevent it from spreading. 

 The trees are sometimes destroyed by cold where they make a 

 late, coarse growth; the remedy or preventive has been previous- 

 ly described. 



Insects. — The only insects that are seriously injurious to the 

 Quince are the borers that attack the apple. They are to be 

 destroyed as described under that subject. 



