QUINCES. 175 



from becoming hard. Mixed with apples in pies, they com- 

 municate a fine flavor. They are also made into marma- 

 lade by the confectioners. 



" One quart of the juice of quinces, mixed with one 

 pound of sugar and fermented, affords a delicious wine ; 

 on adding to the same quantity one pint of the best French 

 brandy, and four ounces of sugar, a celebrated liqueur is 

 prepared on the continent, which is greatly prized as a 

 cordial and stomachic, when taken in the small quantity of 

 two or three spoonfuls before breakfast." Dom. Ency. 



Phillips relates the case of a gentleman completely cured 

 of an asthmatic complaint of long standing, by the use of 

 Quince Wine, made after the following receipt : " The 

 quinces are cut open and deprived of their seeds, for these 

 communicate an unpleasant flavor. After being ground 

 fine, a gallon of water is to be added to every gallon of 

 pomace ; after standing a day or two, it is pressed; and to 

 every gallon of liquor thus produced, three and a quarter 

 pounds of good, moist sugar are added. The liquor is 

 placed in casks, which are to be stopped quite close till 

 March, when it is racked off, and bottled in the second 

 year." 



VARIETIES. 



ORANGE QUINCE. Maliforma or Apple Quince is a large; 

 roundish, beautiful fruit, ripening in November. The 

 leaves are oval and woolly the lower side. 



OBLONG OR PEAR QUINCE. Oblonga. This fruit is 

 pear-shaped, lengthened at the base ; leaves oblong, ovate. 



PORTUGAL QUINCE. Lusitanica. This fruit is of a 

 variable form, sometimes pear-shaped; very juicy and 

 astringent; it is highly esteemed. It is reputed to be 

 rather a shy bearer. Leaves obovate, woolly above. 



To this list may be added the Winter Quince, and the 

 French Musk Quince^ and the following : 



JAPAN QUINCE. Cydonia Japonica, or Japan Pear. 

 Pyrus Japonica. A shrub growing six or eight feet in 

 height ; branches contorted and thorny; leaves small, oval, 

 oblong, of a dark shining green ; its flowers splendid, of 

 a fine scarlet, an inch and a half in diameter, and produced 

 in clusters early in April. A native of Northern Asia, and 

 one of the most ornamental plants of the season, and 



