196 POPULAR FRUIT GROWING. 



(b) Mound layering, i. e., by piling the soil up among the 

 stems which causes them to root, after which they are sepa- 

 rated and set out. 



(c) Budding or grafting the cultivated kinds on the free 

 growing Angers Quince (uncommon). 



(d) By grafting long quince cions on pieces of apple roots, 

 perhaps one or two inches long, which are broken off in one year 

 and the plants then obtained on their own roots. This method 

 is generally successful and especially desirable with some kinds 

 that do not grow easily from cuttings. It is customary to use 

 the short pieces of apple root commonly wasted in root-grafting 

 the apple, for this purpose. 



(e) The quince grows well from seed which starts readily. 

 The fruit of seedlings may be either pear or apple shaped. 



Soil and planting. — Rich, retentive, not moist soil is best. 

 Sandy soils are not so desirable as clay soils. The bushes 

 should be planted out about twelve feet apart each way. Avoid 

 cultivation of the soil as much as possible, especially in late sum- 

 mer, and avoid stable manure, as these have a tendency to en- 

 courage fire blight. Nitrogenous fertilizers and nitrogenous 

 cover crops should be avoided. Fertilizers containing potash 

 and phosphoric acid are best. 



Pruning. — Little pruning is required, except to keep the 

 suckers off from the roots and trunks. The trees should branch 

 close to the ground. 



Picking. — The fruit should be picked when it begins to 

 turn yellow and it must be handled with great care, as it 

 bruises easily. If stored in a cool place the fruit will keep a 

 month or more. It is used only for cooking when it has a 

 peculiar and delicious quality quite its own. Most of it is pre- 

 served in the form of jelly or marmalade but when baked it 

 makes a desirable dessert. 



Insects and diseases. — The quince is attacked by nearly the 

 same Insects and diseases that affect the apple and pear and is 

 especially liable to leaf rust, fire blight and leaf blight. See 

 Chapter III, Insects, and Chapter IV, Diseases. 



The varieties of the quince commonly grown are the Orange, 

 Champion, Rea and Meech. 



