338 Pear Stock, vs. Qninte. Stock. 



supply of terrible thorns, longevity, freedom from attack of in" 

 sects, &c., &c. 



I am informed that another new feature of usefulness has been 

 developed in the leaf, as a food for the silk worm, the value of 

 which has been fairly tested by a friend at Cincinnati, and 

 the result is, that the silk is finer than that made from the morns multi- 

 caulis. We might reasonably infer, that this discovery may 

 vastly enhance tlie importance of Madura hedge culture, since 

 the material for producing silk may be collected in vast quanti- 

 ties, with the least expense, from the summer clippings of the 

 hedge ; but as this article is already too long, we defer anv 

 further speculation on this branch of the subject at present. 



Canton, 111., Feb., 1856. 



PEAR STOCK vs. QUINCE STOCK. 



BY JAMES SNOWDEN. 



Some ten years ago, the demand for pear trees increased with 

 such unanticipated rapidity, that nurserymen were unable to in- 

 crease their stock sufficiently to meet it. As a result, extensive 

 importations were made, and by this means thousands of pear 

 trees were introduced on quince bottoms. As this method of 

 propagating the pear had become exceedingly popular in Europe, 

 attributable more particularlj^ I imagine, to the unique appear" 

 ancc of the tree than from advantages of a utilitarian character. 

 Mr. Rivers expressed himself favorably and even strenuously ad- 

 vocated the superiority of the quince over the pear for stock, as- 

 severating that the fruit was improved in flavor, increased 

 in size the tree, became more prolific, and for the minimum of 

 space occupied, gave the maximum of product. 



Mr. Rivers being a nurseryman of much experience, his views 

 were cordially adopted by his adherents, both in Europe and the 

 United States. Tree groAvers here suddenly became wonderfull\' 

 enamored of the quince, simply because the stock was easily and 

 cheaply procured, while, on the contrary, pear seedlings wevf 

 with great difficulty purchased at exorbitant rates, were less 



