FRUIT-GARDENING. 189 



Quince. Coignassier. Cydonia. 



The Quince is of low growth, much branched, and generally- 

 crooked and distorted. The leaves are roundish or ovate, 

 entire, above dusky green, underneath whitish, on short peti- 

 oles. The flowers are large, white, or pale red, and appear in 

 May and June. The fruit, a pome, varying in shape in the 

 different varieties, globular, oblong, or ovate. It has a peculiar 

 and rather disagreeable smell, and austere taste. The fruit 

 takes its name from being a native of the ancient to^vn of 

 Cydon, in the Island of Crete. Some suppose it to be a cor- 

 ruption of Mains colonea, by which the Latins designated the 

 fruit. It is used as a marmalade for flavoring apple-pies, and 

 makes an excellent sweetmeat ; and it has the advantao;e over 

 many other fruits for keeping, if properly managed. 



Of the several sorts, the following are in greatest esteem : 1. 

 The oblong, or Pear Quince, with ovate leaves, and an oblong 

 fruit lengthened at the base. 2. The Apple Quince, with ovate 

 leaves, and a rounder fruit. 3. The Portugal Quince, the fruit 

 of which is more juicy and less harsh than the preceding, and 

 therefore the most valuable. It is rather a shy bearer, but is 

 highly esteemed, as the pulp has the property of assuming a 

 fine purple tint in the course of being prepared as a marmalade. 

 4. The mild or eatable Quince, being less austere and astringent 

 than the others. 5. The Orange Quince, a very handsome 

 fruit of peculiar rich flavor. 6. The Musk or Pineapple 

 Qumce, very large and beautiful. 



The Quince produces the finest fruit when planted in a soft, 

 moist soil, and rather shady, or at least sheltered situation. It 

 is generally propagated by layers, and also by cuttings, and 

 approved sorts may be perpetuated by grafting. In propagat- 

 ing for stocks, nothing more is necessary than to remove the 

 lower shoots from the layer, so as to preserve a clear stem as 

 high as the graft ; but for fruit-bearing trees, it is necessary to 

 train the stem to a rod, till it has attained four or five feet in 

 height, and can support itself upright. 



