MEDLAR. 



229 



flavoured than the common sort, is the only kind now in 

 request for planting in the garden or orchard. This fruit 

 cannot be eaten when fresh gathered, being too harsh for 

 the palate ; but after it has been laid up for a few weeks, 

 and undergone a putrefactive fermentation, it becomes 

 quite soft, and is an agreeable fruit for the desserts in 

 November and December. 



This fruit is cooling, drying, and binding, especially 

 before it is ripe, and is useful in all kinds of fluxes. The 

 lapilli, or hard seeds, are accounted good for the stone 

 and gravel ; they are an ingredient in the syrupm myr- 

 tinus. (Miller's Bot. Off.) 



The medlar-tree is propagated by budding or grafting 

 on the hawthorn, as has been noticed by Philips : 



" Men have gather'd from the hawthorn's branch 

 Large medlars, imitating regal crowns." 



It will also take upon the quince or pear stock, and 

 both these will take upon the medlar, which shews they 

 have great affinity to each other ; but it is more pro- 

 ductive when grafted on the hawthorn. 



The pruner must observe not to shorten any of the 

 branches, as the fruit is always produced at the extremi- 

 ties of the boughs. 



The medlar-tree is very ornamental when in blossom, 

 and forms a beautiful shrub for the pleasure ground, par- 

 ticularly when looked down upon from higher grounds. 



