432 THE QUINCE. 



making and putting in the cuttings. Small beds may be made, 

 well shaded from noonday sun, and watered during the summer 

 season. 



By Layers. These are usually made in spring, by bending down 

 and pegging, as described in a previous part of this work. They 

 usually form roots the first season, and will answer the following 

 spring to be cut from the parent plant and transplanted into nursery- 

 rows. 



By Roots. Small pieces of the roots, from four to six inches 

 long each, taken off in spring, and planted with the upper end 

 about two inches under ground, will throw up fine shoots during the 

 season. For propagating the Cydonia Japonica, or Japan Quince, 

 this is decidedly the best way. 



By Budding and Grafting. The Portugal and Orange Quince, 

 being the most valuable, are often propagated by budding and 

 grafting ; and when quince stocks for the purpose are not on hand, 

 the common white thorn answers a very good purpose often doing 

 even better than the quince, in poor soils, or in the hands of those 

 who neglect cultivation. 



SOIL. The soil, for successful growth, should be rich, deep say 

 two feet and regularly cultivated, or, in other words, free of grass 

 or weeds. Barn-yard manure, with salt in abundance, mixed, and 

 allowed to lie six months before being applied and spaded-in around 

 the trees, will often render trees deemed unproductive, and of poor 

 quality, productive, and of the best. New plantations, if to be 

 made in old worn-out soils, should first have a liberal dressing of 

 virgin-earth or leaf-mould from woods. Free use of liquid manures, 

 applied during winter and spring, have to our knowledge kept a 

 plantation of the quince in fine health and bearing for upwards of 

 thirty years. Bog-earth, or salt marsh-mud, is frequently used in 

 the States bordering on the ocean or salt water. 



SITUATION. A shaded situation, and moist, has been almost uni- 

 versally advised; neither of which is at all essential. Shade, on 

 the contrary, is objectionable; while, in soils well supplied with 

 manures and salt, moisture sufficient will always be found. 



TRANSPLANTING, PRUNING, AND DISTANCE APART. The Quince is 

 hardy, and the fall is best for transplanting ; but, when not conve- 

 nient, its roots strike so readily that no one should be deterred, even 

 if left until late in spring. Newly-planted trees should be pruned 

 back very closely, or say two-thirds of the last year's growth cut 



