170 AMERICAN AGRICULTURE. 



THE QUINCE. 



This is also a valuable market fruit. It makes a rich, 

 highly flavored sweetmeat, and to this use it is entirely 

 limited. The tree is easily raised by suckers and the 

 cuttings, and should be planted fifteen feet apart, in a rich, 

 warm, heavy soil, (a clayey loarn is the best,) rather moist, 

 and in a sunny exposure where it will be well sheltered from 

 severe and cold winds. The wash of a barn yard is its be^st 

 manure, and it repays equally with the apple, for good cul- 

 tivation. The fruit is large, sometimes weighing a pound, 

 of a rich yellow color, and generally fre from worms and 

 other imperfections. It ripens in October and November. 

 The orange quince is the best variety for common cultiva- 

 tion. The tree requires but little pruning. The trunk may 

 be entire for two or three feet, or branch from the ground 

 by two or more stems. The top should be kept open to 

 admit the sun and air, and the trunk freed from suckers. So 

 treated it will live long and produce abundantly. 



THE CHERRY. 



Aside from the value of its fruit, the cherry is an orna- 

 mental shade tree, hardy and vigorous in its growth, and 

 easy of propagation. It should be planted like the apple. 

 For culinary purposes, the common red cherry is perhaps 

 the best. This may stand sixteen to twenty feet apart, 

 according to soil and situation. The large Mazard or the 

 English cherry requires more room, and if on a deep, Warm, 

 sandy loam, itsfavoiite soil, it should be planted two rods 

 apart, as it grows to a large size. It will flourish luxuri- 

 antly on a clay loarn, or on an open gravel, provided the 

 soil be ri-^h and deep ; but on these, it demands more careful 

 cultivation. It seldom requires much pruning. Care must 

 be used with this as with all other fruit trees, to give it an 

 open head and to keep the limbs from crossing and chafing 

 each other. Thft varieties most in use are the Common Red 

 Kentish or Pie Cherry, with which every one is familiar, the 

 English Mayduke, Black Tartarian Bigarreau, (Graffion or 

 Yellow Span sh.) the large Red Bigarreau, Elton, Belle de 

 Choisy and the late Duke. These will form a succession of six 

 weeks in ripening and embrace the entire cherry season. 

 The cherry is remarkably free from disease and it usually 

 requires but ordinary care in its cultivation. 



