THE APPLE, PEAR, AND QUINCE. 173 



The winter pears for culinary use also need care to pre- 

 vent shrivelling. They are usually barrelled or boxed and 

 kept in storage not too dry, such as would be suitable for 

 storing the russet apples. 



The Quince. 



177. Origin and Races. The quince is an ancient fruit 

 that has been changed in size and quality less than any 

 one of our orchard fruits by modern selection, crossing, 

 and culture. Eegel says that the quince has been widely 

 planted as far north as Tashkend and Koran in Asia, and 

 De Candolle in his " Origin of Cultivated- Plants " says it is 

 found " wild in the woods in the north of Persia/' which 

 indicates its native origin in the far East. But it is also 

 found wild in the Crimea and in the north of Greece. 

 The varieties we grow are from west Europe, Japan, and 

 China. It is more than probable that the varieties from 

 as far north as Tashkend in Asia would extend its culture 

 considerably to the north in the prairie States. Ten years 

 ago it was difficult, if not impossible, to investigate, select, 

 or send out seeds, scions, or trees from Bokhara, Tashkend, 

 or other fruit-growing sections of north central Asia. But 

 the recent control of this region by the Eussian govern- 

 ment and the extension of railroads across the great north 

 plain to the west boundary of China, makes such work 

 now possible, hence the historic notes given in these sec- 

 tions on hardy orchard fruits and their origin. 



Downing says: "The quince is a well-known hardy, 

 deciduous tree of small size, crooked branches, and spread- 

 ing bushy head." This is true as to its being common and 

 hardy in New York and westward to Michigan. But in 

 the great prairie region west of the lakes, few of our young 

 people ever saw a quince-tree and most of them never saw 



