652 THE QUINCE. 



It is, however, much esteemed when cooked. For preserving, 

 it is everywhere valued, and an excellent marmalade is also 

 made from it. Stewed, it is very frequently used, to communi- 

 cate additional flavour and piquancy to apple-tarts, pies, or 

 other pastry. In England, wine is frequently made from the 

 fruit, by adding sugar and water, as in other fruit wines ; and it 

 is a popular notion there, that it has a most beneficial effect 

 upon a.stJwiatic patients. Dried Quinces are excellent. 



In this country, large plantations are sometimes made of the 

 Quince ; and as it is in good soil, a plentiful bearer, it is consi- 

 dered one of the most valuable market fruits. The Apple 

 quince is the most productive and saleable ; but as the Pear 

 quince ripens, and can be sent to market much later, it fre- 

 quently is the most profitable. 



Pro2oagation. — The Quince is easily propagated from seed, 

 layers, or cuttings. From seeds the quince is somewhat liable 

 to vary in its seedhngs, sometimes proving the apple-shaped and 

 .sometimes the pear-shaped variety. Cuttings, planted in a 

 shaded situation, early in the spring, root very easily, and this 

 is perhaps the simplest and best way of continuing a good va- 

 riety. The better sorts are also frequently budded on common 

 seedling quince stocks, or on the common thorn. 



Quince stocks are extensively used in engrafting or budding the 

 Pear, when it is wished to render that tree dwarf in its habit. 



Soil and Culture, — The Quince grows naturally in rather 

 moist soil, by the side of rivulets and streams of water. Hence 

 it is a common idea that it should always be planted in some 

 damp neglected part of the garden, where it usually receives 

 little care, and the fruit is often knotty and inferior. 



This practice is a very erroneous one. jSTo tree is more bene- 

 fited by manuring than the quince. In a rich, mellow, deep 

 soil, even if quite dry, it grows with tlirice its usual vigour, and 

 bears abundant crops of large and fair fruit. It should, there- 

 fore, be planted in deep and good soil, kept in constant cultiva- 

 tion, and it should have a top-dressing of manure every season, 

 when fair and abundant crops are desired. As to pruning, or 

 other care, it requires very little indeed — an occasional thinning 

 out of crowding or decayed branches, being quite sufficient. 

 Thinning the fruit, when there is an overcrop, improves the size 

 of the remainder. Ten feet apart is a suitable distance at which 

 to plant this tree. 



The Quince, like the apple, is occasionally subject to the 

 attacks of the borer, and a few other insects, which a little care 

 will prevent or destroy. For tlieir habits we refer the reader to 

 the apple. 



Varieties. — Several varieties of the corimon Quince are enu- 

 merated in many catalogues, but there ari3 in reality only three 

 dit^tinct forms of this fruit worth cnumera%ing, viz.: 



