654 THE QUINCE. 



and handsome and equally as good, and by some preferred to 

 the apple quince for culinary purposes. Tree healthy, a thrifty 

 grower and productive — an acquisition.* 



Ornamental Varieties — There are two or three ornamental 

 varieties of the quince, which are natives of China and Japan, 

 and are now among the most common and attractive of our 

 garden shrubs. They are the following : — 



Japan Quince. 



Cydonia Japonica. Bee. 

 Pyrus Japonica. 7'hunberg. 



The Japan Quince is a low thorny shrub, with small dark 

 green leaves. It is the most brilliant object in the shrubbery, 

 during the month of April, the branches being clothed with 

 numerous clusters of blossoms, shaped like those of the quince, 

 but rather larger, and of the brightest scarlet. The fruit which 

 occasionally succeeds these flowers, is dark green, very hard, 

 and having a peculiar and not unpleasant smell. It is entirely 

 useless. 



The White, or Blush Japan Quince ((7. ja2). Jl. alho\ re- 

 sembles the foregoing, except that the flowers are white and 

 pale pink, resembling those of the common apple-tree. 



Chinese Quince. 



Cydonia Sinensis. Dec. 



We have had this pretty shrub in our garden for several 

 years, where it flowers abundantly, but has, as yet, produced no 

 fruit. The leaves are oval, somewhat like those of the common 

 quince, but with a shining surface. The flowers are rosy red, 

 rather small, with a delicate violet odour, and have a very 

 pretty effect in the month of May, though much less showy 

 than those of the Japan Quince. The fruit is described as 

 large, egg-shaped, with a green skin and a hard dry flesh, not 

 of any value for eating. The leaves assume a beautiful shade 

 of red in autumn. 



* In the fall of 1835, Mr. Rea sent two baskets to New York, contain- 

 ing about half a bushel each, whi:h brought him line dollars. One 

 basket had 36 quinces ui, and sold for five dollars, 'nd the other (10) 

 brought four dollars. 



