1870. 



NEW ENGLAND FAEMER. 



311 



ceive it. How rare it is to see a well-formed 

 quince tree ! Quinces are usually grown in the 

 shape of huge bushes, with no more attention 

 paid to their shape, than is given to the form 

 of a syrlnga bush. It is often seen with two, 

 three, and even four stems springing from the 

 ground, and its head is composed of crossed 

 branches and twisted shoots. A quince tree 

 with a straight, smooth stem full three feet in 

 height, and then branching forth into a stocky, 

 compact growth is a rara arbor. 



It is usually considered as a fruit which re- 

 quires no care, but will grow and flourish like 

 a wilding of the forest. Its extermination in 

 many places — is now telling a different story, 

 and the question is asked, "What is the mat- 

 ter with the quinces? mine are all dying." 



Quinces will thrive well in common garden 

 soil if well manured and pruned, and there is 

 no more beautiful sight than a quince tree 

 filled with flowers or fruit. Its flowers are 

 very beautiful — its fruit almost equals the or- 

 ange in form and coloring. The orange 

 quinces are our northern substitute for that 

 peerless southern fruit. They equal them in 

 beauty and fragrance, but do not possess their 

 juicy qualities ; yet for a pie, tart or sweet- 

 meat, they are fully equal. Indeed there is 

 no fruit in the New England or middle States 

 more to be desired for culinary purposes than 

 quinces. 



In cultivating them, pruning is most essen- 

 tial, in order to strengthen their growth. If 

 the tree is growing in rich, well moistened 

 earth, it will throw out a long straight shoot. 

 Prune off all lateral branches, and cut back 

 the shoot to a foot and a half or two feet, and 

 tie it to a firm support. It will grow well that 

 summer. In the winter pruning, spur in the 

 laterals. In every successive year, manure 

 well, and prune closely, clearmg the main 

 stem of all side shoots. 



By cultivating in this way, and yearly short- 

 ening the main branch a stout tree which will 

 not need support can be produced. Three 

 shoots can be allowed to grow the first year 

 that the head is made ; cut these back next 

 season and each will send forth two more, and 

 there will be six principal branches. The fruit 

 of this tree is produced on small, short, stout 

 shoots extending down the sides of the 

 branches, therefore in pruning all superabun- 

 dant, irregular or decayed shoots should be 

 cut off. 



The quince grows finer near the sea-shore 

 than on the inland, showing that it delights in 

 a salty moisture. If a peck of salt is dug 

 around an old, nearly barren tree, its fruitful - 

 ness will be greatly increased. Scatter the 

 salt over the surface of the soil, but not close 

 to the main stem. A half bushel of ashes 

 unleached, will increase its growth. From 

 childhood we have loved the quince tree, and 

 desire to speak a good word in its behalf. 



The borer has tried its powers upon this 

 fruit, as well as most others, but he can be 



routed effectually, if one sets about it. Dip 

 some cloths in kerosene and wrap around the 

 stem as far down in the ground as possible, 

 and pile the soil about it. Should the borer 

 have stolen in before this is done, poke him 

 out with a piece of wire. If your trees are 

 badly infested with these pests of horticul- 

 ture, set out new ones, or strike cuttings from 

 good stout scions. They will grow as readily 

 as a grape cutting ; — set them in boxes filled 

 half full with rich soil, and half with wet sand, 

 plant the cuttings in the sand and they will 

 quickly strike root. Cuttings can be planted 

 along the margin of a hot- bed, or even in the 

 open ground. Don't let this rare fruit die 

 out for want of the care and culture you can 

 so easily bestow, if you wUl only open your 

 eyes to its needs ! s. o. J. 



For the New England Farmer, 

 STICK TO THE FARM. 



Every position m life has its discomforts. 

 It matters not whether cultivating the soil, at- 

 tending the sick, selling goods, or preaching a 

 sermon. Some other position, and not our 

 own, seems to be the favored one, and to pos- 

 sess less onerous duties. Confinement in 

 heated, unventilated rooms, as must from 

 present custom necessarily be the case with 

 nearly all professional men and mechanics, is 

 not conducive to either a long life, or a tran- 

 quil one. 



Unquestionably, man's normal condition is 

 to cultivate the soil. At the beginning he was 

 put into a garden, but getting into difficulty, 

 probably because he was displeased with his 

 employment, and, as is the case at the present 

 day, having ambitious desires in another direc- 

 tion, he was forced to change his location, if 

 not his occupation, and has been grumbling 

 ever since. I believe that farming will pay, 

 but it must be intelligent farming ; a con- 

 servative exercise of muscles, not an improvi- 

 dent waste of vital forces. 



Take care of your health, and don't waste 

 your strength in lifting. Carelessness in this 

 respect, and exposure, bring rheumatism and 

 pleurisy, and they never leave you as well as 

 before. Whenever the aid of machinery can 

 be called in use, it economizes your vitality. 

 Have a system. I know the constant temp- 

 tation to overdo. Better spend five dollars 

 for hired labor, than fifty in doctor's bills. 

 Do not labor to exhaustion. You can then 

 think as well as work. 



It is too true that during the carnival of 

 farmers in the fall, they are always advised, 

 (nine times out of ten by some one not a far- 

 mer,) to stick to the farm. The beauties of 

 picking stones and laying walls are skilfully 

 painted, so that for the time all want to be 

 farmers ; but the tired, aching back, a week 

 after, does not feel relieved by a sight of the 

 aforesaid orator and adviser driving a pair of 

 blooded horses, without a thought of the far- 



