No. 129.) 581 



a cask which is to be stopped quite close until March, when it is 

 racked, and may be bottled in the second year. 



SOIL, CULTURE, TRAINING, PROPAGATION &c. 



The quiilce has been too long the despised occupant of the 

 neglected and obscure parts of the garden, and has been generally 

 supposed to require a wet soil, but despite of old prejudices, it 

 will flourish on a greater Tariety of soils than any other — from 

 the moist muck swamp to the garden ridge. They require to be 

 kept clean of grass and weeds, and thoroughly manured, being 

 rank feeders. They may be propagated from seeds, layers or 

 cuttings and also by grafting and budding where the same kindi 

 are desired to be maintained. The seeds of the quince re-pio- 

 duce the same sorts with greater certainty than those of other 

 fruits still varying some and hence the different shapes from pear 

 to apple. They may be grown on trees or bushes. The finest 

 fruit is produced from single standards with well formed heads. 

 The only excuse for growing them in a bush form is to supply a 

 second trunk, if the first should be destroyed by the borer. 



To propagate by layers, lay down young shoots in the spring 

 and cover with dirt so as to leave two or three buds above 

 the ground. Roots will generally be formed in autumn, when 

 the layer and new root may be separated from the parent tree, 

 and set out in rows. Such as have not rooted may remain for 

 the second year when they may be transplanted. Quince cut- 

 tings should be placed not less than ten to twelve inches deep, 

 and leaving but a small portion above the ground, and mulch- 

 ing with dry leaves or brush to give shade. These willbe fit to 

 remove for standards in two or three years. As a remedy for 

 the borer in the quince tree, charcoal, blacksmith's cinders and 

 unleached ashes, have each been tried in turn, and as far as we 

 know, without effect. The only sure method is to extract the 

 insect with a knife, and cover the wound with grafting wax. 

 Thomas recommends as a remedy for the borer, grafting the 

 quince on a pear stock. According to Goropinus, quinces were 

 the golden apples of the Hesperides, and not oranges as some 

 commentators pretend. Quinces are sometimes budded on thd 

 common thorn. 



