ROSACEiE. 



127 



The juice of tlie pear when fermented h 

 beverage, as wine is used. 



■all(*«l perry, and is used as a table 



3. P. Cydonia, L. (Quince.) JSteni l)rauchin^ very near the gruuud, from 

 3 to 6 inclies in diameter ; branches very crooked and irreguhir, sparinglv armed 

 with spines. Leaves obU)ng, ovate, obtuse at tlie base, and acute at the apex ; 

 entire, snux^th above, wot)lly beneath. Flowers solitary, large, on short pedi- 

 cels, at the ends of the l)ranchlet.s ; calyx lobes expanding into small t(jrnen- 

 tose leaves. Fruit globular or pear-sliaped, golden-yellow when ripe ; clothed 

 with a soft down in an unripe state. Seeds numerous. Flowers appear in Mav. 

 Fruit ripens in ( )ctober. 



Like other fruits grown from the seed, the quince sports, and we have 

 varieties. The nurserymen in the United States catalogue about liu varieties, 

 each of which has some quality to recommend it to growers. 



Geography. — The 

 geographical zone of 

 the quince is between 

 35° and 60° north lati- 

 tude, extending from 

 northern Persia both 

 east and west. It 

 was brought to north- 

 east America by Eu- 

 ropean colonists. It 

 reaches great perfec- 

 tion in rortugal. 



Eti/mologi/. — The 

 name Cydonia is de- 

 rived from Ctjchn, in 

 the island of Crete. 

 The common name is 

 supposed to be a cor- 

 ruption of one of 

 the various names by 

 which it is known, 

 most likely from the 

 Middle English name 

 coine. 



History. — The quince was known to the ancient (ireeks and Romans, and 

 was highly esteemed by them. It is a native of nortliern Persia, and was found 

 in the island of Crete. It has spread westward, through middle and nortiu-rn 

 Europe. 



Use. — The quince is a well-known fruit of the apple family. It is not 

 edible in a raw state, but is valued as a Havorer of other fruits, especially of 

 apples. It is highly esteemed for preserving, and for marmalades and jellies. 

 It is also preserved l)y drying. In England it is used f(.r wine-making. The 

 seedlings are largely employed l>y nurserymen for grafting i»cars ujion. The 

 seeds yield large amounts of mucilage used in preparations for hair-dressing, 

 and as a lotion for sore eyes. 



4. P. Japonica (Pyrus Japonica, or Japan Quince) is a native of Japaji. 

 The fruit is not edible; but the Howers are very showy, and the tree is u 

 favorite shrub for ornamental pur})oses and for hedging. 



Pyrus Cydonia (Quince). 



