CHAPTER XXXIl. 



THE QUINCE. 



The quince, a small, irregular growing tree, about ten or 

 twelve feet high, bears one of the best fruits for preserves and 

 jellies, and for giving additional flavor to apple cooked in any 

 manner. It is usually propagated by layers and cuttings. 

 Propagation by layers is performed by bending young shoots 



down in spring, and burying 

 them so as to leave a few 

 buds at the extremity above 

 ground, as described on page 

 26 of this work. When the 

 buds on the shoots have well 

 started, all are rubbed off or 

 cut away but the best. They 

 will throw out roots by au- 

 tumn, and may be removed 

 from the parent tree, and set 

 out in rows; those which do 

 not root the first year may 

 be left till the second. If 

 the ground is rich, and they 

 are kept well-cultivated and 

 straightened by stakes, the 

 cuttings and layers will pro- 

 duce trees fit for removal as standards in two or three 

 years. This mode is more commonly used in raising the 

 orange quince as a fruit. In the extensive propagation of 

 stocks for the pear, layering by stools is adopted. They 

 are made by cutting back strong plants to within a few 

 inches of the surface of the ground early in spring, or before 

 the buds swell, which induces them to throw up a number of 

 Strong shoots, constituting the stools. These are earthed up 



580 



Fig. 784. — Neglected Quince-Tree. 



