THE QUINCE. 



583 



Tree a vigorous 



Chinese. Very large, oblong, rather coarse, 

 grower, but late bearer. Does best South. 



Fontenay or Paris. This is also cultivated extensively as stock for 

 the pear. The fruit is not equal in quality to the Orange or 

 Angers, more nearly resembling the Pear Quince in form and 

 texture. The tree has more small side-shoots, grows thicker, and 

 is less vigorous than the Angers. The Angers is further distin- 

 guished from the Fontenay by its downy shoots when young, 

 darker wood, and sliort stout thorns. 



The Japan and Chinese quinces are cultivated merely as orna- 

 mental shrubs. The fruit, which sets freely, is of no value for 

 edible purposes, and as it has a highly aromatic fragrance is 

 sometimes used to perfume clothes-drawers. 



Fuller. Large, pyriform, usually with an abrupt small neck ; sur- 

 face irregular ; lemon-yellow ; basin wide and deep ; flesh tender 

 and good. 



Johnson. Large, roundish-oblate, compressed at stem ; greenish- 

 yellow, downy in depression ; dots small, green ; cavity broad, 

 nearly level ; basin large, angular, deep ; flesh yellowish, juicy, 

 mild. Very good. Pennsylvania. Fig. 787. 



Meech.* (Meech's Prolific.) Large, obscure-pyriform, golden 

 yellow ; very fragrant, good flavor. Bears early — very produc- 

 tive. Mid-season. An excellent variety. Fig. 790. Connecticut. 



Orange.* (Apple.) Large, some sub-varieties quite large, round- 

 ish ; somewhat irregular, with a small and very short neck at the 

 base ; surface of a fine golden color ; flesh firm, stewing rather 

 tender, of excellent flavor. Ripens soon after mid-autumn. 

 Leaves oval. Tree productive if well cultivated. Fig. 789. 

 Massachusetts. ' 



This is the most common sort, and by continual propagation of 

 seedlings several sub-varieties have been 

 produced, varying slightly in coarseness or 

 firmness of texture, size and form. The 

 largest sometimes weighs a pound. 



Pear. (Oblong or Pyriform Quince.) Size 

 medium or rather large, pyriform, body 

 roundish-oblong, neck about one-half or one- 

 third the length of the body ; skin rather 

 dull rich yellow ; flesh firm, tough, dry, with 

 a high flavor, stewing less tender than the 

 Orange quince. Ripens late in autumn, and 

 hence adapted to distant marketing. Leaves 

 oblong-ovate. A moderate bearer. Fig. 

 791. 



Portugal. Quite large, oblong pyriform, 

 largest at the middle and tapering to each end ; yellow ; flesh 

 more juicy and less harsh than the other varieties. Stews well, 

 and becomes a fine purple or deep crimson when cooked. The 

 fruit is rather superior in quality, but the value of the variety 



Fig. 791. — Pear Quince, 



