496 DECIDUOUS SSBUBS. 



feet above the ground. If all suckers are kept down, the head will 

 usually grow to a good form without pruning. 'J'he branches are 

 of crooked, rambling growth, and the tree is not a pleasing otie in 

 winter. The common orange quince is the best variety. It grows 

 readily from cuttings. 



The China Quince Tree. C. sinensis. — This differs from the pre- 

 ceding in having serrated instead of smooth-edged leaves, and rose- 

 colored flowers. Its fruit is green, egg-shaped, and of little value. 



The Japan Quince. C. Japonica. — This variety is almost too 

 well known to need description. Unlike its fruit-bearing relative, 

 the C. vulgaris, this later importation has been planted as it de- 

 serves to be. It is a low straggling thorny bush, and grows from 

 five to eight feet in height and breadth. Its large bright-scarlet 

 flowers are the earliest showy blossoms of the shrubbery ; appear- 

 ing with those of the red-bud and the white-flowered dogwood. 

 On thrifty bushes which have been well cut back, the blossoms, 

 cover the branches with a blaze of bloom. Its leaves are a glossy- 

 green, appear early, a,nd keep their color late. A rich soil, moist, 

 or dry, is essential to it. When growing thriftily its straggling shoots, 

 should be headed back twice a 5-ear, in June and October, to. 

 thicken its foliage and bring the flower-buds, which are formed at 

 the base of the annual growth, on the outside of the bush at the: 

 blooming season. 



Among the sub-varieties of Japan quince are the following:. 

 The C.j. umbellicata, flowers a brilliant rose-color. Fruit orange- 

 colored and very showy. It forms a large shrub, and is considered . 

 by some growers the finest variety. The Blush Japan quince, C./ 

 alba, large pale-blush flowers ; the Double-Flowering Scarlet, C. j. 

 flore plena ; the Dark Crimson, C. j. atrosanguinea ; the Orange 

 Scarlet, C. J. aurantiaca ; and the mallardie, with white flowers and . 

 rosy crimson centre. Nearly all are distinguished by what their 

 names imply. 



Were the Japan quince not somewhat difficult to propagate, it 

 would be a most desirable low hedge-plant. Its thorns are de- 

 cidedly quick to repel aggression, its leaves are bright and glossy 

 from early spring to late in autumn, and its blossoms are unequalled^ 

 in brilliancy, in their season, by any other hedge-plant. 



