THE ROMANCE OF OUR TREES 



(P. Calleryana), with minute fruits, which I intro- 

 duced to the Arnold Arboretum from central China 

 in 1909, is already achieving prominence as the 

 most resistant to the dreaded Pear blight of all the 

 species and in consequence a valudble stock on which 

 to work our garden Pears. 



The Quince (Cydonia vulgaris) is nowadays more 

 esteemed in New England than in Britain. A low 

 tree with tortuous, rambling branches, and considered 

 native of southern France and central Europe, it was 

 known to the Greeks and Romans and by both nations 

 held in high esteem. By the ancients it was con- 

 sidered the emblem of love, happiness, and fruitfulness 

 and was dedicated to Venus. The nuptial chambers 

 of the Greeks and Romans were decorated with the 

 fruit, and the bride and bridegroom also ate it as 

 soon as the marriage ceremony was performed. In 

 eastern Asia grow three species of Quince but their 

 fruits are of little value; they are, however, very 

 decorative garden plants. Another old fruit tree 

 seldom seen nowadays is the Medlar (Mespilus 

 germanica) whose fruit is not eaten until it is in a 

 state of incipient decay, when it is very agreeable to 

 some palates. 



Now let us consider the stone-fruits which, like the 

 preceding, all belong to the great Rose family. At 

 the head of these stands the Peach {Prunus persica) 



210 



