16 The Japan Quince. 



great extent in England, where it is more of a favorite than 

 in our own country. It is in the 11th class, Icosandria, and 

 order Pentagynia (five wives). The genus, Pyrus, is distin- 

 guished by the calyx five cleft, superior ; corolla, five-petalled ; 

 pome (pulpy fruit, containing a capsule), five-celled, many- 

 seeded; seeds compressed, ovate. There are several species. 

 The P. Communis or pear tree. P. Cydonia or quina, which 

 last has been separated from the genus Pyrus, and erected into 

 a new one, Cydonia ; it differs from the Pyrus in the circum- 

 stance that the cells of its fruit contain many seeds, instead 

 of two only, as in the latter. The common quince is character- 

 ized by its downy deciduous leaves. It is so well known as not 

 to require description. The seeds are the portion used in medi- 

 cine ; they are of a reddish brown color externally, white within, 

 inodorous and nearly insipid, being slightly bitter when long 

 chewed.- The envelope contains mucilage, which is taken from 

 it by boiling water. When this decoction is evaporated to dry- 

 ness, three grains of it will thicken an ounce of water. It is used 

 as a common mucilage. Some practitioners have employed it 

 in diseases of the eye, but the sassafras pith, as a general rule, 

 obtains the preference. Our plate represents the Japan Quince. 

 It blossoms in January, making, with its scarlet-colored flowers, 

 hardy enough to endure the cold of our winters, the most 

 gorgeous present we have ever received from the East. Fairies , 

 Fire is used indiscriminately as a name and an emblem when 

 applied to the flower. 



&*• The Introduction has taken up so much room in this number, that we 

 must economize our space ; an inconvenience, which, however, can occur but 



once. 



