260 



THE GARDENER'S ASSISTANT. 



marmalade and other preserves, as well as to 

 give briskness and flavour to Apple pies and 

 tarts. 



The tree itself is much employed as a stock 

 for certain varieties of the Pear which are in- 

 tended to be trained as dwarf pyramids or 

 espaliers. 



C. cathayensis and C. chinensis (fig. 1045, c, d) 

 are not unlike each other in general characters; 



they have ovate fruit 5 to 7 inches in length, 

 which have all the useful qualities of the com- 

 mon Quince. They require, however, the pro- 

 tection of a south wall, and even then they do 

 not ripen fruit in England except in excep- 

 tionally warm summers. 



The common Quince (fig. 1045, a) succeeds in 

 any soil, but prefers one of a rich, somewhat light, 

 and moist nature ; heavy clays and dry sandy soils 



Fig. 1045.— Quinces ; a. Common (C vulgaris) (nat. size), b, Chinese (0. siiiensis). (|.) c, Chinese (0. cathayensis). (J.) 



are hut ill suited to its growth. To ripen the 

 fruit properly, a situation open to the sun on 

 the south, east, or west side, is necessary; but 

 in any case, and particularly in cold and back- 

 ward localities, a southern aspect is highly 

 desirable. 



Pruning and Training. — The Quince does not 

 naturally grow with a strong erect stem, such 

 as is desirable for a standard, but is apt to grow 

 up with long flexible shoots, inclined to branch 

 and twist. A tree planted where it is intended 

 to remain, should be allowed to grow at freedom 

 for a season. It ought then to be cut back, in 

 autumn, to within 18 inches of the ground. 



Several shoots will push, the strongest of which 

 should be trained upright to a rod, and 

 shortened a little at every autumn pruning. If 

 the one highest up be the strongest, so much the 

 better, if not, the shoot or shoots above it must 

 be rubbed off"; and those below it should be 

 pinched, when 1 foot in length. Laterals on the 

 young upright ought to be allowed to grow dur- 

 ing the summer, but they should be shortened 

 to a few inches at the autumn pruning ; at the 

 same time, the shortened shoots between the 

 base of the one trained upright and the ground 

 ought to be cut clean off. By continuing to 

 train the young shoot quite upright, an erect 



