428 



GAEDENIXG FOE THE SOUTH. 



QUINCE. — (Cydonia vulgaris.) 



The quince is a small, hardy tree, seldom growing over 

 twelve to fifteen feet in height ; thickly branched ; with 

 ovate leaves, whitish underneath, on short petioles ; the 

 flowers are white or pale pink color, and the fruit appears 

 on shoots of the same year's growth, varying in shape, 

 but having a resemblance to that of the apple or pear. It 

 is, when ripe, highly fragrant, and of a fine golden yellow 

 color, making the tree quite ornamental. Quinces are 

 seldom eaten raw, but for baking, stewing, preserving, 

 marmalades, or pies, along with apples, they are much es- 

 teemed. They are also dried for winter use, giving an 

 excellent flavor to dried apples and peaches. 



For these purposes the quince has been long in cultivation, 

 having been in great esteem among the Greeks and Romans. 

 The mucilage from the seeds was formerly used in medi- 

 cine instead of gum-water. The quince is propagated 

 from seed, layers, slips or cuttings, and grows very readily 

 from the latter. Cuttings, if planted about the time the 

 buds commence swelling in the spring, rarely fail to grow. 

 Quinces usually reproduce themselves from seed, but oc- 

 casionally vary. Quince stocks are very much used for 

 budding the pear upon, for which the Angers quince is 

 preferred, although we have found the common or apple- 

 shaped equally good in_every respect. The quince likes 

 a deep, moist soil and cool exposure, growing naturally 

 upon the banks of streams. It, however, grows to ad- 

 miration in any good, rich, friable soil, and no tree is more 

 benefited by manuring, esjDecially with vegetable manure. 

 Salt is said to act beneficially if applied during winter. 

 If applied occasionally in small doses at a distance from 

 the trunk, the fruit will not drop ; plant the trees ten feet 

 apart. 



The quince is subject to the blight, like the pear, and is 



