FRUITS. DESCRIPTION AND CULTURE. 429 



also attacked by the borer -which infests the apple ; the 

 blighted portion must be cut off and burned, as with the 

 pear. The borer must be dug out. 



The best fruit is obtained from those trained in the form 

 of a tree, but on account of the borer it is best to use the 

 bush form with three or four main stems, so if one is de- 

 stroyed there are others left to take its place. Thus trained, 

 the bush should be moderately pruned, or the fruit will be 

 inferior. If there is an over-crop, the fruit should be thin- 

 ned. The quince begins to bear when three or four years 

 transplanted. Varieties : 



Apple or Orange-shaped. — This is the common variety, 

 with large, roundish fruit, with a short neck ; skin light 

 golden yellow ; flesh firm, but stews tender ; leaves oval ; 

 shoots slender. If the core be cut out and the hole filled 

 with sugar and baked, it forms a fine dessert dish. 



Pear-Shaped. — Fruit large, pyriform, oblong, tapering 

 to the stalk ; skin yellow ; flesh of firmer texture than 

 when preserved, and not quite as good in flavor and color 

 as the former. Fruit ripens a fortnight later, and when 

 picked, keeps much longer; leaves oblong-ovate. Tree 

 of more vigorous growth, but does not bear so well. 



Portugal. — Fruit still more oblong, of lighter color, 

 milder flavored, and of better quality than the preceding 

 kinds; leaf larger and broader ; shoots stouter ; ripens 

 between the other two ; a shy bearer, pretty good as a 

 stock for the pear. Tree larger than the other varieties. 



Angers. — A variety of the last, the strongest grower 

 of all the quinces, and much used for pear stocks. The 

 fruit is said to be larger and better than any other kind. 



Chinese Quince, ( Cydonia Sinensis.) — Leaves resemble 

 those of the common quince in form, but have a glossy 

 surface ; the flowers are rose-colored, with a delicate fra- 

 grance, similar to that of the violet. The fruit is very 

 large, oblong, and somewhat ribbed like a muskmelon; 



