406 



DOMESTIC BOTANY. 



It is one of the trees of superstition, and in olden times, 

 especially in Scotland, was held in high repute as a preven- 

 tive against witchcraft. It was commonly planted near cow- 

 houses and stables ; pieces of the tree were even placed in- 

 side, and there is a common saying, "Eowan tree and red 

 thread puts the witches to their speed." 



Service Tree (Fyins soi^hus or Sorb us domestica). A large 

 spreading branched tree with winged leaves. It bears an 

 oblong or round fruit about the size of a large gooseberry. 

 It is a native of various parts of the continent, especially 

 France and Italy, where it is much valued for its hard wood, 

 which is used for making cogs of wheels, blocks, pulleys, 

 &c. ; it takes a high polish. The fruit is acerb and not 

 much used, but in Brittany a drink like cider or perry is 

 made from it which has a most unpleasant odour. This tree 

 grows in Cornwall and is considered to be indigenous. 



Whitebeam Tree {Fynis arid). A tree with oblong ser- 

 rated leaves of a snow-white on the under side. It is found 

 wild in some places in this country, but is more abundant on 

 the continent. The wood is hard and used for the same 

 purposes as the preceding. The fruit is acerb. 



Quince {Cydonia vulgaris). The quince is found wild in 

 many parts of Europe and Northern Asia. It appears to 

 have been early cultivated by the Greeks and Eomans, and 

 has been known in this country for more than three hundred 

 years. The fruit is of powerful odour and is often used for 

 flavouring marmalade and other preserves ; wine is also 

 made from it. In the heathen mythology the Quince was 

 devoted to the goddess Venus, as being the emblem of love, 

 happiness, and faithfulness ; and has been supposed to be the 

 golden fruit of the fancied garden of the Hesperides defended 

 by the dragon. The Japan Apple, or rather Quince, is the 

 beautiful red flowering shrub known in gardens as Cydonia 

 japonica. C. sinensis, the Chinese quince, has fruited at 

 Kew, but is inferior to the common quince. 



Medlar {Mespilus germanicd). A small spreading tree or 

 bush, native of Europe. It is found in hedges and unculti- 



