212 THE BOOK OF USEFUL PLANTS 



of quince to deep red while cooking is shared by 

 no other fruit I know. 



Quince trees grow slowly, and attain no great 

 size. For this reason seedling quince trees are 

 used as stocks on which to graft apple and 

 pear scions, when dwarf trees are desired. 

 The slow-growing stock checks the rate of 

 growth in the top, and induces the habit of early 

 fruiting. 



From Japan we have imported a species of 

 quince that bursts into a flame of red blossoms 

 before the leaves are fairly out in spring. It is 

 an admirable hedge plant. The fruit is not edible, 

 but is very fragrant, and is sometimes laid amongst 

 linen in bureau drawers. The Chinese wild quince 

 we rarely see in America. 



MEDLAR 



The medlar is a wild fruit tree from the woods 

 of central Europe. It is soft-fleshed when ripe, 

 but is indifferent in flavor, and is only occasion- 

 ally grown as a curiosity. The core is exposed at 

 the blossom end, as if there was not quite enough 

 .flesh to reach around the seeds. The only use 

 made of the fruit is for preserves, or to nibble at 

 when frost has softened the pulp. 



