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FRUIT GARDEN. 



and peach were originally the same species — 

 that the latter is the effect of accidental varia- 

 tion produced by high cultivation, the stone 

 being covered with a much larger amount of 

 rich luscious flesh, while the former retains its 

 original character, consisting of merely a stone 

 covered with a thick dry woolly skin, the flesh of 

 the one being the eatable part, while it is the 

 kernel in the other. Indeed, Knight has dis- 

 tinctly stated his belief " that the peach was 

 only a swollen almond." The best stocks are pro- 

 duced by sowing the kernels, and the same rule 

 should be observed as noticed for the peach. 



The fruit should be gathered early in Novem- 

 ber, stripped of their outer shell or covering, 

 and laid out to dry for a few days before placing 

 on the fruit-room shelves, to undergo a still 

 greater state of dryness ; they should then be 

 packed in boxes amongst dry sand till wanted. 

 Damp is greatly to be avoided in their preser- 

 vation, as they are not only apt to decay, but 

 also to lose their aromatic flavour. 



The European names of the almond are — 

 L'amandier, French — Mandelbaum, German — 

 Amandelboom, Dutch — Mandorlo, Italian — 

 Almendro, Spanish — Mindalnoe derevo, Rus- 

 sian. Him ho gin, Chinese. 



§ 2. — THE QUINCE. 



The Quince (Pyrus cydonia L., Cydonia vul- 

 garis Willd.) is a native of Austria and various 

 other parts of central Europe. The generic 

 name Cydonia is given this tree because the 

 fruit is said to have first attracted attention in 

 the city of Cydon, in Candia or Crete. It was 

 well known to the Romans, for Columella says, 

 " Quinces not only yield pleasure but health." 

 Introduced to Britain previous to 1597, accord- 

 ing to Gerard's "Herbal." Tusser mentions it as 

 being well known in his time, and Langley in 

 " Pomona," 1729, says " the best kind is the Por- 

 tugal pear quince, next to which is the Portugal 

 apple quince, and lastly, the very worst of all 

 is the English quince. The varieties in present 

 estimation are the common quince, the apple- 

 shaped quince, the pear-shaped quince, and the 

 Portugal quince. Of these Mr Thompson ob- 

 serves of the three former, in " Hort. Soc. Fruit 

 Cat." : — " These are often confounded with each 

 other. It is probable that from seeds of either sort 

 varieties have been and still may be obtained, 

 some of which would produce apple-shaped 

 and some pear-shaped fruit." The Portugal 

 quince he describes " as distinct from the pre- 

 ceding sorts ; it does not, however, become, ex- 

 cept in very favourable seasons, of so deep an 

 orange ; its leaves are broader, and it grows less 

 contracted ; consequently it is the best sort for 

 grafting pears upon." There are some other 

 names to be found in nursery catalogues, but 

 the fruit bearing them differ little from sub- 

 varieties that may be found arising from seed 

 taken from any of the family. The Portugal 

 quince is rather a shy bearer. The fruit is unfit 

 for eating in its raw state. It is, however, highly 

 esteemed for making excellent marmalade, for 

 stewing, and a few thin slices of it greatly im- 

 prove the flavour of apple pies. The fruit is also 



dried, and wine is made from the juice mixed 

 with sugar and water. Of late years it is culti- 

 vated largely for stocks on which to graft the pear, 

 when dwarf trees and early fruiting are desired. 



Propagation.— By layers, both for pear stocks 

 and for obtaining trees afterwards to bear fruit, 

 occasionally by cuttings, and rarely by grafting. 

 Layers root the first season, and are afterwards 

 removed to nursery-rows ; those intended for 

 fruit-bearing are trained to clean stems from 

 4 to 5 feet in height ; those for stocks are cut 

 down and wrought near the ground. 



Pruning. — The head is modelled by shorten- 

 ing in the first-produced branches to obtain a 

 sufficient number; afterwards its management is 

 similar to that of standard pears. 



Soil and situation. — A deep moist soil is what 

 it luxuriates most in ; in light sandy dry soils it 

 is shortlived, and the fruit it produces are few 

 and small. The edges of streams or ditches 

 seem to be its favourite site; and where the soil 

 is rich and loamy approaching to clay, its fruit 

 attains its largest size. It does not appear to be 

 naturally a very long-lived tree, and hence, per- 

 haps, a good deal of the prejudice against it as 

 a stock for the pear has arisen. Two or three 

 trees are sufficient for a large family. 



Diseases and insects. — Beyond the Rhizoctonia 

 malt, a subterranean fungus which is sometimes 

 found on the roots, we are aware of none of 

 material consequence, although it is probable 

 that some of the many insects which prey upon 

 its near ally the pear may occasionally feed upon 

 it also. 



The European names are — Membrillero, Spa- 

 nish — Coignossier, French— Cotogno, Italian — 

 Quittenbaum, German — Kweeboom, Dutch. 



§ 3. — THE MEDLAR. 



The Medlar (Mespilus germanica L.) is in- 

 digenous to various parts of the south of 

 Europe, and appears to be now naturalised in 

 some parts of England, where it has either been 

 sown by birds, or in some way or other has 

 escaped from gardens or nurseries. The tree 

 attains no great height, is of a peculiar spreading 

 habit, often assuming a grotesque character, and 

 that more of a strong shrub than of a tree. 



There are five cultivated sorts, and of those 

 three only are worth the attention of the profit- 

 able fruit-grower, viz. : — 



The Nottingham medlar is the best, being 

 sharper and of higher flavour than the rest. 

 Synonyms — Common, Narrow - leaved Dutch, 

 Small-fruited. 



The Dutch medlar is the next in estimation, 

 The fruit of which is larger than the last, and 

 somewhat resembling the apple in form ; the 

 leaves large and entire, and downy on the under 

 side. Synonyms — Large-fruited, Large German, 

 Common of some, Broad-leaved Dutch. 



Monstrous medlar. — Is quite equal to the 

 Nottingham in flavour, in size equal to the 

 Dutch, and bears abundantly. Synonym — 

 Neffe monstrouse. 



A tree of each is quite sufficient for a large 

 family. 



Propagation is effected by seed, by layers, by 



