A FIRST REPORT ON QUINCE STOCKS FOR PEARS. 271 



Identification of Varieties of Quince in use as Stocks at the Present Time. 



At the outset of our investigations with Quince Stocks we pro- 

 ceeded along similar lines to those of our Apple Stock trials. We 

 invited representative nursery firms to send us collections of the 

 Quince Stocks they used. Again, they responded generously. We 

 did not attempt to get together as large a collection as we made of 

 Paradise, but some fourteen collections showed us : — 



(1) That there was more than one variety in common use. 



(2) That these varieties differed considerably : — 



(a) In ease of rooting from layers and cuttings. 



(b) In actual vigour of growth and health. 



(c) In early and mature root system. 



(d) In habit of growth and botanical characters. 



(3) That the correct nomenclature was as usual lost ; and that 

 different varieties were sent out under the same name. 



(4) That several varieties had got mixed together. 



(5) That the variety of Quince most recommended as a stock 

 by the older writers — the Portugal Quince — had practically gone 

 out of use as a stock. 



In the first place, therefore, we had to proceed to sort out and 

 classify the various types. The Quince collections were treated 

 as we had treated the Paradise collections, and were formed into 

 stools, whilst so many stocks of each collection were grown on their 

 own roots to show habit of growth and nature of fruit. 



The work of classification was by no means as simple as it was with 

 the Apple Stocks, where very obvious winter and summer characteristics 

 only needed following carefully to ensure success. 



Best Methods of Identification. 



We found the winter characteristics of the Quince layers practically 

 no guide to us except as regards the stoutness and stiffness of wood 

 growth and ease of rooting. There is very little difference in the 

 colour of wood, the number and size of lenticels, or even the shape 

 of the buds. 



The earliness of bud bursting and the very early leaf colour gave 

 the first clue. At this stage we could pick out at least three distinct 

 shades of green, a characteristic which though it has remained constant 

 each successive season, tends to become less obvious as the leaves 

 grow mature. 



Later, a careful examination of the mature leaves showed this 

 to be one of the best methods of identification. Though superficially 

 the leaves of the different varieties of Quince do not seem very distinct, 

 the relative size, shape, surface, colour, and tip, as shown in Fig. 67, 

 afford a really good line of demarcation. Careful measurement 



