*554 
THE QUINCE. 
and handsome and equally as good, and by some preferred tc 
the apple quince for culinary purposes. Tree healthy, a thrifty 
grower and productive — an acquisition.* 
Ornamental Varieties . — There are two or three ornamental 
varieties of the quince, which are natives of China and Japan, 
and are now among the most common and attractive of our 
garden shrubs. They are the following : — 
Japan Quince. 
Cydonia Japonica. Dec. 
Pyrus Japonica. Thuriberg. 
The Japan Quince is a low thorny shrub, with small dark 
green leaves. It is the most brilliant object in the shrubbery, 
during the month of April, the branches being clothed with 
numerous clusters of blossoms, shaped like those of the quince, 
but rather larger, and of the brightest scarlet. The fruit which 
occasionally succeeds these flowers, is dark green, very hard, 
and having a peculiar and not unpleasant smell. It is entirely 
useless. 
The White, or Blush Japan Quince ( C . jap. fl. albo ), re- 
sembles the foregoing, except that the flowers are white and 
pale pink, resembling those of the common apple-tree. 
Chinese Quince. 
Cydonia Sinensis. Dec. 
We have had this pretty shrub in our garden for several 
years, where it flowers abundantly, but has, as yet, produced no 
fruit. The leaves are oval, somewhat like those of the common 
quince, but with a shining surface. The flowers are rosy red, 
rather small, with a delicate violet odour, and have a very 
pretty effect in the month of May, though much less showy 
than those of the Japan Quince. The fruit is described as 
large, egg-shaped, with a green skin and a hard dry flesh, not 
of any value for eating. The leaves assume a beautiful shade 
of red in autumn. 
* In the fall of 1835, Mr. Rea sent two baskets to New York, contain 
ing about half a bushel each, which brought him line dollars. One 
basket had 36 quinces in, and sold for five dollars, md the other (10) 
brought four dollars. 
