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PLANT-LORE OF SHAKESPEARE 
and this is the case not only in Eastern countries, but also in 
the parts of tropical America to which the tree has been 
introduced from Europe. 
In England the Quince is probably less grown now than it 
was in Shakespeare’s time—yet it may well be grown as an 
ornamental shrub even by those who do not appreciate its 
fruit. It forms a thick bush, with large white flowers, followed 
in the autumn by its handsome fruit, and requires no care. 
“ They love shadowy, moist places; ” “ It delighteth to grow 
on plaine and even ground and somewhat moist withall.” 
This was Lyte’s and Gerard’s experience, and I have never 
seen handsomer bushes or finer fruit than I once saw on some 
neglected bushes that skirted a horsepond on a farm in Kent; 
the trees were evidently revelling in their state of moisture and 
neglect. The tree has a horticultural value as giving an excel¬ 
lent stock for Pear-trees, on which it has a very remarkable 
effect, for “ Cabanis asserts that when certain Pears are grafted 
on the Quince, their seeds yield more varieties than do the 
seeds of the same variety of Pear when grafted on the wild 
Pear.”— Darwin . Its economic value is considered to be but 
small, being chiefly used for Marmalade, 1 but in Shakespeare’s 
time, Browne spoke of it as “ the stomach’s comforter, the 
pleasing Quince,” and Parkinson speaks highly of it, for “ there 
is no fruit growing in the land,” he says, “ that is of so many 
excellent uses as this, serving as well to make many dishes of 
meat for the table, as for banquets, and much more for their 
physical virtues, whereof to write at large is neither convenient 
for me nor for this work.” 
1 This was a very old use for the Quince. Wynkyn de Worde, in the 
“ Boke of Kervynge ” (p. 266), speaks of “char de Quynce and John 
Russell, in the “ Boke of Nurture ” ( 1 . 75), speaks of “ chare de Quynces.” 
This was Quince marmalade. 
