pofition in the course of two years the new wood has covered over the old ftump, and the branches filled up the former space, bearing alfo plenty of fine fruit.

In a plentiful year, when there are more than you want for the supply of the table, the remainder may be dried for Winter ufe.

T2

CHAPTER X.

OF QUINCES.

The best Sort for the Kitchen Garden-Of their Propagation, Planting, and Pruning-Of Bark-bound Trees, and of thofe which have rough Bark.

THE Quince is called Cydonia, from Cydon, a town of

Crete famous for this fruit.

It belongs to the fourth order of the Sexual System, Icofandria Pentagynia. it to the Apple and Pear.

twelfth Clafs of the

Linnæus has joined

This is a very beautiful tree when in flower, and when the fruit is ripe in Autumn. It was cultivated in this country in Gerard's time.

The best fort for planting in the Kitchen Garden is the Portugal, being the fittest for baking or ftewing. It is of a

fine

fine purple colour when dreffed, and is much better for Marmalade than any of the other forts. The oblong kind, and the Apple Quince, are also planted in fruit-gardens; and there are feveral other forts cultivated in the nurseries about town, and planted in shrubberies for variety and ornament. The Portugal fort is very useful to mix with Apples for making pies and puddings; for when the Apples are flat, and have loft their flavour, they add a quickness to them.

Of the Propagation and Pruning of Quince Trees.

They are easily raised by layers, or by cuttings taken from the tree in March. They fhould be planted in a fhady place, in rows at about a foot diftant from each other, and about three inches from plant to plant in the rows. Mulch them with rotten leaves, or rotten dung, which will keep the ground about them moist; and water them frequently in hot weather. About Michaelmas those that are well rooted may be planted out, and those that are not should remain another year. They may alfo be propagated by budding or grafting; and thefe trees will bear fooner, and be more fruitful, than thofe raised by any other method.

The Quince-tree may be pruned much in the fame way as you would prune an Apple-tree, taking care to cut out all the old diseased and dead wood, and the cross branches in the middle of the tree, which are apt to injure each other by friction. In general you will find old trees much hurt by injudicious pruning: in that cafe, you must head them down, cut out all the cankery parts, and alfo all the difcafed and dead wood where the tree is hollow, or where large

branches

branches have been cut or broken off; applying the Compofition as for Apple-trees.

Quince-trees are very apt to have rough bark, and to be bark-bound in that cafe, it will be neceffary to fhave off the rough bark with a draw-knife, and to fcarify them when bark-bound; then brush them over with the Compofition, as hereafter directed.

I would, however, advise to plant Quince-trees at a proper distance from Apples and Pears, as bees and the wind might mix the Farina, and occafion the Apples or Pears to degenerate.

143)

CHAPTER XI.

OF MEDLARS.

Different Sorts-Their Propagation and Manner of Treatment.

THE Medlar is ranged in the fourth order of Linnæus's

twelfth Clafs. Icofandria Pentagynia.

The Different Sorts cultivated in this Country are,

The Great Medlar with bay leaves, and the Dutch Medlar. Thefe, being the largest fruit, are generally cultivated in England. There is a smaller fort, which is a variety of that called the German or Dutch Medlar; the fruit is fmall; and the tree is more frequently planted in pleafure-grounds than gardens.

The oriental fort, according to Mr. Philip Miller, is called the Dwarf Cherry of Mount Ida, in Crete, where the thepherds feed upon the fruit. It is large, roundish, and of a fine red colour when ripe.

There