Quince; so called from Cydon, a town of Crete, famous for its abounding with this fruit. Linnaeus has joined this genus to the apple and pear; but as there is such a remarkable difference between between the fruits, Mr. Miller treats the quince as a genus by itself. The species are, 1. The oblonga, with an oblong fruit, lengthened at the base. 2. The maliforma, with oval leaves, woolly on their upper side, with some other varieties. The Portugal quince is the most valuable: its pulp turns to a fine purple when stewed or baked, and becomes much softer and less astringent than the others; so is much fitter for making marmalade. The trees are all easily propagated, either by layers, suckers, or cuttings; which must be planted in a moist soil. Those raised from suckers are seldom so well rooted as those which are obtained from cuttings or layers, and are subject to produce suckers again in greater plenty; which is not so proper for fruit-bearing trees. These trees require very little pruning: the chief thing to be observed is, to keep their stems clear from suckers, and cut off such branches as cross each other: likewise all upright luxuriant shoots from the middle of the tree should be taken off, that the head may not be too much crowded with wood, which is of ill consequence to all fruit-trees. These sorts may also be propagated by budding or grafting upon stocks raised by cuttings; so that the best sorts may be cultivated this way in greater plenty than by any other method. These are also in great esteem to bud or graft pears upon; which for summer or autumn fruits are a great improvement to them, especially those designed for walls and espaliers; for the trees upon these stocks do not shoot so vigorously as those upon free stocks, and therefore may be kept in less compass, and sooner produce fruit: but hard winter fruits do not succeed so well upon these stocks, their fruit being subject to crack, and are commonly stony, especially all the breaking pears: therefore these stocks are only fit for melting pears and a moist soil.