9. MEECH'S PROLIFIC QUINCE.
This variety is the most uniformly prolific of all known varieties. So far as I have been able to trace its history, it originated in Connecticut over thirty years ago, and was slightly distributed under the name of the Orange quince, or without any specific name. Some trees were taken to New York, Ohio, and New Jersey, but no general attention was attracted to its merits until the stock came into the hands of the author, who, after testing it beside other sorts, published in 1883 an article in the American Agriculturist, describing it under the name of the Pearshaped Orange Quince. The article attracted the attention of the venerable Charles Downing, who wrote that he judged, from the description, it was a new variety, in which opinion he was fully confirmed by a subsequent examination of the fruit. He expressed his belief not only that it was "an acquisition to the quince family," but "worthy of general cultivation." So far as tested, it has justified his good opinion.
The trees of this variety are exceedingly vigorous, fully equaling, if not exceeding, the Angers. The trunk is smooth, and entirely free from the excrescences of some other kinds. The bark of the young twigs is darker than that of the Orange, and is beautifully flecked with lenticelles. The leaves are very broad in proportion to their length, fnd of a deep shade of green. The blossoms are very large. The buds have been substituted those of the rose in floral designs with happy effect. It is not uncommon for one year old trees to blossom in nursery rows, and occasionally bear fruit to ripeness. Such trees, after being transplanted, have uniformly borne every year after, so that I could show the horticultural wonder of fruit on every age from one to twelve years.

The fruit is obscure pyriform, very large, of a bright golden yellow, exceedingly fragrant, and of high flavor. The skin is of a very fine texture. The cup of the stem end is very small, and often entirely wanting ; that of the blossom end is not as large as in most other varieties, and is less corrugated. The superiority of the fruit in crates or cans has been well proved by the highest prices in the home markets as well as in the large cities.
The time of ripening, early in October, has been found to suit all classes by coming to the tradesman and consumer between the earliest and latest, when the season favorsits highest perfection. It has weighed as high as eighteen ounces on full-bearing trees, though twelve to fifteen is a good size, giving seventeen fruits to the rounded peck.
A Frenchman has this in his catalogue: " Meech's Prolific. Remarkable for its productiveness, uniformity in size, regularity in bearing, and superior quality. It meets every requirement of a perfect quince."

exceedingly fragrant, and of high flavor