 Once
very popular and found on most old homesteads, quinces are now relatively
hard to find and command a high price in local grocery stores and fruit
stands. The Greeks started the custom of giving a quince to a bride
on her wedding day as a symbol of fertility; this ritual persisted well
into the Christian era.
The quince deserves to be more widely planted in our
gardens and landscapes. It is an attractive, small tree,
long lived, and valuable for its beautiful blossoms and fragrant fruit.
 In
the spring, Quince trees are adorned with large, cup-shaped, pink and
white flowers followed by abundant crops of large, bright yellow, sweetly
aromatic fruit in late fall. Quinces are known for their strong
perfume, and will freshen up an entire room if left at room temperature
for several days.
On our farm there do not seem to be any insect or disease
problems and crops are usually very heavy.
 High
in Vitamin C and pectin, Quince are used to make delicious and nutritious
preserves and baked goods.
The two original quince trees on our farmstead (see
picture above) are at least 80 years old. We have grown other trees
both asexually propagated from clippings and from seed.
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