Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-25
THIS. AND THAT
BY CHARLES Z. TRAcEwELL.

Just as botanists differ as to whether
Cydonia is distinct genus. or only a
section Of the genus Pyrus Family Rosa
ceae), so flower lovers will disagree on
the name Of the color C the Sewers OF
Cydonia Japonica, the Japan Ounce.
One will call. 1t carmine-roSe, another
apple blossoms, another wild-rose, but
by whatever coler-descriptive name 1t
Is called It is 8 beautiful blossom. and
one which should be favorite OF every
home owner.
II 1t is net grown in every garden, 1t
Is probably because the entire family OF
ounces has undergone q loss Of popu-
larity In recent years, and also because
its flowers are better appreciated at
close hand.
The closer one studies the blossoms
of the Cydoria Japonica the shrub, the
more beautiful 1t appears. II grows upon
you. Each single petal Is miracle of
coloring, almost reminding one OF a
sweet pea in It's delicate tracery of veins
and it's subtle shading from deeper rose
down the nidrib to faint "maiden's
blush" near the edge.
X n n
The Japanese Ounce has this advan-
tage over the Forsythia, its more snowy
early Spring rival, that its flowers come
along with the leaves.
1t is this combination of petal color
ing with the harmony of its bronZy-
green leaves which renders this bush so
peculiarly attractive, once it attracts
one.
Although some forms Of 1t are called
FirebuSh, the name Is misleading, as
there is nothing snowy In any sense
about Cydonia; but it is true that many
amateur gardeners pass it by because of
its quiet beauty.
Perhaps that Is the reason the entire
Ounce family has lost in favor through
out the gardening world. Can the
golden-yellow fruits of the Old World
Ounce compare with the orange? Can
the flowers of the Japonica vie with the
iris. or the gladiolus?
There was a time in European gar
dens, however. when the ounce was
largely planted. We speak now of Cy-
donna vulgaris, or Ounce tree, once as
commonly planted as the pear.
The English, in particular, were fond
OF Ounce marmalade; and in the
United States, many years ago, Ounce
preserve was highly thought of.
The hard acid flesh has peculiar
fragrance and taste which render 1t
good for using with baked apples, to
give them a special tang.
Hb OtlC Glll1e III GllC Val LISbOlY Vi
the fruit of this short. twisted limbed
tree, the Ounce was soaked in water,
thereby giving a mucilaginous ma
terial which was esteemed IN medicine,
for what maladies we do net know.
Any one acquainted with the lore OF
the herbalist could answer.
y X
Cydonia was Cor maybe 1t Isl a city
in ancient Crete. Perhaps the Ounce
originated there. At any rate, it's cul-
tivation spread all over Asia and
Europe. It.was planted in rich soil,
preferring q good clay location.
1t is classed as MALICIOUS tree
and shrub. The Malaceae family in
cludes the apples, pears, ounce, haw-
thorn, shadbuSF Its three chief gen.
era are Malus, PyrIs and Cydonia.
The wild-rose appearance of its
blossoms 1--WE speak here of Japonica)
is accented by the roselike leaves.
which exactly resemble, at least to the
non critical eye, those CT any good
rosebuSh.
The coloring is the same, and the
shape and makeup of the twigs are
roselike. or applelike, as one chooses.
for they all belong to the Rosaceae
family