Origin in Connecticut about 1850 where it was grown as Orange. May be a strain of Champion. Grown in Vineland, New Jersey in the mid-1800s. Introduced in 1883 by Rev. W.W. Meech. Fruit: large, pyriform, up to 54 g (18 oz.), skin very fine textured, bright yellow, exceedingly fragrant, excellent flavor, ripens 2 weeks earlier than Champion. Tree: slow growing, heavy and annual bearing; precocious. -- Brooks and Olmo Register of New Fruit Varieties'Meech' or 'Meech's Prolific' - Many pomologists believe Meech to be a strain of the better-known Champion. A review of the history and characters of the two varieties shows that Meech is the older of the two quinces; ripens its crop two weeks earlier; is much less subject to blight; the trees are hardier, more vigorous, and more productive; and, all in all, the true Meech is a better variety than the true Champion. It would be difficult indeed to make sure now of getting the variety true to name. Meech seems to have been in cultivation in Vineland, New Jersey, about the middle of the nineteenth century. It was not introduced until some years later, when, coming into the hands of Rev. W.W. Meech, it was disseminated in 1883. Tree very vigorous, hardy, productive and comparatively free from blight; comes in bearing early. Leaves large, broad in proportion to their length and luxuriantly green. Flowers very large and attractive. Fruit mid-season, very large, pear-shaped or obscurely pyriform, smooth or occasionally slightly ribbed; stem set obliquely in a slight depression; basin rather narrow, smooth or somewhat furrowed; color bright golden-yellow; very pubescent but becoming smooth at maturity; flesh yellowish-white, juicy, fine-grained, highly aromatic, tart; quality good. -- U.P. Hedrick, Cyclopedia of Hardy Fruits, 1922.