SHELDON PEAE. 17 l^^^ 



bited at Syracuse before the pomological society, and an interest was then awakened 

 in regard to it that disclosed its history and origin. Mr. IIovev saw it at that time, 

 and made some investigations in regard to it, and in June, 1851, gave a description 

 and account of it in his Magazine. In that account he says that " no American pear, 

 unless we except the Swan's Orange, or we might almost say any variety which has 

 yet been raised, is destined to take a higher rank than the Sheldon.'''' Its origin is 

 similar to that of nearly all our native varieties, the work of mere accident. A few 

 seeds are brought from the eastern States and sowed along a fence ; three or four 

 trees spring up, and in time produce fruit, among which the Sheldon has been discov- 

 ered. But what is most remarkable about it, and almost incredible, is that three 

 trees, all from seed, should produce exactly the same fruit, or fruit with scarcely 

 perceptible variation. There is something about this that remains to be cleared up. 

 Our neighbor, Mr. H. E. IIooker, of the Rochester Commercial Kurserics, Avho is a 

 close and accurate observer, recently visited the original trees while in bearing, and 

 about the time of maturity of the fruit, and has kindly communicated the following 

 observations : 



" I do not feel satisfied now to express how highly I esteem the Sheldon pear, lest future 

 observation and experience should not confirm the very favorable opinion which I have 

 formed, from seeing it under favorable circumstances and for but a few seasons. If, how- 

 ever, it shall be found uniformly as fine as the specimens which have thus far come under 

 my observation, it will, beyond question, rank with our best. 



" For four or five years past, I have been aware that there was a pear cultivated in the 

 town of Penfield, and very highly spoken of by good judges of fruit. Its name was unknown, 

 and the locality from which it came not distinctly settled. It was known, however, that 

 the scions had been procured from east of us — ^near Oswego, it was supposed. This led 

 some persons to suppose it the Oswego Beurre^ and it has been so called, and colored under 

 that name, at Buffalo. It is, however, quite distinct from that variety, although it resem- 

 bles it somewhat in its habit of growth, wood, and foliage ; but it will not work on the 

 quince stock, while the Oswego does quite well. 



" After the appearance of Mr. Hovey's description and figure of the Sheldon^ I was satis- 

 fied that the Penfield pear was the sa'me variety, and the past autumn I visited the residence 

 of Mr. Sheldon to see the original Sheldon trees. Much to my disappointment, I did not 

 find Mr. S. at home, but was kindly furnished with some specimens by liis wife, who 

 corroborated the published statement as to the planting of a row of pear trees, raised from 

 seed brought from the eastern part of the State, along the line of a fence which has since 

 been removed. 



" I found three trees which gave no indications of having been worked. All are so clean 

 and smooth that only one very small shoot could be found springing from below or about 

 the collar. This had the eliaracteristio leaf and wood of all the old trees, which do not 

 seem to difiijr in their liabit of growth— vigorous and tolerably upright. The fruit from 

 these trees was so nearly alike that it might all pass as the product of one; but as a 

 whole, the fruit of one was larger and more highly colored, having frequently a red cheek 

 or blush ; still, even this diffierence was not greater than is sometimes seen on different trees 

 of the same variety. I marked specimens from the different trees, 1, 2, 3, and took pains ^ 

 ,0 secure some small ones to ascertain their value, and have ripened most of them, and dis 



