The Massachusetts Hortictdttiral Society. 91 



sold in the market as the French Epargne. Being a popular fruit, and 

 a great bearer, it had several local names ; the committee on the iden- 

 tity and synonymes of fruit (S. Downer, John Lowell, S. G. Perkins, 

 and Robert Manning) gave it the regular name of Harvard, the 

 original tree standing near Harvard Univei'sity, by which it is now 

 known in all catalogues and books. I recollect with what enthusiasm 

 he climbed into the original Dix pear tree (his age must then have 

 been over sixty), although it was pretty full of thorns, to satisfy him- 

 self it was a native and not a grafted tree. He also first brought into 

 notice the Lewis, Andrews, Minot, Fulton, Clapp, Gushing, Heathcot, 

 and Wilkinson pears, and several native grapes and cherries. In the 1 

 spring of 1829 he collected and packed the scions of twenty kinds of ) 

 our best native fruits, that were sent to Paris, in behalf of the society, 

 in reciprocation of similar favors from French horticulturists. Some 

 of these pears, and " Downer's cherry," are still in repute, but all his 

 native grapes have been superseded by the Goncord and other excel- 

 lent varieties. 



Mr. Aaron D. Williams was also an efficient member, and excelled 

 in raising the finest vegetables of the day. He complained that some 

 of the market-men were opposed to the society, fearing its influence 

 would occasion so large an increase of fruits and vegetables as to re- 

 duce the price. He talked them out of that fallacy, however. I judge 

 that the demand has so far exceeded the supply, that the prices of 

 these articles generally are one hundred per cent, higher now than 

 then. 



Mr. R. L. Eniinons, who had a most refined taste, and passionate 

 love for flowers, was a punctual attendant at all the meetings, and gen- 

 erally brought a small, tasteful bouquet, or half a dozen modest flowers, 

 and placed them on the business table. PI is example was gradually 

 followed by other members, till a long table was required, which 

 was always filled. As Saturdays generally brought most of the mem- 

 bers into the city, informal gatherings were held at their room, with 

 specimens of fruits and fiowers, and thus began the weekly exhibitions 

 of the society. 



The origin of the Bartlett pear, then grown b}- a comparatively lew 



