European and Native Pears. 91 



Horticultural Society, at their annual festival, in September, 1829, 



by Benjamin Thomas, Esq. of Hingham. 



Washington. Ke7irick's Ntw Am. Orchardist, p. 187. 



Robertson, ) r jj ^■ 



TVT , A T } of some collections. 



JNamen s Creek, ) -^ 



This beautiful variety I have never seen growing on the tree, but 

 have tasted of those which have been exhibited at the Horticultural 

 Society: they were delicately, beautiful. The tree is a good bearer. 

 Fruit medium size. Skin pale yellowish green. Flesh melting, juice 

 abundant, sprightly, with an agreeable perfume. 



Ripe the latter part of September. 



When I was on a visit to Philadelphia a few years since, Joshua 

 Longstreth, Esq. stated to me that it originated on the farm of Gen- 

 eral Robertson, at Namen's Creek, in the state of Delaware, about 

 twenty miles from Philadelphia, on the road to Baltimore. Speci- 

 mens of the fruit were first exhibited at the Massachusetts Horticul- 

 tural Society last season, by the Hon. John Lowell, Roxbury, and 

 R. Manning, Esq., Salem. 



Lewis. N. E. Farmer, Vol. vii. p. 266. Princess Pom. Mag. 



p. 140. 



This good variety comes to maturity very late, and, in unfavorable 

 seasons, the cultivator is occasionally disappointed with its produce, 

 as I have frequently heard. But my opinion is still in its favor ; I 

 have seen too many good crops to give it up. Last season some 

 matured so as to acquire their flavor, but the greater part were infe- 

 rior. All our late pears will be uncertain in bearing, and subject to 

 many contingencies, from late springs, cold summers, early frosts, 

 high winds, &,c. Fruit medium size, somewhat like the Crasanne 

 in appearance. Skin dark green, vvhh cloudy spots. Flesh whitish, 

 very melting, buttery, juicy, with an agreeable flavor. 



Ripe in November, and keeps well till the middle of February. 



This pear originated in the garden of John Lewis, Esq. of Rox- 

 bury, after whom it has been named. The tree is supposed to be 

 about forty years old. A fine painting of this variety, taken from a 

 pear from the original tree, is in the possession of the Massachusetts 

 Horticultural Society. 



Bleeker's Meadow. Pr. Pom. Man. p. 215. 



This variety has been spoken of in high terms, and said to com- 

 pare in all respects with the Seckle, and the size twice as large. It 

 has been very much overrated in quality and size. It is, however, 

 a beautiful small pear. I had five scions on one tree, which bore 

 last year (the fourth from grafting) four dozen fruit. The branches 

 are now full of blossom buds. Fruit considerable under medium 

 size, of the Bergamot form. Skin deep yellow. Flesh buttery and 

 juicy, with a pleasant perfume, radier musky, flavor resembling the 

 old Minot pear. 



