14 THE HORTICULTURE OF 



trees of the best sorts. Here General Henry Dearborn, 

 of revolutionary memory, who married the widow of 

 Mr. Bowdoin, resided for a while, and his son, General 

 H. A. S. Dearborn, the first President of the Massachu- 

 setts Horticultural Society, was familiar with that 

 garden, and from it he probably gained some of the 

 zeal that characterized him as a leader in horticul- 

 ture. Of this garden, says Mr. Winthrop : " There were 

 no more delicious Saint Michael, Brown Beurre, Mon- 

 sieur Jean, or Saint Germain pears to be found any 

 where in Boston than I have eaten from those 

 trees." Mr. Bowdoin had also a large farm at Dor- 

 chester, now known as Mount Bowdoin. where he had 

 an orchard of apple and pear trees. He also experi- 

 mented with fruit trees on Naushon Island, now the 

 property of the Hon. John M. Forbes. His main atten- 

 tion was, however, given to horses, cows and sheep; 

 the breeding of the latter being still continued. This 

 estate was in the care of the father of Mr. Winthrop 

 for many years after the death, of his uncle, Mr. 

 Bowdoin ; and, says Mr. Winthrop, " I have worn clothes 

 made of Naushon wool." The cheese from this Island 

 was quite celebrated more than half a century ago ; 

 and Mr. Winthrop adds : " I doubt if any one in Massa- 

 chusetts did more for Agriculture and Horticulture at 

 that period than James Bowdoin, the son of the 

 Governor." 



Another garden worthy of record, which stood on 

 what is now the site of the Revere House, was that of 

 Kirk Boott, an eminent merchant and one of the 

 founders of Lowell. It was the home of John Wright 

 and William Boott. Here, fifty years ago, was a good 

 garden with fruit trees and vines in which were grow- 



1 Letter of Hon. Robert C. Winthrop. 



