98 T H E D E A 11 B R N S E E D L I N G P E A R . 



and most precious iu his very large collection of the most celebrated 

 varieties of pears. 



With great respect, your most obedient servant, 



H. A. S, DEARBORN. 

 Samuel Walker, Esq., 



President of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society. 



Brtnly Plack, I 



Roxbnri/, Hept. 3, 1831. \ 

 Dear Sir — 



In conformity to your request, I submit the following account of 

 the tree which produced the pears recently presented to the Committee on 

 Fruits, for examination. 



Some twelve years since, I discovered a young seedling pear tree in 

 the border of the avenue which divides my front yard. It came up amidst 

 a cluster of Syringas and Roses, and Avhen it was about five years old, I 

 concluded to transfer it to the nursery, as a stock for buddnig. After 

 removing the earth, for over two feet in depth, it was discovered that there 

 was but a. single tap root, Avhich, from its size, probably extended as much 

 farther, at least ; and being apprehensive that an attempt to deplant it 

 might occasion such mutilation as to render it doubtful whether it would 

 survive the operation, I had the earth replaced, concluding to let it remain, 

 until it bore fruit. 



The shrubs which surrounded it were removed and the tree grew 

 rapidly ; but as it was inclined to' shoot up tall and slim, I headed it down, 

 so as to leave it about eight feet high. It is now twenty feet in height and 

 ten inches in diameter. It has never been pruned, except by cutting oil" 

 two small branches, which projected into the avenue. The top being so 

 little filled with wood and the form so regular, there has been no occasion 

 to attempt improving the appearance of the tree by pruning. 



There can be no doubt that the tree sprang from a seed accidentally 

 dropped in the border of the avenue, which was constantly manured and 

 tilled, as there was no pear tree^ in the vicinity, or could there have been 

 for many years, if ever ; for upward of twenty years since, when my father 

 purchased the estate there were eighteen Lombardy Poplars growing in 

 the front yard, to the exclusion of every other kind of tree, and which 

 must have been over twenty years old, as they were at least a foot in 

 diameter; and after being dug up by the roots in 1810, tlie whole area was 

 trenched, manured and planted with ornamental trees, slirubs and flowers. 



The tree is of vigorous growth, tall for its age and the size of the trunk, 



* In the rear of the house were trees of the St. Micliael, St. Germain, Brown Beurre, Monsieur Jean, 

 and Catharine pears, which were nearly a liiuiihed years old. 



