31 



The following letter from the Hon. O. Fiske, was sent with 

 his donation of Chamberlain Pears, mentioned above. 



Worcester, September 16, 1831. 

 My Dear Sir, 



I exceedingly regret that an engagement with the Governor as a Com- 

 mittee to examine White Mulberry Nurseries for a premium, in various 

 parts of the county (postponed on account of the weather) must deprive me 

 of the pleasure of meeting my Horticultural friends at our Annual Festival. 

 I, however, avail myself of the occasion to forward for their inspection a 

 basket of native Pears. Although the produce of a farm within two miles 

 of me, I was in ignorance of their existence until yesterday, when I re- 

 quested the owner to preserve the gleanings of thirtij bushels, which the 

 tree had borne, for my use. I was on the ground to-day, and found the 

 tree about fifteen inches in diameter near the ground, with a moderate de- 

 crease for eight feet, when it struck off into a perpendicular, and two later- 

 al branches, giving it a well proportioned and well balanced top. Although 

 it had the appearance of age, there was not a scar on the body, or a dead, 

 or a diseased limb, to be seen. I considered it as the best conditioned tree, 

 for its age, I had ever noticed. On the most careful inspection it had every 

 appearance of a native. .; 



The account I obtained from the present owner, was, that the farm for- 

 merly belonged to a Deacon Chamberlain, one of whose sons found it in a 

 pasture, some distance from the house, where his cattle had their range, and 

 transplanted it to its present situation. 



I called on General Chamberlain, a grandson of the Deacon, who owns 

 an adjoining farm. He corroborated the above statement, and added that 

 the tree was removed above sixty years ago by his uncle Jacob, now liv- 

 ing, and from that circumstance the fruit has always been called the 

 " Jacob's Pear." It is generally a free bearer ; and has never been 

 known wholly to fail. As a table fruit, from the redundancy of its saccha- 

 rine quality, and destitution of flavor, it will, doubtless, be considered as 

 inferior to many of our varieties of native Pears. But for all domestic uses 

 which in a family are of primary importance, I doubt whether it can be ex- 

 celled. It comes in use when fruit of this character is not readily obtain- 

 ed. I was told that it retains its form and size when baked, and gives a 

 red and rich pulp. It is, moreover, longer in eating than most other kinds, 

 as may be judged by the sample. 



Should the Committee think proper to give it a place, in their nomencla- 

 ture, I would suggest the propriety' of calling it the Chamberlain Pear. 

 Respectfully your friend and servant, 



O. FISKE. 



Zebedee Cook, Jr., Esi^. 



The following Letter from S. G. Perkins, Esq. was sent to- 

 gether v/ith the Fruit, &c. presented by the gentleman. 



BrooJdhie, September 21, 1831. 

 Zebedee Cook, Jr., Esq., 

 Chairman of the Committee of Arrangements, 



Dear Sir, 



I herewith send you a branch of the White Chasselas Vine, containing 

 the wood of the years 1831, 1832, 1833, and 1834, with the fruits of the 

 three last years attached to their respective shoots — that of the present year 

 having been long since gathered and eaten. 



You will perceive, therefore, that this Vine has borne this season, the 

 fruits of four years ; which may be considered by some of your guests an 



