Descripiions of Select Varieties of Pears. 341 



here as in Philadelphia, which Dr. B. says is from the middle 

 of July to the last of September. The first I observed in 

 eating here was about a week since ; if you have not had 

 specimens grown here, those now sent will enable you to de- 

 termine the quality. I think it less good than those grown in 

 Philadelphia, which I thought, at the time they were sent me 

 by Dr. B., were nearly equal in quality to a St. Michael, and 

 consequently very desirable ; probably our climate affects 



Fig. 29. Moyamensing Pear. 



them unfavorably, compared with the one in which they 

 originated. — Yours, very respectfully, J. P. Cushing, Water- 

 town, Sept. 24, 1848. 



The original Moyamensing pear tree stands in the grounds 

 of the late J. B. Smith, Esq., of Philadelphia, and, three or 

 four years ago, it was thirty feet high. It was, we believe, 

 introduced more particularly to the notice of cultivators by 

 Dr. Brinckle of that city, who sent the scions to Mr. Gushing 

 in the spring of 1846, from which several fruits were gathered 

 last year. Dr. Brinckle also sent scions of it, the present sea- 



