THE DEARBORN'S SEEDLING PEAR. 



Deaeborn's Seedling. Neio England Farmer, vol. x. p. 59. 



This fine eai'ly pear, though among the first 

 American varieties which were brought to the notice 

 of cultivators, is just beginning to be properly appre- 

 ciated. It has many valuable quahties. The tree 

 is a vigorous and healthy grower, the fruit of fan- 

 size, and of superior quality, and it comes at a sea- 

 son when the supply of fine kinds is not abundant. 

 Until the introduction of the Bloodgood, Tyson, and 

 Rostiezer, it was the only excellent pear ripening 

 between the Jargonelle and the Williams's Bon 

 Chretien. 



The Dearborn's Seedhng originated in the garden of Gen. H. A. S. 

 Dearborn, of Roxbury, the first president of the Massachusetts Horti- 

 cultural Society, about thirty yeai's ago. It was found growing in a 

 border of shrubs, in a cluster of syringa and rose bushes, and when 

 about five years old. Gen. Dearborn concluded to remove it to a small 

 nui'sery for the purpose of using it as a stock ; but, in the attempt to 

 replant it, it was found to have only a single tap root of great length ; 

 and as it was doubtful whether the shortening of this root might not 

 cause its death. Gen. Dearborn concluded to let the tree remain until it 

 came into bearing, and ordered the earth to be replaced. In 1830, it 

 produced one pear; and in 1832, thirty-five. 



The tree is supposed to have sprung from a seed accidentally dropped 

 where it stood, as there were no pear trees in the vicinity of it at that 

 time, or for many years previous. It grew rapidly, and in such regular 

 form, tliat there was no occasion to attempt improving it by pruning. 

 In 1831, Gen. Dearborn sent some of the pears to the Massachusetts 

 Horticultural Society, with a letter describing the fruit ; and it was 

 justly pronounced a valuable acquisition. 



Dearborn's Seedling is a very free growing variety ; upright, regular, 

 and handsome in form, and rather tardy in coming into bearing ; it 

 succeeds, however, very well upon the quince, and produces good crops 

 of fine and fair sized firuit. Our drawing is from specimens produced 

 upon the quince. 



Tree. — Vigorous, erect, and rather tall, running up with long shoots, 

 extending horizontally till within eighteen or twenty inches of the ends, 

 which are turned upwards and very erect. 



163] 



