THE ANDREWS PEAR. 



Andrews. New England Farmer, vol. vii. (1829,) p. 266. 



' > of some American Collections. 

 Gibson, ) 



The Andrews is, unquestionably, one of the finest 

 American pears yet produced. It has everj-where, 

 and under all ciiTumstances, so far as our knowledge 

 extends, proved to be a hai'dy, productive and supe- 

 rior variety. In appeai'ance, it is less prepossessing 

 and showy than the Wilhams's Bon Chretien (Bart- 

 lett) or the Golden BeiuTe of Bilboa, which ripen at 

 the same time ; but in its ver}' melting flesh, and the 

 pecidiarly rich cinnamon ai'oma of its abundant juice, 

 surpasses either of them, and is second to no other 

 pear of its season. 

 The history of the Andrews, though tolerably weU authenticated, is, 

 however, to be received with some doubt. Tlie first account of it was 

 pubhshed in the X. E. Farmer, by ^Ir. Samuel Downer, who introduced 

 it to the notice of cultivators soon after the organization of the Massa- 

 chusetts Horticultural Society, in 1829. Mr. DoMiier states that it 

 originated in Dorchester, and that the original ti'ee was pm-chased about 

 sixty years ago by Mr. John Andrews, of Boston, who removed it to 

 his garden in Court Street, where it continued to beai- fi'uit for several 

 yeai's ; but from some cause, either its locality or from neglect, it disap- 

 peared more than thuly years ago. 



The only doubt respecting its origin, as above stated, is, that in Som- 

 eiwille, Mass., there is now growing, in full ^*igor, and bearing a large 

 annual crop, a fine large tree of the Andrews. Where the scions came 

 from is unknown ; the only infonnation the present owner of the tree 

 can give, is, that his father gi'afted it when he was a little boy, upwards 

 of sixtij years ago. As the age of this tree is as great as that claimed 

 for the one purchased by Mr. Andi'ews, it remains a question whether 

 the latter was the original one, or whether it was gi'afted from the 

 same unknown source fi'om which the one in Somerville was obtained. 

 Of its native origin, however, there can be no doubt. 



The Andrews is a slow gi'owing and moderately vigorous tree, bear- 

 ing so profusely that it makes very little wood. It comes into beaiing 

 rather early, and is another of the many American peai'S which does not 

 gi'ow freely on the quince. 



L971 



