THE EETROSPECT OF THE YEAR. 183 



the Peabody Academy of Science, according to the terms 

 of an agreement signed May 29,18(57, by the contracting 

 parties. x Mr. King, being one of the signers, authorized 

 to act for the Essex Institute. Mr. King devoted much 

 time and study in the arrangement and labelling of the 

 specimens according to the approved system at that time. 

 For nearly thirty years this department was kept in good 

 condition, and had greatly increased from a small number 

 of specimens to one of larger proportions by donations and 

 exchange under his fostering care and prudent and dis- 

 creet management. 



During the fifth decade of this century, this city and 

 its immediate vicinity had a goodly array of enthusiastic 

 and successful cultivators of the choicest gifts of Flora and 

 Pomona. Among these the name of Robert Manning 

 stands prominent as the pioneer in the cultivation of 

 fruits, especially the pear. In 1845, Mr. King made 

 drawings of the different varieties of pears that ripened in 

 Salem that season, the time of ripening, the peculiar qual- 

 ity of each, and other data respecting the same were care- 

 fully noted ; the figures and notes respecting the new 

 varieties as introduced were carefully noted for several 

 years. These various notes and drawings are deposited 

 in the library of the Institute. 



In 1852, the late Mr. Thomas Cole presented to the 

 Institute a Pritchard standard microscope with the neces- 

 sary accompaniments for practical use in the study of the 

 natural sciences, with the view that it might be an incen- 

 tive to the young student to resort to this aid in his studies. 

 Mr. King familiarized himself with the use of this instru- 

 ment, and having an artistic taste, made fine sketches 

 illustrative of vegetable growth and structure as discov- 

 ered through this powerful aid to the vision. Rev. John 

 Lewis Russell, the well-known cryptogamist, availed him- 



