Descriptions of Six varieties of Native Pears. 289 



25. Fulton. N. E. Farmer, Vol. VII., p. 386. 



Very few of our native pears possess more real merit 

 than the Fulton. Though not of the largest size, its 

 general good qualities and abundant fruiting, claim for it a 

 high reputation. This variety is a native of Topsfield, 

 Maine, and was first introduced into the vicinity of Boston 

 about the year 1.S26, when scions were sent to Mr. Thomas 

 Greenleaf, of Quincy. These scions produced fruit in the 

 fall of 1828, and specimens were first exhibited at the an- 

 nual exhibition of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, 

 in September, 1829. It was brought into notice by Mr. 

 Downer, through whose exertions many native pears were 

 first made known to the public ; and in our Vol. 1, (p. 89), 

 he has given a brief description of it, with several other 

 native kinds. As the history of our native varieties is in- 

 teresting to all cultivators, we here add the particulars of 

 its origin and introduction, which were communicated in 

 the N. E. Farmer. 



In the autumn of 1829, Mr. Downer, being on a visit to 

 Mr. Greenleaf, of Q,uincy, first saw the Fulton in bearing 

 in his garden ; upon inquiry as to its origin, he was informed 

 that the scions were received from Mr. John Abbott, of 

 Brunswick, Me. about three years previous, and that it 

 was thought to be a seedling variety. A single specimen 

 was given to Mr. Downer, who preserved it until it was in 

 eating, when its qualities appeared so excellent, that he 

 immediately addressed a letter to Mr. Abbott, requesting a 

 description of the pear, and some account of its origin. In 

 reply to this letter, Mr. Abbott communicated the following 

 information : — 



" With regard to the Fulton pear, which I furnished to 

 my friend Mr. Greenleaf, of duincy, and which you saw 

 and tasted last autumn, you appear to me to have, in all 

 respects, well described it. I need not therefore attempt 

 any alteration of your description. With respect to its 

 history, I have to inform you that a family by the name of 

 Fulton, about fifty years ago, removed from the county of 

 Plymouth, Mass., to Topsham, in this neighborhood, and 

 commenced a new farm. In a year or two after they com- 

 menced their farm, Mr. Fulton and his wife, as the woman 

 informed me, returned to Massachusetts to visit their 

 friends, where she collected a considerable quantity of pear 

 VOL. X. — NO. vni. 37 



