294 Pomological Notices; 



27. Andrews. N. E. Farmer, Vol. VII., p. 266. 



Gibson < ^^ some collections. 



About the period of the estabHshment of the Massachu- 

 setts Horticultural Society, in 1829, much attention was 

 given to native varieties of fruits, and our correspondent, 

 Mr. Downer, to whom we have been indebted for the ex- 

 cellent article, which we have already referred to in our 

 first volume, was among the most zealous in seeking out 

 and making known such as were worthy of cultivation. 

 The Society, anxious to promote a commendable zeal 

 among cultivators, and proud to possess such native varie- 

 ties as had been introduced, was at a large expense to have 

 accurate paintings, of several of the choicest kinds, executed 

 for the ornament of their room ; six or more were com- 

 pleted, and among the number the Lewis and Andrews. 

 These beautiful paintings, by Harvey, were destroyed or 

 injured beyond recovery, by a fire, in 1835, which partly 

 destroyed the building occupied by the Society. We have 

 now before us the painting of the Andrews, blackened and 

 disfigured by smoke, but sufficiently distinct to show the 

 form and color of this excellent pear. 



The best account we have of the Andrews pear {Jig. 12, 

 p. 295). has been given in our Vol. I., p. 89, by Mr. Downer, 

 and if all our readers could turn to that article, it would be 

 unnecessary to repeat it. It is supposed to have been a 

 native of Dorchester, from whence the original tree was 

 removed about fifty-five or sixty years ago, to the garden 

 of Mr. Andrews, in Court street, Boston, where tt produced 

 abundantly for many years, until it died. Previously, 

 however, to its death, from its known excellence, scions 

 had been taken off and inserted in other trees. It was 

 originally supposed to be a foreign variety, but all subse- 

 quent importations of trees from Europe have never pro- 

 duced its like, and it is now considered, beyond a doubt, a 

 native fruit. 



Without doubt this variety stands among the very best 

 American seedlings ; in size and appearance as well as in 

 its peculiar flavor, it is second to no other. The tree is not 

 a vigorous grower, but it produces constant and excellent 

 crops. No collection can be considered complete with- 

 out it. 



