254 History of the Endicott Pear Tree. 



We invite the attention of every reader to Mr. Flagg's arti- 

 cle, which we are glad to announce is only preliminary to a 

 series illustrating his ideas of rural improvement. He has 

 touched upon just the right point, viz., the improvement of 

 property. Only show that every tree planted, and every dol- 

 lar paid in embellishing our landscape, is just so much capital 

 well invested, and every individual who now looks upon 

 such expense as so much money wasted in fancy projects, 

 will immediately see how long they have remained ignorant 

 of their true interest. It is just the subject upon which we 

 are anxious to talk with our readers. — Ed. 



Art. III. History of the Endicott Pear Tree. By C. M. 

 Endicott, Salem, Mass. 



There has been, from time to time, within the last fifty 

 years, considerable discussion in reference to this tree, its 

 origin, its age, whence it sprung, and how it came in its pres- 

 ent situation. The family tradition respecting it has been 

 very unceremoniously disregarded and thrust aside, upon mere 

 hypothesis. It has been common to speak of it in this wise : 

 " if the family tradition be correct,''^ — " the family claim,^' — 

 " if imported by the governor," — and many other similar 

 modes of expressing doubts of the validity of the tradition. 

 The aid of science has been enlisted against it ; but we are 

 not aware there exists anything in that quarter which con- 

 flicts with the great age which is claimed for it. From 

 whence then does this unwillingness to give credence to the 

 family tradition arise ? Is it because it is known to be a seed- 

 ling ? and is there anything so very improbable in the fact 

 that a seedling was imported from England at that early pe- 

 riod of the settlement ? or would the usual characteristics of 

 a seedling so transplanted from the nurseries of Old to the 

 orchards of New England, be entirely changed by the pro- 

 cess? Would ^^ thorns'''' no longer grow upon it? would its 

 ^'rude and spiny character ^^ be altered? We confess not 



