The Frederica Bremer Pear. 27 



very fine flavored and excellent pear, well worthy the char- 

 acter given it by Dr. Brinckle, whose description of it we 

 have slightly amended, our specimen being more perfect 

 than his. 



We immediately requested our correspondent to keep us in- 

 formed of any further information which he might procure, 

 respecting its origin and history, and subsequently he fa- 

 vored us with the following account of it, obtained directly 

 from the gentleman who presented the fruit for exhibition, 

 Mr. J. C. Hastings, of Oneida County, New York : — 



In regard to the Frederica Bremer Pear, I have received 

 an interesting letter from Mr. Hastings, in which he says, 

 " I sent samples of this pear, a year since, to the exhibition 

 at New York. The samples sent this year were picked too 

 early, and did not mature well. Owing to a severe drought, 

 they did not obtain more than two thirds their usual size 

 this season. I have been familiar with the pear for several 

 years, and have had an opportunity of comparing it with 

 many of the leading varieties which are classed by our Po- 

 mological Conventions as of first quality, and in my judg- 

 ment, it will not suffer in comparison with many of them. 

 I have no doubt of its being a seedling ; it having originated 

 near me, from seed brought from Connecticut, about forty 

 years since ; and I think it but little known in this vicinity, 

 except in the immediate neighborhood of the original trees. 

 My attention was first called to the pear, by seeing it offered 

 for sale as the Virgalieu, a name which has been in common 

 use for all pears, (from ordinary to good,) in this region, until 

 within a few years past. As I was about sending it to the 

 exhibition, I happened to say something about giving it a 

 name, and a lady present immediately suggested the name of 

 Frederica Bremer, one so much in accordance with my own 

 feelings, that I did not hesitate to adopt it. The tree is a 

 good grower, and bears well every season. A few barrels 

 were sent to the Boston market this fall." — Respectfully 

 yours, W. D. B., December 10, 1849. 



