NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



73 



THE ENDICOTT PEAR TREE. 



AGE, OVER TWO HUNDRED AND TWENTY -ONE YEARS. 



Our obliging friend, Mr. Fowler, has furnished us 

 with the following interesting facts in regard to the 

 famous Endicott pear tree, together with a fac simile 

 of the same, as it appears in winter, and from which 

 we have made our engraving on a larger scale. 



In 1632, Mr. Endicott, one of the early governors 

 of Massachusetts, received from the Court of Assist- 

 ants, a grant of three hundred acres of land, situated 

 in that part of Danvers now known as the New 

 Mills. This tract of land he afterward called his 

 " Orchard Farm." Tradition says, the governor 

 brought the pear tree over when very small, in a 

 tiower-pot, when he came to Salem, in the year 

 1628. It is supposed the tree was first set out in his 

 garden, at his town residence, but was subsequently 

 removed, in the year 1033, to this farm, where it now 

 stands. The tree still retains considerable vigor, and 

 continues to boar fruit, in some seasons, of a good 

 quality, although it can be ranked only in the second 

 class of pears. It is ripe in October. 



It can be seen from the cars of the Essex railroad, 

 when passing over the Iron Factory pond, toward the 

 New Mills, on the left hand. I saw it distinctly 

 3'esterday, and I observed that it was surrounded 

 by a rude fence. It still very much resembles, at a 

 distance, the wood cut I sent you, although taken 

 some years since. It will be interesting to travellers 

 to have theu- attention directed to this ancient tree. 

 Yours, 



S. P. FOWLER. 



Danvers, New Mills, Jan. 1849. 



MAPLE SUGAR. 



Farmers who have maple-trees should be prepared 

 for making sugar, as warm days, producing a good 



flow of sap, are common the latter part of winter 

 and early in spring. Success in this business de- 

 pends very much on being well prepared, and man- 

 aging every thing with the greatest economy, and in 

 the best manner. The following judicious remarks 

 are from G. Butler, Clinton, N. Y., in the Albany 

 Cultivator : — 



I do not intend here to speak of the best way of 

 producing this article in its purity. That has often 

 been done through your columns by those better 

 qualified than myself. The object is. to induce those 

 having the means, to make it. Many farmers, having 

 abundance of the sugar maple, object to engaging in 

 this business, alleging that the sale of the fuel neces- 

 sary for its manufacture would purchase an equal 

 amount of sugar ready made. I am quite certain 

 that my own experience, for a series of years, has 

 resulted in a different conclusion. Take the last sea- 

 son for an example. About forty baiTcls of sap were 

 boiled, consuming nearly three cords of refuse wood, 

 chiefly bass and hemlock, and producing about 

 eighty pounds of sugar and sixteen gallons of mo- 

 lasses. Estimating the sugar at ten cents a pound, 

 and the molasses at fifty cents a gallon, — and the 

 sales were all made at a higher rate, — the amount is 

 sixteen doUars. The wood used could hardly haA^e 

 been sold for thi-ee dollars. My apparatus for boil- 

 ing is not the most economical, being a caldron set 

 in brick, in connection with a five pail kettle, with a 

 spiral flue around the whole. A large sheet-iron pan 

 is said to be far preferable, by exposing a much larger 

 surface to the fire, by which the CA'aporating process 

 is greatly expedited. A small building, contiguous 

 to my dwelling, contains my boiling apparatus, and 

 sufficient space for nearly two years' supply of fuel, 

 consisting of old rails, stumps, and parts of logs too 

 knotty or tough to be reduced for the stove, all gath- 



