124 [Assembly 



England ; Salem being the second. I may mention, also, that the 

 tree is slill in the possession of Gov. Endicott's descendants, and will 

 undoubtedly continue to be cherished and protected. 



I visited the tree in 1846, in August or September, and my obser- 

 vations agree with the descriptions quoted. It had made some new 

 shoots on the ends of the limbs, and had some fruit on, but not 

 much. I ought to mention that that was not a good pear year. The 

 fence erected in 1823, according to the following account, remained 

 there then. The land around it was in grass, if I remember right. 

 I have grafts of it growing in my own grounds, from which I have 

 cut a few buds, which I have the pleasure to enclose herewith. It is 

 a very thrifty, strong, upright grower with me. I have had fruit on 

 my grafts in years past, but this year the pear crop is wholly cut off, 

 and the Endicott along with the rest. The fruit is roundish, flattened ; 

 skin thick ; color dark green ; rough, and with considerable russet. 

 Ripe in September and October. In regard to quality, whatever the 

 antiquary may say of it, the pomologist cannot but pronounce it 

 third-rate. 



I am, yours, respectfully, 



ROBERT MANNIMG. 



THE ENDICOTT PEAR TREE. 



Tradition connects the planting of the Endicott Pear Tree and the 

 foundation of Salem, with' the same date, 1628, Historical evidence 

 readers it certain that the existence of the tree could not have been 

 so early as the origin of the first town of Massachusetts. 



The late reverend and learned Doct, Wm. Bently, " desirous," in 

 his own words, " to honor the man who, above all others, deserved 

 the name of the Father of New-England," addressed three letters to 

 President John Adams, in relation to the antiquity of the survivor of 

 the orchard of Governor John Endicott. These manuscripts are pre- 

 served in the archives of the Massachusetts Historical Society, and 

 have been kindly communicated by Rev. Doct. Thaddeus M. Harris. 



