THE HISTORIC TREES OF MASSACHUSETTS 



the celebrated pear, were ordered at the 

 same time. If this is true it is reasonable 

 to suppose that the trees were planted at 

 the Governor's residence in 1630, and in their 

 permanent places at Orchard Farm as soon 

 as that land was under cultivation, about 

 1633. Hanson's "History of Danvers" quotes 

 Joselyn, 1639, as saying, "There is not a 

 single apple tree or pear tree in all the 

 colonies " and adds that either the shoot was 

 brought over subsequent to 1639 or Joselyn 

 did not know of its existence. The writer's 

 own opinion is that 1630 is the probable 

 date for the arrival of this tree in America. 

 For out of all that wealth of trees and shrubs, 

 particularly fruit-bearing species, with which 

 the Governor surrounded himself from 1629 

 to 1633, he would hardly have overlooked 

 the apple and the pear. These trees may 

 have been in the minority, and therefore 

 overlooked by the outside observer. 



There is not much left of beauty or come- 

 liness about the venerable tree which still 

 maintains its layer of living bark from year 

 to year around a hollow trunk, and still 



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