
          551

251

Washington Pear

Extract of a letter from General Robinson Feb. 20. 1818.

" It is a natural <s>pear</s> fruit, about 12 years ago in moving a fence
" my people came across a pear tree, and left it standing. In the month
" of August I observed the tree to bear an uncommon kind of pear.
" I gathered some in a green state & brought them in the house 
" where they ripened, and they turning out the best pear I <s>ever eat</s>
" had ever met with. I gave it the name of the greatest &
" best of men"  The old tree is small & bears every year. I gather
" them green & they ripen in perfection. "

[Begin right brace]
[sketch of index finger pointing right]
New Series
[End right brace]

[sketch of pear]

New Series (
Feb 25. 1818
Recd [Received a bundle of
[Cions] with the above
letter.

[begin right parentheses]
Aug. 29. 1817
&  Sept. 2nd. 1817
[end right parentheses]

This pear was first cultivated by General Thomas
Robinson of New Castle County , Delaware.
It is of a small size, about that of the Seckle [Seckel].
The shape as well as size resembling the Spice
or Roussellet de Rheims.  The skin is smooth the
colour <s>illegible</s> yellow filled with small brown Dots.
The flesh is tender juicy melting sprightly and highly <s>agreeably</s>
flavored.  The stalk about a middling length. 
It ripens about the beginning of September. General
R- speaks of it as superior to the Seckle [Seckel] <s>illegible</s>
<s>illegible</s>
It appears to unite in a high degree the properties of the Beurréé
and Seckle [Seckel] as to richness and flavor.
        