THE FULTON PEAR.

Fulton. New England Farmer, vol. vii. p. 386.

The Fulton is one of the earliest of our native pears which were brought to the attention of cultivators. At the time it first fruited in the vicinity of Boston, in 1828, there were not more than eight or ten American varieties of any acknowledged excellence. Samuel Downer, Esq., of Dorchester, first made known its merits, and it is doing no more than justice to his excellent knowledge of fruits, to say that the encomiums which he bestowed upon it have been fully deserved, and that at the present time, after the lapse of a quarter of a century, and after the introduction of so many others, both native and foreign, it still maintains its good character, and is eagerly sought after by every cultivator of fine pears. It possesses a combination of good qualities. It is a rich looking fruit, having a fine cinnamon russet skin when fully mature; it is an abundant bearer; a hardy and vigorous tree; ripens its fruit well and in long succession, and though not so highly perfumed as some others, has a fine melting flesh and delicious flavor.

The Fulton originated in Topsham, Me., and we cannot better state its history and introduction than in giving an extract of a letter from Mr. John Abbott, of Brunswick, Me., in answer to the inquiries of Mr. Downer, in tracing out its origin: —

"With respect to its history, I have to inform you that a family by the name of Fulton, about fifty years ago, removed from the county of Plymouth, Mass., to Topsham, in this neighborhood, and commenced a new farm. In a year or two after they commenced their farm, Mr. Fulton and his wife, as the woman informed me, returned to Massachusetts, to visit her friends, where she collected a considerable quantity of pear seeds, which she planted on her return home. I have counted on this farm, by this woman's planting, forty trees; but they are all ordinary — some of them very ordinary — except this. I have resided in Brunswick twenty-six years, and have nearly as long been acquainted with this pear. As this is the only good pear for the market in the neighborhood, I supply myself with it for three or four weeks by having them gathered and brought me before they soften."

One peculiarity of the Fulton is the gradual ripening of the fruit. Every pear that falls from the tree, or that is gathered, if taken to the fruit room, mellows and becomes excellent. Mr. Manning, of Salem, first noticed this, some years ago. The tree is a good grower, and forms a handsome head. It does not succeed well upon the quince.

Tree. — Moderately vigorous, of upright habit, the lateral branches forming a gentle curve upwards.

Wood. — Brownish yellow, dotted with whitish specks, rather slender and very short-jointed, the young growth slightly downy; old wood, grayish olive; buds, medium size, short, diverging: Flower-buds, medium size.

Leaves. — Small, ovate, narrowing to each end, thick, light yellowish green, changing to red in the autumn, little wavy, slightly recurved on the midrib, and finely and sharply serrated; petioles, rather short, about one inch long, moderately stout.

Flowers. — Medium size; petals, roundish ovate; claw, long.

Fruit. — Medium size, about two and a half inches long, and two and a half in diameter: Form, nearly round, slightly uneven, flattened at the crown, and rounding off to the stem: Skin, fair, slightly rough, of a clear bright cinnamon russet, showing in some places a deep yellow ground: Stem, medium length, about one inch long, smooth, and rather deeply inserted in a small round cavity: Eye, medium size, open, and moderately sunk in a small basin; segments of the calyx, long, stiff, projecting: Flesh, white, fine, melting and juicy: Flavor, rich and excellent, though not highly perfumed: Core, large: Seeds, medium size, short, pale brown.

Ripe the last of September, and keeps three or four weeks.

— C.M. Hovey, The Fruits of America (1852)

FULTON.

American. Native of Maine. Tree, very hardy, yearly and abundant bearer, well suited for standard orcharding at the West; young shoots, slender, reddish brown.

Fruit, small, obovate; color, at first gray russet, becoming dark cinnamon russet; calyx, open, segments nearly erect; basin, round, regular; stem, one to two inches long; cavity, narrow; core, encircled by a coarse line, but of itself small, compact; seeds, blackish; flesh, half buttery, moderately juicy, sprightly. October, November.

— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)

Fulton.

This American Pear is a native of Maine, and is a seedling from the farm of Mrs. Fulton, of Topsham, in that State. It is very hardy, and bears every year abundantly. Tree moderately vigorous. Young shoots rather slender, and yellowish reddish brown.

Fruit below medium size, roundish, flattened. Skin at first entirely gray russet in color, but at maturity of a dark cinnamon russet. Stalk one to two inches long, slender, planted in a narrow cavity. Calyx with long segments sunk in an uneven hollow. Flesh half buttery moderately juicy, with a sprightly, agreeable flavor. Very good. October and November.

— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)

Fig. 722. Fulton. Rather small or nearly medium; roundish, crown flattened; whole surface a smooth gray russet, becoming a dark cinnamon russet; stalk an inch and a quarter long, slender, cavity round, rather narrow; calyx long, deep cut, basin uneven; flesh half buttery, melting, rich, sprightly, agreeable, nearly or quite first-rate. Ripens middle and late autumn. Shoots rather slender, reddish brown. Tree very hardy and productive. Valuable. Origin, Topsham, Me.

— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)

Fulton,

1. Prince Pom. Man. 2:214. 1832. 2. Downing Fr. Trees Am. 768, fig. 1869.

Originated on the farm of a Mr. Fulton in Brunswick, Me. Exhibited before the Massachusetts Horticultural Society in 1829. Fruit medium, globular-turbinate, dark yellow, russeted; flesh, if picked and matured in the house, buttery, melting, full of rich juice. If allowed to remain on the tree it becomes breaking, dry and without flavor. A peculiarity of this pear first discovered by Manning in 1840 is that the fruits after they have attained half their size, are in good eating condition after lying a day or two; second; Oct.

— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)