300 pliny's natural history. [Book XV. 



the first, however, to ripen, and ought to be gathered as soon 

 as possible. 



CHAP. 16. (15.) — FORTY-ONE VARIETIES OF THE PEAR. 



A similar degree of precocity has caused the appellation of 

 " superbum" 89 to be given to one species of tho pear : it is a 

 small fruit, but ripens with remarkable rapidity. All the 

 world are extremely partial to the Crustumian 90 pear ; and next 

 to it comes the Falernian, 91 so called from the drink 92 which 

 it affords, so abundant is its juice. This juice is known by 

 the name of "milk" in the variety which, of a black colour, 

 is by some called the pear of Syria. 93 The denominations 

 given to the others vary according to the respective localities of 

 their growth. Among the pears, the names of which have been 

 adopted in our city, the Decimian pear, and the Pseudo- 

 Decimian — an offshoot from it — have conferred considerable 

 renown upon the name of those who introduced them. The 

 same is the case, too, with the variety known as the " Dola- 

 bellian," 94 remarkable for the length of its stalk, the Pom- 

 ponian, 95 surnamed the mammosum, 96 the Licerian, the 

 Sevian, the Turranian, a variety of the Sevian, but distin- 

 guished from it by the greater length of the stalk, the Pa- 

 vonian, 97 a red pear, rather larger than the superbum, together 

 with the Laterian 98 and the Anician, which come at the end 

 of autumn, and are pleasant for the acidity of their flavour. 



99 Or " proud" pear. The Petite muscadelle, according to Dalechamps. 

 Adrian Junius says that it is the water-peere of the Dutch. 



90 From Crustumiura in Italy ; the Poire perle, or pearl pear, according 

 to Dalechamps : the Jacoh's peere of the Flemish. 



91 The Poire sucree, or " sugar-pear," according to Hardouin ; the Berga- 

 motte, according to Dalechamps. 



92 " Potu." He would appear to allude to the manufacture of perry. 



93 The Syrian pear is commended by Martial ; it has not been identified, 

 however. 



94 The. Poire musot, according to Dalechamps. Adrian Junius says that 

 it is the Engelsche braet-peere of the Flemish. 



95 The Pirus Pompeiana of Linnaeus. Dalechamps identifies it with 

 the Bon chretien, and Adrian Junius with the Taffel-peere of the Flemish. 



96 The "breast-formed." 



97 The Pirus Favonia of Linnaeus : the Grosse poire muscadelle of the 

 French. 



98 The Poire prevost, according to Dalechamps. 



