LANDMARKS OF BOTANICAL HISTORY — GREENE 313 



Also inasmuch as most of the pears which one sees in the fruit 

 marts of to-day are quite pear-shaped, I shall begin with one which 

 Cordus knew that was globose as an apple. 



"Kaulbirn, that is, Globe Pear, is almost as round as a globe, 

 except that at base it ends in a blunt and scarcely manifest protu- 

 berance. It is hardly two inches long, seldom at all exceeding that, 

 and the diameter is a trifle greater than the length. The color is 

 altogether pale green; the flesh very tender, melting in the mouth, 

 and of a mild delicious flavor, and by its abundant juiciness satis- 

 fying thirst, delightfully fragrant when pared. This matures at 

 the beginning of autumn, and is very perishable. It is cultivated 

 about Eisleben. 



"Hauffbirn, that is. Hemp Pear, is similar to the Globe, but a 

 little larger, in color green, with darker spots and dots; in flavor 

 answering to the Globe, but the flesh not as tender and juicy; 

 matures at the same time and soon decays. This also is grown at 

 Eisleben. 



" Glockenbirn, that is, Bell Pear, is abruptly narrowed below 

 into a narrow neck, this again at the very base widening into a 

 blunt head-like protuberance, the fruit as a whole having the con- 

 figuration of a bell,' whence it has its name. The color is yellow, 

 well specked with green, the length a trifle less than three inches, 

 the diameter not more than two inches. Rather fragrant when 

 pared; the flavor that of the Hemp Pear; matures at the same 

 time with that and is perishable. Grown in quantities at 

 Eisleben. 



"KuNiGSBiRN, that is, Royal Pear. Large and ventricose, some- 

 times four inches long, the diameter somewhat less ; color blue-green, 

 but on the side exposed to the sun faintly reddening. Flavor a 

 trifle astringent, flesh somewhat juicy and vinous, assuaging thirst. 

 Matures at the end of September and is not very perishable. " 



It is perhaps less difticult to describe apples well, than pears; 

 and all those familiar to Cordus are very vividly depicted. We 

 present two or three: 



"Hartlinge Weiss, that is. White Harding. Somewhat 

 depressed-globose, the height about two inches, the diameter two 

 and a half or somewhat more. Colored reddish-yellow on the sun- 

 ward side, elsewhere greenish-white, dotted with specks that seem 

 to lie beneath the transparent epiderm. Flesh tender though firm, 

 juicy, of an acid-vinous and excellent flavor; the fruit fragrant 



' That is to say, a hand bell, with its handle. 



