THE PEARS OF NEW YORK 23 



in a blunt point. They are three inches in length, a little less in width. 

 Their color is on one side green or pale, on the other, where they have 

 been touched by the sun, reddish. They are moderately acid to the taste, 

 and abound with copious juice, rather watery, very refreshing in effect! 

 They ripen when the sun is hastening toward Scorpio. They are abundant 

 at Marburg in Hesse. 



" Schmalzbirn, that is, Butter pear, so called because they melt in 

 the mouth like fat or some liquid mixture; their fruit is generally swollen 

 at the lower end and gradually tapers to a narrow neck toward the stem. 

 Like gourds they are three inches in length or often more, but in breadth 

 two and a half inches. They have a pale yellow color, a pleasing fragrance, 

 but are very acid in taste, with the admixture of a peculiar, winey flavor; 

 when insufficiently ripe and not thoroughly chewed or too greedily devoured 

 they sometimes stick in the throat and choke the breathing; on the other 

 hand, when ripe and well masticated they melt in the mouth like fat. They 

 ripen before the sun passes into Libra. They are found in Hesse, especially 

 in Frankenberg, where there is great abundance of them. 



" Junckfrauenbirn gross, that is, Maiden pera, large, are like the Lump 

 pear in color and shape, but in size somewhat smaller. In taste they are 

 powerfully astringent, so that they irritate the throat and contract the lips 

 into a pucker like a maiden's kiss. They have a watery juice mixed as it 

 were with sour wine. They ripen at the end of summer. At Brunswick 

 in Saxony they are very abundant. 



" Junckfrauenbirn klein, that is, Maiden pear, small, from a swelling 

 belly they end in a narrow neck; they have a length a little less than three 

 inches, but in breadth somewhat exceed an inch and a half; they are of 

 beautiful color, as if one should mix dark blue-green with reddish-purple; 

 they are besides speckled with dots, acid in taste, and in like manner are 

 easily dissolved in the mouth. They ripen at the beginning of autumn. 

 They are much cultivated at Eisleben. 



" Hamelsswenstebirn, that is, Ram's paunch pear, have received their 

 name from the fact that in their swelling shape they resemble the bellies 

 of wethers; they swell as it were with a thick paunch; reach three inches 

 in length and often even more, but less in width. In color they are bluish- 

 gray, but slightly reddish on that side which they have turned to the sun. 

 They have a very acid flavor, with a certain pleasantness and a winey 

 juice. They ripen at the end of summer. They are found in Hesse and 

 neighboring districts, and there are preferred to other pears. 



" Loeivenbirn, that is, Lion pear, so called from their excellence; these 

 are called Hessiatica in Thuringen and neighboring districts; their fruit is 

 remarkable, holding the supremacy among all autumn fruits for duration 

 and excellence of taste and juice. They are swollen in the lower part and 

 generally unequal; they have a length of three inches and often greater; 



