24 THE PEARS OF NEW YORK 



in width they not rarely exceed two inches. They are of greenish gray 

 color, slightly reddened. They have an astringent taste of marked 

 pleasantness. They abound in copious juice, winey, sweet-smelling, and 

 very refreshing, so that they speedily quench thirst; indeed the pears 

 themselves by their strong aromatic odor wonderfully revive the sick. 

 They ripen when the sun has entered Libra; finally when stored away 

 they last for a long time. They abound in Hesse, especially at Marburg 

 and likewise at Frankenberg, a town near Marburg. They are called 

 Barber's pear, from a certain barber who first introduced them there. 



" Hangelbirn, that is, Hanging pear, are equal to the Butter in shape, 

 color, and size; they hang from a long stalk, whence they have received 

 their name; in flavor they differ from the Butter, for their juice is not so 

 winey nor so acid; they have a simpler flavor, not composed of so many 

 qualities. However, they ripen at the same time. These too are cultivated 

 in Hesse. 



" Margarethenbirn, that is, Margaret's pear, are so called because 

 they become ripe about St. Margaret's Day, when the sun is entering into 

 Leo. They end in an oblong neck; in length they reach three inches, in 

 width hardly two inches. They have a reddish-blue color. Their pulp is 

 tender and juicy, of very sweet taste, easily melting in the mouth; they 

 have a very pleasant smell. They abound at Brunswick in Saxony. 



' Winterbirn, that is, Winter pear, from a round shape become slightly 

 conical; they are less than three inches in length, little more than two 

 inches in breadth. They have a green color, a very hard substance, so 

 that they scarcely give way to the teeth. In taste they are very acid and 

 refreshing, quenching the thirst with a watery, sour juice. They ripen 

 late in autumn after all other fruits, after they have been touched with 

 frosts and cold. They are found at Frankenberg in Hesse. 



' Knochenbirn, that is, Bone pear, have received their name from their 

 hardness; from a swelling belly they end gradually in a short and narrow 

 neck. They rarely exceed two inches in length and an inch and a half 

 in breadth. They have a light reddish color ; they are of such hard substance 

 that they cannot be chewed raw but only when cooked. They have a 

 very acid taste. They ripen at the beginning of autumn. They are 

 cultivated at Frankenberg in Hesse. 



"Augustbirn, that is, August pear, would be almost round except that they 

 end in a short point. Their length is a little more than two inches, their 

 width a little less. They have a yellow color, at times turning to pale red. 

 In taste they are acid, with a peculiar sweetness of juice. They ripen early 

 in August, whence they have received their name. They are short-lived 

 and do not last long. They abound everywhere in Hesse. 



" Honigbirn gross, that is, Honey pear, large, end in an oblong cone: 

 they are two inches and a half in length, but in breadth hardly reach two 



