26 THE PEARS OF NEW YORK 



" Drinkebirn, that is, Drink pear, are so called because like a drink 

 they drive away anybody's thirst. They are swollen in the middle and 

 end in a blunt point; in length a little over two inches, in width scarcely 

 two inches. Their color is wholly yellow, but they redden on that side 

 which is exposed to the sun ; they have a sweet flavor, tender pulp, abounding 

 with copious and drinkable juice. They ripen with the Rust and quickly 

 decay just as they do. They are cultivated in the country near Eisleben. 



" Eyerbirn, that is, Egg pear, have received their name from their 

 shape, which becomes conical at both ends like a short egg; otherwise they 

 do not differ much from the Drink pear in proportion and shape. They 

 are, however, a little smaller, have a yellow color speckled with dots. In 

 flavor they rival the Rust and like them are moderately astringent; they 

 have a very sweet fragrance, ripen with the Drink pear, and quickly decay. 

 They too are found at Eisleben and neighboring towns. 



" Pfaltzgrauischbirn (Palatinate grayish-pear), that is, Palatina, which 

 are called Mass pear in Hesse, are the most excellent of the short-lived 

 ones, and in like manner generally end in a cone; in length they reach two 

 inches and a half, in width rarely exceed two inches. Their color is mid-way 

 between saffron and reddish purple. They have a tender, juicy pulp, an 

 exceptionally sweet flavor, aromatic as it were. They have a most pleasing 

 fragrance both when they are whole and when they are cut, surpassed in 

 excellence by no other variety of pear. They ripen at the end of August, 

 when the sun has entered Virgo. They are found in the Rhine Valley, in 

 France, Hesse, and many other regions. 



" Spindelbirn or Rautenbirn (Rhombus pear), that is, Spindle pear, are 

 like the Rust in shape, color, and size, but a little narrower; in substance 

 and flavor they differ from them, since they consist of harder pulp and so 

 last longer; they have a flavor astringent and at the same time sweet. 

 They ripen with the Rust, and are cultivated in the country about Eisleben. 



" Zuckerbim, that is, Sugar pear, are a little more than two inches in 

 length, rarely as much in width; of greenish color; they have a tender 

 pulp, melting easily in the mouth like sugar, sweet and of pleasant flavor. 

 They ripen with the Egg pear and do not last long. They are cultivated 

 in the country about Eisleben. 



" Packelemischbirn, that is, Paclemiana, are like the Sugar in size 

 and shape; their color is green and bluish -gray; their surface is rather 

 rough, their pulp hard, juicy, and acid. They ripen with the Sugar, and if 

 they receive no injury they do not easily decay, but may last for some 

 time, as most others do which have hard pulp and acid taste. They are 

 cultivated in the country about Eisleben. 



Kirchmessbirn, that is, Church Mass pear, are round and big-bellied, 

 and end toward the stalk in a long, narrow, and much attenuated point. 

 In length they are three and a half inches, in breadth over two inches, 



