Mr. J. Hardy on the Antiquity of some Border Pears. 205 



the French (P. Miller), or, as it is corrupted, "Hasting's 

 Pear." The first mention of it by name is in the " Semin- 

 arium " of Robert Stephens, a.d. 1540. The " Greene 

 Chesill" is recorded by Parkinson in 1629. P. Neill says 

 the Green Chisel is the Summer Bergamot. 



6. Pound Pear. " Libraria." " Poire de livre." From 

 J. Bauhin's account, this is of Burgundian origin. He him- 

 self had obtained grafts from Burgundy, and had sent them 

 from the same district to the illustrious Prince, William 

 Landgrave of Hesse, a personage of historical note, much 

 interested in natural history. In Lorraine they were termed 

 " Poires de 16 onces."* "Libraria "is a Plinian name. It 

 would thus appear that some Jedburgh Pears had a right to 

 be called " Burgundy Pears " ; the name perhaps descending 

 traditionally. P. Miller says that in England this is called 

 " Parkinson's Warden, or the Black Pear of Worcester." 



7. Longueville. No Pear with this title is recorded in 

 any of the old or recent French lists. It may have been 

 derived from Normandy. 



8. Ludds. This is obviously a corrupted word. Were 

 they " Pears of Our Lady " ? (" Poires de Notre Dame," 

 " Pyra Mariana "), next in size to the Bon-Chretien, and 

 praised by Ruellius ? This variety is still extant, so that a 

 comparison might still be possible. Evelyn in, 1669, men- 

 tions the " Lady Pear," and Mouffett says of it, " too 

 waterish, though beautiful in colour." Or were they 

 " Lords " ? " Herren-birn," and " Pfaffene-birn," Lords, or 

 Priest's Pears ? There is a further coincidence among the 

 Burgundian Pears, viz. : " Pira Domini " or " Poires Mon- 

 sieur." In modern times, " Poir de Seigneur " and " Mon- 

 sieur" are synonyms of the "White Doyenne." Evelyn was 

 acquainted Avith the " Lordling."-f* 



9. Achan, or Auchan. The Achans are said to be of 

 Scottish origin. Dr. P. Neill, at Brussels, recognised his 

 old acquaintance, the Grey Achan, honoured with the title 

 of "the Grand Bretagne."j The Black Achan is nick- 

 named " Black Bess of Castle Menzies." 



10. Grey Good Wife. This, according to Dr. Neill, is a 

 " favourite standard in Scottish orchards and country gar- 

 dens." It has no history. 



* "Hist. Plant.," i., p. 53. 



t " Kalendarium Hortense," p. 22. 



X "Horticultural Tour," p. 299. 



