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 alight 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. 
‘‘ Honightrn 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 
