THE PEARS OF NEW YORK 25 
inches. They have a bluish-gray color verging on yellow, and a surface 
not so smooth; in taste they are acid and abound in sweet juice; they 
ripen at the beginning of autumn, lasting for a while. They are found at 
Wittenberg in upper Saxony. 
“ Honigbirn klein, that is, Honey pear, small, are of conical shape, in 
length do not exceed an inch and a half, in width are a little less; they 
have a light reddish color, a flavor very sweet and pleasant, whence they 
have received their name. They melt readily in the mouth of those who 
taste them. They ripen soon after the August pear. They abound in Hesse. 
‘* Muscatellerbirn, that is, Musk pear, are very small and conical, in 
length a little more than an inch, in width a little less. Their color is 
green tinged with red, their taste most sweet and aromatic, as if it were 
flavored with a little musk, whence their name. They easily melt in the 
mouth; they have also a pleasing odor. They ripen in June. They are 
carefully cultivated in Meissen. 
“ Schaffbirn, that is, Sheep pear, are like the larger Honey in size, 
shape and color, but a little more oblong and narrow. They have a very 
sweet flavor, moderately astringent, and easily dissolve in the mouth on 
account of the tender softness of their pulp and juice. They ripen when 
the sun is hastening toward Libra. They are found in Frankenberg in 
Hesse. 
‘“‘ Waxbirn, that is, Wax pear, are big-bellied at the lower end, at the 
upper end taper off into a cone; in length sometimes exceed three inches 
by a little, but in width rarely exceed two inches. They have a yellow 
or wax-like color, whence their name has been given them, but on that 
side where they have received the sun they invite those who look upon 
them to eat them by their pleasing, speckled redness. They have a 
sweet flavor, slightly astringent; their pulp is soft and easily melts in the 
mouth. They ripen when the sun has entered Virgo; they are short-lived 
and do not last long. They are found at Marburg in Hesse. 
“ Rostbirn, that is, Rust pear, are big-bellied in the middle and narrow 
down at both ends; in length three inches and a half, in width two inches 
and a half. They have a yellow color, speckled with bluish-gray spots; 
they have a very mild, sweet flavor, and easily melt in the mouth; because 
of their extreme softness they last a very short time. They ripen at the 
beginning of autumn. They are cultivated at Eisleben and neighboring 
towns. 
“Aschbirn, that is, Ash pear, have their name because they are soft 
like ashes and easily dissolve in the mouth. They resemble the Rust pear 
in shape, color, quality of pulp, and flavor; but are a little smaller, and 
more conical at one end toward the stalk, though sometimes they become 
big-bellied in the middle like the Rust. They ripen with the Rust. They 
are cultivated at Eisleben. 
\ 
