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. 
“ Pfaltzgrduischbirn (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. 
“‘ Zuckerbirn, 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, 
