The Orchard. 
16 8 
likeaPeare, but ofa more pleafant tafte then the ordinarie kinde , when they are ripe 
and mellowed, as they vieto doe with both thefc kindes, and with Medlars. 
' They are gathered when they growe to be neare ripe (and that is neuer 
before they haue felt iome frofts) and being tyed together , are either hung 
vpinfomewarmeroome, to ripen them thoroughly, that they may bee 
eaten, or (as fome'vie to doe)lay them in ftrawe, chafle, orbranne, to ripen 
them. 
They are binding, fit to be taken of them that haue any fcouring or laske, 
to hel pe to ftay the fluxe ; but take heed, left if you bituie too much, more 
paine and danger may come thereof then of the fcouring. 
Here are three forts of Mcdlers : The greater and the leffcr Englilh , and the 
Neapolitan. 
The great and the fmall Englifh Medlar differ not one from the other in any 
thing, but in the fize of the fruit, except that the fraall kinde hath fomc prickesor 
thornes vpon it, which the great one hath not, bearing diuers boughes or armes, from 
whence breake forth diuers branches, whereon are let long and fomewhat narrow 
leaues, many (landing together; in the middle whereof, at the end of the branch, com- 
meth the flower, which is great and white, made of flue leaues, broad at the ends, with 
a nicke in the middle of euery one ; after which commeth the fruit, being round, and of 
a pale brownilh colour, bearing a crowne of thole fmall leaues at the toppe, which 
Werethe huske oftheflowerbefore, the middle thereof being fomewhat hollow, and 
is har!h,able to choakc any that fhall cate it before it be made mellow , wherein there 
are certainc flat and hard kernels. 
TheMedlarofNaplesgrowethlikewifctobee a reafonable great tree, fpreading 
forth armes and branches, whereon are fee many galhed leaues , fomewhat like vnto 
Hawthorne leaues, but greater, and likewif e diuers thornes in many places : the flow- 
ers are of an herbiegreene colour, and fmall, which turne into fmaller fruit then the 
former, and rounder alfo, butwithafmall head or crowne at the toppe like vnto it, 
and is ofa more fweeteand pleafant tafte then the other, with three feeds only therein 
ordinarily. 
Medlars are vfed in the fame manner that Seruiccs are, that is, to be eaten 
when they are mellowed, and are forthe fame purpofes to binde the body 
when there is a caufe: yet they as well as the Seruices, are often eaten by 
them that haue no neede of binding , and but oncly for the pleafant fweet- 
nefleof them when they are made mellow, and lometimes comeasadifh 
of ripe fruit at rheir fit feafon, to be ferued with other forts to the table. 
T He firft kinde of Lote tree, whereof Diofcorides maketh mention,is bur of one 
kinde ; but there are fome other trees fpoken of by Theophraftus, that may be 
referred thereunto , which may bee accounted as baftard kindes thereof, of 
which I meanetocjntreatcinthis Chapter, hauing giuen you beforeche defeiption 
TheVfeof Seruices, 
Chap. IX. 
Meffdus. The Medlar tree, 
TheVfeofMedlars, 
Ch a p. X, 
Lot at. The Lote or Nettle tree, 
of 
