"_Probstbirn_, that is, Provost pear, so-called from their broad base,
near the stalk end in a blunt point, have a length of three inches,
breadth a little less. Their color is pale green, speckled with green
spots or dots; they are astringent to the taste, and by the abundance
of their juice extinguish thirst. They ripen at the beginning of
autumn, and quickly decay because of the abundance of watery and
rather cold juice. They are found in abundance at Eisleben near the
Harz forest in Saxony.
"_Speckbirn_, that is, Lard pear, swell in the middle with a thick
belly, from which they suddenly taper off into a point; they have a
length of more than three inches, a width somewhat less than three
inches; they are of pale color, and like the Provost, speckled with
green dots, rather mild and sweet to the taste, dissolving in the
mouth like lard, whence they have received their name, and with the
abundance of their juice they quench thirst; when they are peeled they
give a sweet odor. They ripen at the beginning of autumn and very
easily decay.
"_Kaulbirn_, that is, Ball pear, have almost the roundness of a globe,
except that near the stalk they rise to a blunt and inconspicuous
circle. Their length is scarcely two inches; they rarely exceed this,
but in width slightly exceed their length. In color they are pale
green, in taste and smell they rival the Lard with which also they
come to ripeness; these too easily decay. They are found at Eisleben.
"_Hanffbirn_, that is, Hemp pear, are like the Ball but a little
larger; they have a green color, marked with spots or dots; in taste
they correspond to the Ball, but do not dissolve so readily in the
mouth; they ripen at the same time, and are easily affected by decay.
These too are found at Eisleben.
"_Glockenbirn_, that is, Bell pear, from a broad base narrow down to a
sort of narrow neck and then end in a blunt head; they have quite the
shape of a bell, whence they have received their name. They are wholly
of a yellow color spotted with dots, in length a little less than
three inches, but in width they do not reach two inches. They have no
unpleasant odor, especially when peeled; in taste they correspond to
the Hemp, and reach maturity at the same time, and easily decay. They
grow in abundance at Eisleben.
"_Königsbirn_, King's pear, or _Regalbirn_, Rule pear, that is, Royal
pear, are large and big-bellied; they have a length sometimes of four
inches, a width a little less; they are of bluish-gray color, but in
that part where they have had the sun they become slightly red. They
are astringent to the taste and with a copious juice, and that sweet
and something like wine, they allay thirst. They ripen when the sun
has entered Libra, and do not so easily decay.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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