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CHAP. 16. (15.)—FORTY-ONE VARIETIES OF THE PEAR.

A similar degree of precocity has caused the appellation of "superbum"1 to be given to one species of the pear: it is a small fruit, but ripens with remarkable rapidity. All the world are extremely partial to the Crustumian2 pear; and next to it comes the Falernian,3 so called from the drink4 which it affords, so abundant is its juice. This juice is known by the name of "milk" in the variety which, of a black colour, is by some called the pear of Syria.5 The denominations given to the others vary according to the respective localities of their growth. Among the pears, the names of which have been adopted in our city, the Decimian pear, and the Pseudo- Decimian—an offshoot from it—have conferred considerable renown upon the name of those who introduced them. The same is the case, too, with the variety known as the "Dolabellian,"6 remarkable for the length of its stalk, the Pomponian,7 surnamed the mammosum,8 the Licerian, the Sevian, the Turranian, a variety of the Sevian, but distinguished from it by the greater length of the stalk, the Favonian,9 a red pear, rather larger than the superbum,together with the Laterian10 and the Anician, which come at the end of autumn, and are pleasant for the acidity of their flavour. One variety is known as the "Tiberian,"11 from its having been a particular favourite with the Emperor Tiberius; it is more coloured by the sun, and grows to a larger size, otherwise it would be identical with the Licerian variety.

The following kinds receive their respective names from their native countries: the Amerinian,12 the latest pear of all, the Picentine, the Numantine, the Alexandrian, the Numidian, the Greek, a variety of which is the Tarentine, and the Signine,13 by some called "testaceum," from its colour, like earthenware; a reason which has also given their respective names to the "onychine"14 and the "purple" kinds. Then, again, we have the "myrapium,"15 the "laureum," and the "nardinum,"16 so called from the odour they emit; the "hordearium,"17 from the season at which it comes18 in; and the "ampullaceum,"19 so called from its long narrow neck. Those, again, that are known as the "Coriolanian"20 and the "Brut. tian," owe their names to the places of their origin; added to which we have the cucurbitinum,21 and the "acidulum," so named from the acidity of its juice. It is quite uncertain for what reason their respective names were given to the varieties known as the "barbaricum" and the "Venerium,"22 which last is known also as the "coloratum;"23 the royal pear24 too, which has a remarkably short stalk, and will stand on its end, as also the patricium, and the voconium,25 a green oblong kind. In addition to these, Virgil26 has made mention of a pear called the "volema,"27 a name which he has borrowed from Cato,28 who makes mention also of kinds known as the "sementivum"29 and the "musteum."30

1 Or "proud" pear. The Petite muscadelle, according to Dalechamps. Adrian Junius says that it is the water-peere of the Dutch.

2 From Crustumium in Italy; the Poire perle, or pearl pear, according to Dalechamps: the Jacob's peere of the Flemish.

3 The Poire sucrée, or "sugar-pear," according to Hardouin; the Bergamotte, according to Dalechamps.

4 "Potu." He would appear to allude to the manufacture of perry.

5 The Syrian pear is commended by Martial; it has not been identified, however.

6 The Poire musot, according to Dalechamps. Adrian Junius says that it is the Engelsche braet-peere of the Flemish.

7 The Pirus Pompeiana of Linnæus. Dalechamps identifies it with the Bon chretien, and Adrian Junius with the Taffel-peere of the Flemish.

8 The "breast-formed."

9 The Pirus Favonia of Linnæus: the Grosse poire muscadelle of the French.

10 The Poire prevost, according to Dalechamps.

11 The Poire fore, according to Dalechamps.

12 The Saint Thomas's pear of the Flemish.

13 The Poire chat of the French, according to Dalechamps; the Riet-peere of the Flemish.

14 "Like onyx." The Cuisse-madame, according to Dalechamps.

15 The Calveau rosat, according to Dalechamps. Perhaps the Poire d'ambre, or amber pear, of the French.

16 The Poire d'argent, or silver pear, according to Dalechamps.

17 Or "barley pear." The Poire de Saint Jean, according to Dalechamps; the musquette or muscadella, according to Adrian Junius.

18 Barley-harvest.

19 So called from its resemblance to the "ampulla," a big-bellied vessel with a small neck, identified with the Poire d'angoisse by Dalechamps.

20 The Poire de jalousie, according to Dalechamps.

21 Or gourd-pear. This is the "isbout" according to Adrian Junius, the Poire courge of Dalechamps, and the Poire de sarteau, or de campane of others.

22 The Poire de Venus, according to Adrian Junius; the Poire acciole, according to Dalechamps.

23 Coloured pear.

24 "Regium." The Poire carmagnole, according to Dalechamps; the Mispeel-peere of the Flemish, according to Adrian Junius.

25 The Poire sarteau, according to Dalechamps.

26 Georgics, ii. 87.

27 "A handful"—probably the pound or pounder pear: the Bergamotte, according to Hardouin; the Bon chretien of summer, according to Adrian Junius.

28 De Re Rust. c. 7.

29 Or "Seedling."

30 The "early ripener." Fée suggests that this may be a variety of the Bon chretien.

The Natural History. Pliny the Elder. John Bostock, M.D., F.R.S. H.T. Riley, Esq., B.A. London. Taylor and Francis, Red Lion Court, Fleet Street. 1855.

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