The variety of peares is as much or more then of apples, and I thinke it is as hard in this, as before in apples, for any to be so exquisite, as that hee could number vp all the sorts that are to be had: for wee haue in our country so manie, as I shall giue you the names of by and by, and are hitherto come to our knowledge: but I verily beleeue that there be many, both in our country, and in others, that we haue not yet knowne or heard of; for euery yeare almost wee attaine to the knowledge of some, we knew not of before. Take therefore, according to the manner before held, the description of one, with the seuerall names of the rest, vntill a more exact discourse be had of them, euery one apart.
The Peare tree groweth more slowly, but higher, and more vpright then the apple tree, and not lesse in the bulke of the body: his branches spread not so farre or wide, but growe vprighter and closer: the leaues are somewhat broader and rounder, greene aboue, and whiter vnderneath then those of the apple tree: the flowers are whiter and greater: the fruit is longer then round for the most part, smaller at the stalke, and greater at the head, of so many differing formes, colours, and tastes, that hardly can one distinguish rightly between them, the times also being as variable in the gathering and spending of them, as in apples: the roote groweth deeper then the apple tree, and therefore abideth longer, and giueth a faster, closer, & smoother gentle wood, easie to be wrought vpon.
| 1 | Malus Cotonea. The Quince tree. |
| 2 | Cydonium Lusitanicum. The Portingall Quince. |
| 3 | Pyrus. The Peare tree. |
| 4 | Pyrum Pompeianum, siue Cucumerinum hyemale. The Winter Bon Chretien. |
| 5 | Pyrum pictum vel striatum. The painted or striped Peare of Ierusalem. |
| 6 | Pyrum Palatinale. The Burgomot Peare. |
| 7 | Pyrum Cucumerinum siue Pompeianum æstivum. The Summer Bon Chretien. |
| 8 | Pyrum Volemam. The best Warden. |
| 9 | Pyrum Librale. The pound Peare. |
| 10 | Pyrum Windsorianum. The Windsor Peare. |
| 11 | Pyrum Cucumerinum. The Gratiola Peare. |
| 12 | Pyrum Caryophyllatum. The Gilloflower Peare. |
The kindes of Peares.
The Summer bon Chretien is somewhat a long peare, with a greene and yellow russetish coate, and will haue sometimes red sides; it is ripe at Michaelmas: some vse to dry them as they doe Prunes, and keepe them all the yeare after. I haue not seene or heard any more Summer kindes hereof then this one, and needeth no wall to nourse it as the other.
The Winter bon Chretien is of many sorts, some greater, others lesser, and all good; but the greatest and best is that kinde that groweth at Syon: All the kinds of this Winter fruit must be planted against a wall, or else they will both seldome beare, and bring fewer also to ripenesse, comparable to the wall fruit: the kindes also are according to their lasting; for some will endure good much longer then others.
The Summer Bergomot is an excellent well rellished peare, flattish, & short, not long like others, of a meane bignesse, and of a darke yellowish greene colour on the outside.