Argent. 1. Leroy Dict. Pom. 1:156, fig. 1867.
Adrianus Junius, a Dutch botanist of the sixteenth century, identified the pear of silver or the money pear with the Nardina of the Romans, though his contemporary, Jacques Dalechamp of Normandy in his “Histoire des plantes,” 1585, connected it with the Liceriana mentioned by Pliny. Nardina or Nard was an ointment smelling strongly of musk and lavender, from which the ancient pear no doubt took its name, but the flesh of Argent does not give out any such aroma. Henry Manger writing in 1783 thought that the Poire d’Argent which we have today is the Liceriana of Pliny, agreeing with Dalechamp. Fruit small; form globular-obtuse-pyriform but usually mammillate at the summit, greenish-yellow, dotted with russet all over; flesh dead white, fine and melting, juicy, gritty at core; quality second; Aug. and Sept.
Argusbirne. 1. Dochnahl Führ. Obstkunde 2:73. 1856.
Raised from seed by Von Muckenheim in Barmen, Rhenish Prussia, in 1832. Fruit medium, light green to citron-yellow without any red blush but rust-colored on the cheek next the sun, densely spotted with fine brown dots, without perfume; flesh granular, melting, acidulous, sweet, with cinnamon savor; second for dessert, first for kitchen use; late Oct.
Arkansas. 1. Ragan Nom. Pear, B. P. I. Bul. 126:25. 1908.
Arkansas Mammoth. 2. Mo. Hort. Soc. Rpt. 37. 1896.
It has been suggested that this may be the Uvedale’s St. Germain or Pound pear. Fruit large, long, obtuse-pyriform, tapering at both ends, green, tinged with yellow, very much marked with dots and patches of russet; stem medium long, stout, curved, inserted without cavity; calyx large, open; basin shallow; flesh white, moderately juicy, tough but crisp, astringent; quality poor; a late keeper.
Arlequin Musqué. 1. Ann. Pom. Belge 1:105, fig. 1853. 2. Leroy Dict. Pom. 1:158, fig. 1867.
Raised from seed by Van Mons and noted in his catalog of 1825 under the number 1737. Fruit large, globular-obovate, even and regular in outline, dull or olive-green which changes to lemon-yellow on maturity, dotted all over with brown spots, washed with fawn on the side next the sun; flesh white, buttery, melting, very sweet, acid, rather gritty around the core, juicy and having a savory perfume, sometimes of musk; second; in France Sept. and Oct.
Arlingham Squash. 1. Hogg Fruit Man. 484. 1884.