PEAR, besides the Skin, consisteth of a Twofold Parenchyma, of Vessels, Tartareous Knots or Grains, and a Coar. The Skin is lined with a great number of the said Tartareous Grains, through a Glass, about the bigness of small Shot: whereby it looks withinside, like the Skin of the Scate and some other Fishes. Tab. 67. Besides those which grow to the Skin, there are also many more standing near adjacent to it all round about the Fruit: altogether about ⅓ᵈ of an Inch in thickness, through a Microscope; as in a Slice of a Pear cut transversly is apparent. Somewhat more or less, as I take it, according to the Delicacy or Harshness of the Fruit; as more in a Burgamy, or other soft and sweet Pear, than in those which are called Strangulatoria. As all Vinous Liquors, and those especially which are the most Tartareous, become more soft and sweet, according as they cast off their Tartar, in a greater quantity, upon the Sides of the Vessel.
2. §. The Outer Parenchyma, is of the same Original, and general Structure, as in an Apple. But the Bladders, answerable to the Shape of this Fruit, not altogether so long, with respect to their Bredth. Tab. 67. Throughout this Parenchyma, are also dispersed many small Tartareous Grains; most of them somewhat round, as those next the Skin, and of a like Size; but nothing near so numerous.
3. §. The Bladders here, have also a different Position from that they have in an Apple: there, they are all stretched out, as to have respect to one common Centre, which is that of the Apple it self. But here, they every where bear a respect to the said Tartareous Grains, Tab. 67. every Grain being the Centre of a certain Number of Bladders; like a Star, in the midle of its Vortex. Whereby, so many of the Tartareous parts of the Sap, as cannot well be thrown off upon the Skin, are more commodiously discharged, upon every little Knot or Grain, nearer hand.
4. §. Throughout this Parenchyma, the Vessels likewise are dispersed. Of the Two general Kinds, for Sap, and for Aer. The Aer-Vessels, are here extream small, as well as in an Apple; yet one degree, larger. They are both together distributed into Fifteen principal Branches. Tab. 67. The Five Utmost make as many Arckes, but commonly not near so deep as in an Apple. From these, some small Fibres, yet a little more numerously than in an Apple, are dispersed throughout the Parenchyma. The Ten Inmost run along to the Seed, and from thence, with the other Five, to the Flower.
5. §. Next the Coar, stands the Inner Parenchyma, in divers respects different from the Outer. The Bladders of the latter, as hath been said, large and long; of the former, small and round, answerable to those of the Pith, of which it seems to be derived. Throughout that, the Vessels and Tartareous Grains are dispersed; in this, there are neither. The Effect whereof is, that is sweet, this sower; Tab. 67. for which reason, I have taken leave to name it, the Acetary.
6. §. Betwixt this and the outer Parenchyma, the said Tartareous Grains begin, first to stand nearer together, to grow biger, and of a more unequal Surface; and by degrees, to unite into a Body, in some Pears, Tab. 67. and especially towards the Cork, almost as hard as a Plum-Stone; which I have thereupon, named the Calculary. B. 1. Ch. 6. So that a Pear, is Natures Preface or Introduction to a Plum.
7. §. This Tartareous Body, and those small Grains above said, I have formerly supposed, B. 1. Ch. 6. to be precipitated out of the Sap, by virtue of the Vessels. Which is not only argued from their growing, where the Vessels, only in the outer Parenchyma: but in that the very Bounds or Figure of the Calculary, is determined by the Situation of the chief of those Vessels; Tab. 67. as in cuting a Pear smoothly through the Centre and by the Length, is apparent.
8. §. The Coar as well as the Acetary, seems to be derived from the Pith. And is therefore lesser here, than in an Apple, where the whole Pith of the Stalk, goes to the making of the Coar only.
9. §. In most Pears, at the bottom of the Coar, and a little below the Centre of the Fruit, there is a kind of small Umbelical Knot; Tab. 67. from whence is extended a straight Chanel or Ductus, which opens at the midle of the Cork or Stool of the Flower, scarce wide enough to admit the smallest Pin. Made for the Use hereafter mentioned.
10. §. A QUINCE, is nearly allyed to a Pear. The differences betwixt them are these; In the Quince, the outer Parenchyma is more close, that is, the Bladders are smaller. Tab. 67. The Vessels more numerous, and more deeply enarched; the Calculary greater, and more spread; according to the Shape of the Fruit: but the Acetary, less: The Coar stands higher or nearer to the Cork; divided, not into Five, but Four Cells. And the Ductus from the bottom of the Coar to the top of the Fruit, much more open and observable.