A similar degree of precocity has caused the appellation of “superbum”1819 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 Crustumian1820 pear; and next to it comes the Falernian,1821 so called from the drink1822 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.1823 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,”1824 remarkable for the length of its stalk, the Pomponian,1825 surnamed the mammosum,1826 the Licerian, the Sevian, the Turranian, a variety of the Sevian, but distinguished from it by the greater length of the stalk, the Favonian,1827 a red pear, rather larger than the superbum, together with the Laterian1828 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,”1829 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,1830 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,1831 by some called “testaceum,” from its colour, like earthenware; a reason which has also given their respective names to the “onychine”1832 and the “purple” kinds. Then, again, we have the “myrapium,”1833 the “laureum,” and the “nardinum,”1834 so called from the odour they emit; the “hordearium,”1835 from the season at which it comes1836 in; and the “ampullaceum,”1837 so called from its long narrow neck. Those, again, that are known as the “Coriolanian”1838 and the “Bruttian,” owe their names to the places of their origin; added to which we have the cucurbitinum,1839 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,”1840 which last is known also as the “coloratum;”1841 the royal pear1842 too, which has a remarkably short stalk, and will stand on its end, as also the patricium, and the voconium,1843 a green oblong kind. In addition to these, Virgil1844 has made mention of a pear called the “volema,”1845 a name which he has borrowed from Cato,1846 who makes mention also of kinds known as the “sementivum”1847 and the “musteum.”1848