a sharpe, small, and ordinarily a stonie fruit. The kernels are sowne in the Nurce∣rie,
as those of the Appletree, but the hoped fruit is long in comming, and scarce at∣tained
throughout the whole life of a man, for it is farre longer time in comming to
perfection than the Apple-tree. It groweth also of a branch well chosen: and he that
will haue it so grow, must plant it in September and October in hot Countries, but
in cold Countries in Februarie and March, and in temperate Countries it may be
done in either of the two times, as it shall best please him. But the Peare-tree that is
most sure and likeliest to bring contentment of it selfe, is that which is grafted vpon
the young plant in the Nurcerie, and in such curious sort maintained and ordered, as
hath beene said, as also if it be remoued some three yeares after, affoording it a large
and deepe roome in a good mouldring earth. It may also be grafted in a Peach-tree,
Quince-tree, and Almond-tree, but yet better vpon it selfe than vpon anie of these,
for so it becommeth of a better nature. It is knowne by proofe, that the Peare-tree,
grafted vpon a Mulberrie-tree bringeth forth red Peares: and if it happen that your
Peare-tree bring forth a stonie Peare, you must remoue the earth from the foot, and
powre in vpon the rootes euerie day, for the space of fifteene daies, the lees of good
old wine.
Peares must not be gathered before the later end of Autumne, when the great heat
of the yeare is past, because their moisture being weake, and in small quantitie, the
Sunne suffereth not that it should come vnto anie good consistence, before such time
as the ayre begin to turne and change into coldnesse: and therefore (saith Theophra∣••••us)
this is the onely fruit-tree that ripeneth his fruit best and soonest in the shadow.
Such gathering of Peares also must not be taken in hand but after that the Autumnall
blasting and dew be fallen at the least three or foure times vpon them, because it
strengtheneth them greatly, to their better enduring and lasting, and encreaseth their
goodnesse. But in anie case they may not be gathered in raine, but rather in drie wea∣ther,
being themselues well dried by the Sunne; and that in gathering they be not hurt
by anie manner of meanes whatsoeuer, but to chuse them one after another, by cutting
them downe with a good knife made fast to the end of a pole: or else to make them
fall into a cloth spread vnderneath for the receiuing of them, and in it separating the
rotten, spoyled, or hurt, from amongst the faire, sound, whole, and vnhurt ones,
that so they may be layed vp to keepe in such sort as wee will declare hereafter
in his place.
Although generally, and without saying anie thing of anie particular by way of
comparison, the Apple be farre fuller of iuice, and for the most part more sound than
the Peare, notwithstanding, if one should stand vpon the tast, the Peare is commonly
more pleasant and better relished, and more contenting and agreeing with ones tast,
eaten in his season, raw, rosted, or preserued, than the Apple: wherefore I am asha∣med,
that men giue not themselues to plant moe Peare-trees than Apple-trees, seeing
that besides the reasons alledged, the Peare-tree, of all other fruit-trees, is the fairest,
streightest, and couering no whit so much ground with his shadow as the Apple-tree
doth, bearing also his fruit almost euerie yeare, where the Apple-tree is but a
iourney-man, bearing one yeare, and not another.
There is a drinke made of Peares, called Perrie, whereof we will speake: as also
vineger of wild Peares, as hath alreadie beene said of Apples.
The Peare hath this speciall vertue aboue the rest, that the often vse of the kernels
should be maruellous profitable vnto such as are troubled with the inflammation of
the lungs; as also for them that haue eaten manie Mushromes, that they may rid their
stomacke of so great a load, there is nothing better than to eat Peares: for the Peare
by his weightinesse and astringent iuice, maketh the Mushromes, eaten and lying in
the bottome of his stomacke, to descend and fall downe from thence.