POMEGRANATE-TREt:. 3^1 



Phillips, ill his " Pomariiim Britanniciim," says that, the French, in the island 

 of St. Vincent, had a riddle on the pomegranate, which was "Quelle est la reine 

 qui porte son royaurne dans son sein7" alluding to the same properties. "The 

 nightingale," says Russell, in his account of Aleppo, "sings from the pomegran- 

 ate groves in the day-time." 



Soil, Situation, Propagation, ^'c. The single wild pomegranate will grow in 

 almost any soil; but the double-flowered varieties, and the species, when intended 

 to bear fruit, require a rich, free soil. The double-flowering trees, grown in boxes 

 by the French gardeners, arc planted in the very richest soil that can be com- 

 posed ; and a portion of this soil is renewed every year. The plant is easily prop- 

 agated by cuttings of the shoots of the roots, by layers, or by grafting one kind 

 on another. It also rises freely from seeds ; but these ought to be sown immedi- 

 diately on being removed from the fruit; because they very soon lose their vital 

 powers. In pruning this tree, the head should be thinned out in such a manner 

 as to multiply as much as possible, short, slender shoots, on the points of which 

 j,lone, the flowers are produced. In training it against a wall, it is necessary to 

 keep this constantly in view; for, if these slender shoots are cut oft', no flowers 

 will be produced. In very rich soils, an advantage is derived by annually prun- 

 ing the roots. 



Properties and Uses. The general diff'usion of the pomegranate throughout 

 the climates suited to its growth, implies that it possesses highly valuable proper- 

 ties. In hot countries, its utility is incontestable; for its juice is most grateful to 

 the palate, and assuages thirst in a degree quite peculiar to it, from its pleasant 

 acid an acid so soft, that it may, in truth, be said to be " full of melting sweet- 

 ness," as Moore expresses himself The pulp, however, which encloses the seeds, 

 is sometimes acid, sometimes sweet ; and in some cases, vinous, astringent, and 

 always refreshing. A syrup is made from the pulp by the druggists, as well as 

 from the dried flowers, which is employed as an astringent and detergent. The 

 rind of the fruit, on account of its astringent properties, is sometimes employed in 

 materia medica as well as in the veterinary art. It has also been used as a 

 substitute for galls, in the manufacture of black ink, and is said to be still 

 employed, in some parts of Germany, in dyeing leather red, in imitation of 

 morocco. In the Himalayas, Mr. Royle informs us, the rind of the fruit, called 

 naspal, "being very astringent, is used in medicine, as well as in dyeing. The 

 employment, by the natives of India, of the bark of the root for the expulsion of 

 the tape-worm, being now well known, since the subject was communicated by 

 Drs. Hamilton and Fleming, is a remarkable instance of the oblivion into which 

 even a valuable medicine may fall, as this property was well known to Diosco- 

 rides." Lord Bacon recommends the juice of pomegranates as good for liver 

 complaints ; and Dr. Woodville says, it is preferable to that of oranges, in cases 

 of fever. From the flowers, with the addition of alum, there may be obtained a 

 fine red ink. The flowers, also, were formerly used to dye cloth a light-red 



