144 THE MONTHLY BULLETIN, 



MARKETING AND PROFITS. 



The pomegranate is marketed for consumption fresh and for deco- 

 rative purposes. There is a considerable demand for the fruit for use 

 in decorating other fruit packages, banquet tables, peddlers' carts, and 

 the like. The market demand is quite small, however, and the market 

 is easily flooded. The usual package is the half orange box, containing 

 from thirty to thirty-five pounds. Orange wrappers are commonly 

 used and the fruit is packed much the same as oranges. The prices 

 quoted for these half boxes range from 65 cents to $1.50 during the 

 season on the San Francisco market, the average price being about 

 75 cents. The fruit retails early in the season at three for 25 cents, 

 later at five cents, and rarely gets below three for 10 cents in the 

 San Francisco Bay region. Individual trees are known which regu- 

 larly produce ten to fifteen such boxes. Some growers testify that they 

 make more from their pomegranates than from their oranges. For 

 eastern shipment a few boxes of the fruit in a carload of oranges are 

 usually sent, as the demand is small. A few growers are making big 

 profits on their pomegranates in this way. 



USES. 



From ancient times the Mediterranean peoples have used the pulp 

 of the pomegranate in the making of acescent and cooling drinks. The 

 juice is particularly satisfying during dry hot weather. The people 

 of Southern Russia and Armenia make a commercial drink from the 

 juice. It is called ''Nosharab," and is said to be very pleasant to the 

 taste. In France the juice is mixed in certain proportions with grape 

 juice and wine, and a wine is made which is highly esteemed. 



The fruits are commonly eaten out of hand and are much liked by 

 those who are accustomed to them. There is a knack in opening the 

 fruit and shelling out the ''berries," or grains, which the novice only 

 acquires with practice, but at which the Mexicans and Southern Euro- 

 peans are very dexterous. The less acid varieties have a rich, sprightly 

 flavor which is much relished. The pulp is often recommended as a 

 tonic by physicians and the bark of the root furnishes a well known 

 astringent used in treating dysentery. The rind of the fruit furnishes 

 a jet-black ink and an extract from it is used as a remedy for t^eniasis 

 or tapeworm. A dye is extracted from the bark which is used in stain- 

 ing leather. The juice is much used as a coloring fluid employed in 

 confectionery, mixing drinks, and making punch. When sterilized and 

 put up in bottles similar to grape juice it is excellent and preferred to 

 the grape juice by some. A fair grade of claret can be made from it. 

 Grenadine syrup as sold in this country today contains no pomegranate 

 juice. Very good jelly can be made if the rind of an orange or lemon 

 is added to furnish the pectins. 



An analysis by the California Station in 1903 shows: Water, 76.8; 

 protein, 1.5; fat, 1.6; sugar, starch, etc., 16.8; crude fiber, 2.7; ash, .6. 



VARIETIES. 



There are two general types of pomegranates found today in Cali- 

 fornia, differing but little in tree characteristics but widely different 

 as to fruit. 



