THE POMEGRANATE. 



(Punica granatum.} 



The Pomegranate is tree-like, growing That the knowledge of this tree is of 

 to a height of about fifteen feet and in great antiquity is shown in many ways, 

 favorable soil even as high as twenty feet. It is frequently referred to in ancient 

 It is probably native in Persia, though it Sanskrit writings of a time earlier than 

 is found in a wild state in all the coun- that of the Christian Era. In this Ian- 

 tries bordering on the Mediterranean guage it was called "Dadimba." Homer,. 

 Sea. It is also found in China and Japan in the Odyssey, speaks of its cultivation 

 and has been brought by man to all of in the gardens of the kings of Phrygia 

 the civilized parts of the globe, where the and Phaecia. There are frequent refer- 

 climate is of a sufficiently high degree of ences to it in the Old Testament. In the 

 warmth to permit the ripening of its directions for making Aaron's robe we 

 fruit. find the following passage : "Upon the 



This little tree is frequently cultivated skirts of it thou shalt make pomegranates 

 not alone for the beauty of its form, but of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet," 

 for the beauty of its flowers, which, un- and again, "They made bells of pure gold, 

 der cultivation, become doubled and and put the bells between the pome- 

 show an increased and striking splendor granates." Hiram, in the building of 

 in the richness of their color. Solomon's house, used the design of the 



The etymology of its name is very in- Pomegranate. In the seventh chapter of 



teresting. The word Pomegranate is the First Book of Kings we find "the 



from two Latin words, pomum, meaning pomegranates were two hundred, in rows 



apple, and granatum, meaning grained round about upon the other chapiter," 



or seeded. The former has reference to and in another verse we are told that they 



the shape of the fruit and the latter word were of brass. 



to the numerous seeds contained in the Moses spoke of the promised land as 

 pulp. The technical name of the Pome- a land of "wheat, barley and vines, fig- 

 granate plant is Punica granatum. The trees and pomegranates." Solomon in- 

 generic name Punica is evidently from dicates that this fruit was cultivated in his 

 the Latin word punicus, meaning red, and time as he speaks of an "orchard of pome- 

 refers to the red color of the pulp or possi- granates with pleasant fruits." 

 bly also to the scarlet flowers. The name The Pomegranate is frequently repre- 

 Punicus was also used by the Romans sented in the ancient sculptures of the 

 with reference to the Carthaginians, and Assyrians and of the Egyptians, 

 signified untrustworthy or treacherous, The Pomegranate belongs to the fam- 

 this people having such a reputation with ily of plants called Lythraceae. This- 

 them ; thus the name may have been ap- family has about three hundred and fifty 

 plied to this fruit which, though it de- species which are widely distributed, but 

 lights the eye, is disappointing to the are most abundant in tropical regions, 

 taste. especially in America. In discribing the 



Pliny tells us that the Pomegranate tree Dr. Oliver R. Willis gives the fol- 



was extensively cultivated by the Cartha- lowing characteristics: "Branches- 



ginians at their home in Northern Af- straight, strong, sub-angular, armed near 



rica. This may have been the reason why the ends with spines ; young shoots and 



the name Punica was selected for the buds red. Leaves opposite or fascicled,, 



genus by Linnaeus. The Romans also short-stalked, and without stipules, 



called it "Pomum Punicum," or Car- Flowers large, solitary, or two or three 



thage apple. together in the axils of the leaves, near 



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