THE POMEGBANATE. 187 



its botanical name, Punica;* the ordinary appellation, 

 Pomegranate, tracing its etymology to the words Pomum 

 granatum, or seeded apple, alluding to its structure, which 

 is very peculiar, combining the characteristics of several 

 fruits,' from each of which it differs greatly in other par- 

 ticulars. Externally viewed, its roundish form and adhe- 

 rent calyx would seem to identify it with the Pomes, but 

 this outer cas.e, instead of being eatable flesh, ia only a 

 dry leathery coat, something similar to that of the orange 

 yet is the transparent pulp within not collected into large 

 masses, but a portion of it surrounds each separate seed, 

 as in the case of the gooseberry, only that here a thin 

 enveloping skin is also added, forming each into a distinct 

 little berry, of oval shape, but about the size and colour 

 of a red currant. These are regularly arranged in a double 

 tier of compartments, divided horizontally by a sort of 

 diaphragm, the upper part consisting of from five to nine 

 cells, the walls of which, whereto the seeds adhere, extend 

 from the sides of the fruit towards its centre ; while in the 

 lower range, which is smaller and comprises but three cells, 

 irregular processes arise from the bottom. In the wild 

 kind the juice of these berries is very acid, but in the best 

 cultivated varieties it is sweet and of a most agreeable 

 flavour ; while a medium or sub-acid sort is also commonly 

 grown in gardens. In Aleppo, where the fruit ripens 

 abundantly in August, the seeds, according to Eussel's 

 account of that place, form an important article of culi- 

 nary use, the first kind being used as verjuice, and the 

 others brought to table in the form of conserve or syrup, 

 or, being taken out of their leathery coats, are served on 

 little plates uncooked, but strewn with sugar and rose- 

 water. Wine, too, is sometimes extracted from them, a 

 use which seems to have been known to the ancient Jews, 

 as the name " G-ath-Bimmon," given to a spot in Canaan, 

 means the "Press of Pomegranates ;" and Solomon expli- 

 citly promises the bride he woos, " I will cause thee to 

 drink of the spiced wine of the juice of my pomegranates." 



* This name is also thought by some to be derived from puniceus, scarlet, 

 in allusion to the colour of the flower. 



