POMEGRANATE-TREE. 24 1 
Phillips, in his " Pomarium Britannicum," 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 royaume dans son sein)" 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, fyc. 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, are 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 
alone, 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 off, no flowers 
will be produced. In very rich soils, an advantage is derived by annually prun- 
ing the roots. 
Properties and Uses. The general diffusion 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 
