

CHAPTER II. 



Pulpy Fruits borne by Shrubs and Trees. Pomegranate ; Fig ; Vine. 



PULPY fruits are distinguished from others by the 

 softness of their texture, in which the seeds lie im- 

 bedded. They differ very much among themselves 

 in botanical characters, some being berries, others 

 pulpy receptacles; but the arrangement is sufficiently 

 precise for our purpose. 



THE POMEGRANATE Punica Granatum. 



Before the peach, the nectarine, and the apricot 

 had travelled from Persia to the more western coun- 

 tries on the borders of the Red Sea, the pomegranate 

 was there assiduously cultivated, and held in the 

 greatest esteem. In the wilderness, when the chil- 

 dren of Israel murmured for the fruits of Egypt, 



