208 A GUIDE TO FLORICULTURE. 



POMGRANATE. 



(PUNIC A GRANATUM.) 



This is a beautiful shrubby perennial plant, which will 

 attain the height of ten feet. It is a native of Arabia, Per- 

 sia, and Japan, and is cultivated chiefly for the beautiful 

 appearance of its double scarlet flowers, at the ends of 

 the young branches. The petals are round, somewhat 

 wrinkled, and inserted in the upper part of the tube of the 

 calyx ; the fruit is globular, of a dingy yellow, the rind 

 divided internally in many cells, each containing an acid- 

 ulous pulp, and oblong angular seed ; the leaves are oppo- 

 site, oblong, pointed at each end, and of a bright green 

 color, glossy, on short foot stalks. 



In tropical climates the Pomgranate is cultivated for the 

 fruit, which is a pleasant acid, and of sweet delicious 

 flavor, much praised as a desert among the higher classes 

 of people ; but with us the fruit is worthless. It is only 

 cultivated for the ornamental appearance of the flowers, 

 which are certainly noble in mid-summer. It is easily 

 managed, and will grow in a rich loam ; in the winter it 

 may be placed in the cellar, out of the reach of frost ; in 

 April it should be repotted, and encouraged in its growth 

 by watering sparingly at first, then place it on a lawn in 

 the open garden, and it will expand its beautiful flowers to 

 perfection. It is increased by suckers, which it sends up 

 plentifully, and which should be taken off in the spring, 

 and potted in a rich loam, and treated the same as full 



