58 FLORIDA: ITS CLIMATE, SOIL, PRODUCTIONS, 



POMEGRANATE. 



The pomegranate (Punica yranatum), a slirub or busli-like tree, is a 

 native of Persia and Syria, and grows wild in those countries. It is 

 perfectly hardy in all parts of Florida, and as far north as Hilton 

 Head, S. 0., and is widely cultivated and much esteemed in this 

 State for the excellence of its fruit, as well as for the medicinal proper, 

 ties of the rind and the flowers, which are not only an excellent febri- 

 fuge, but powerful astringents, and often used with great benefit in 

 cases of diarrhea. The pulp of the fruit is a delicious sub-acid sub- 

 stance, similar in taste and flavor to the red currant, and is excellent 

 for allaying heat and quenching thirst, and is gently laxative. The 

 fruit of the pomegranate is spherical, the size of an orange, with a gourd- 

 like shell or rind, which is filled with seeds inclosed in membranous 

 cells, and surrounded with a juicy, reddish pulp. There are several 

 varieties of this fruit, comprising early, medium, and late. The early 

 . and the medium varieties have a pale yellow skin or rind, with a beau- 

 tiful tinge of red upon the side or cheek, and are sparsely dotted with 

 fine pippin-like spots. The latter sorts have a dark russet-colored rind, 

 and the seeds are of a pale pink color. This tree bears a beautiful urn- 

 shaped scarlet flower; and there is no tree more showy than the pome- 

 granate when in flower. The fruit begins to ripen at Saint Augustine, 

 Fla., about the middle of July, and continues until the middle of Decem- 

 ber. It bears transportation well on account of its hard rind, keeps for 

 several weeks after it has been take"n from the tree, and no doubt may 

 be made a profitable market fruit. It is increased by cuttings, layers, 

 and suckers, and thrifty wood two years old strikes fibers as readily as 

 younger wood. 



BANANA. 



Banana (Musa par adisiaca). Of the banana and plantain (Musa sapien- 

 tinri) there are several species. They are increased by suckers, and require 

 a rich, moist soil, with warm exposure. Some varieties of these plants 

 are successfully cultivated as far north as 30 north latitude. The best 

 variety for cultivation north of 28 north latitude is the one known as 

 Musa paradisiaca cavendishii. This is the most hardy, and seldom attains 

 a height above 8 feet, while the more tender kinds often grow 20 feet 

 high. When the plant is fruiting, and all the flowers are set, it is 

 advisable to cut off the spadix an inch or two above the last tier of per- 

 fectly-formed fruit, in order to hasten and perfect the remaining fruit. 



There are few more excellent or delicious dessert fruits than the 

 banana, and as a food plant its importance and value, as compared with 

 other food plants, can hardly be overestimated. In an economical 

 point of view it has never been appreciated in Florida, where but little 

 attention has been given to its cultivation. When it is realized that a 

 plantation of bananas once established has never to be renewed, and 

 that one acre of this fruit will produce as much food as 130 acres of 



