CHAP. IT. DESSEKT FRUITS. 259 



enriched with manure. When about eight inches high the 

 plants should be earthed up to half their height. When they 

 come into blossom it will be of advantage to nip off the ends of 

 the shoots, as this will conduce towards keeping them less 

 straggling, as well as towards throwing greater nourishment 

 into the fruit. The fruit ripens in all January and February. 

 Though perennial, in cultivation the plants must be treated as 

 annuals; and the old ones, after they have once borne, be 

 rooted up and thrown away ; and in the proper season sowings 

 be made for a fresh supply. 



The plant is of a tender nature, and will not endure much 

 cold. I endeavoured to cultivate it several seasons at Ferozepore, 

 but without success. It throve vigorously all the Hot season, 

 but the cold destroyed the large crop of fruit before it could 

 ripen. 



EPIGYNOUS EXOGENS. 



MYRTACE^E. 



Punica Granatum. 



POMEGRANATE. 



Andr. 



The Pomegranate-tree is common in all partd of India, but 

 never produces fruit at all to be compared with that brought 

 down annually by the Afghan traders from Caubul. The Pome- 

 granates of the Punjab likewise, Dr. Henderson informs me, 

 are but of inferior quality. 



There are two kinds met with in the neighbourhood of Cal- 

 cutta : the Desee, or country kind, a hard, dry, valueless fruit, 

 and the so-called " Patna " kind, of much larger size, and in 

 high estimation among the natives. 



Captain Burton describes three which he met with in Arabia : 



" The best is SMmi (Syrian) : it is red outside, and very sweet. I 

 never saw in the East, except at Meccah, a finer fruit than the 

 Shami ; almost stoneless, like those of Muscat, they are deliciously 

 perfumed, and as large as an infant's head. 

 "2. The Turki is large and of a white colour. 

 "3. The Misri has a greenish rind, and a somewhat sub-acid 

 and harsh flavour." * 



* ' Pilgrimage to El Medina and Meccah,' vol. i. p. 388. 



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