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POMEGRANATE.- PUNtCA. 



Natural order, Pomacea. A genus of the Icosandria 

 Monogynia class. 



THIS fruit takes its name from pomum granatum, a 

 kernelled apple. 



The generic name is called after a part of Africa, where 

 ancient Carthage stood, and not after the colour of 

 the blossoms, as is generally stated ; as Pliny tells us po- 

 sitively that the colour was named from the flower, 

 which seems more reasonable. 



The Bible notices the pomegranate as a native of Syria. 

 It is mentioned as one of the fruits discovered in the Land 

 of Promise ; previous to which discovery, while the Israel- 

 ites sojourned in the wilderness, it was selected as the 

 ornament to the robe of the Ephod. 



The sacred history also informs us, that the two large 

 pillars of brass, made by Hiram for the porch of Solo- 

 mon's temple, were ornamented with carvings of the 

 pomegranate ; and by the writings of Solomon we may 

 conclude, that a choice wine was made from it in Judea: 



" I would cause thee to drink of spiced wine of the 

 juice of my pomegranates/* 



Again it is mentioned by the Prophet Joel : 



" The vine is dried up, and the fig-tree languisheth ; the 

 pomegranate-tree, the palm-tree also, and the apple-tree ; 

 even all the trees of the field are withered." 



The Grecians esteemed this fruit, and described it in 



