314 HISTORY OF FRUITS. 



The Persians make a favourite drink of the rinds of the 

 pomegranate, with the addition of cinnamon. 



The rind also produces as good ink as that made 

 from galls. 



Sloane says, that the leaves beaten with oil of roses, 

 applied to the head, cure its aching. The rind of the 

 fruit, together with the bark of the tree, is still used in 

 some parts of Germany, in the preparation and dyeing of 

 red leather in imitation of Morocco. 



These beautiful trees love a strong rich soil. They are 

 easily propagated by laying down their branches in the 

 spring, which in one year will make good roots, when they 

 should be planted before they begin to open their buds. 



As these trees are often deprived of blossom by the 

 ignorance of the pruner, we shall observe that the flowers 

 always proceed from the extremity of the branches which 

 are produced the same year. Therefore, all weak branches 

 of the former year should be cut out, and the strongest 

 should be shortened in proportion to their strength, in 

 order to obtain new shoots in every part of the tree. The 

 best time for this pruning is about Michaelmas. 



The Parisians are very fond of this tree, which is to be 

 seen in every garden in the city and its vicinity. 



In Sicily it forms the hedge-rows. Russel notices, in 

 an account of Aleppo, that " the nightingale sings from 

 the pomegranate-groves in the day-time, and from the 

 loftiest trees at night ;" from which Moore seems to have 

 taken the idea, 



" The nightingale now bends her flight 

 From the high trees, where all the night 



She sang so sweet, with none to listen ; 

 And hides her from the morning star, 



Where thickets of pomegranate glisten." 



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