354 



HISTORY OF THE VEGETABLE KINGDOM. 



lar, with a protuberance at the top ; the surface 

 b regular, Bhining, greenish yellow, with a very 

 ISO, /\ 



/ 



The Lime. 



odorous rind, enclosing an acid juice. It is a 

 native of Asia, but has long been common in the 

 West Indies, where it is raised both for its frait 

 and for fences. Tlie juice of the lime is by some 

 preferred to that of the lemon, and it is used for 

 similar purposes. The following varieties are 

 grown in the London nurseries : the common, 

 the weeping, the broad-leaved, the West Indian, 

 the Chinese spreading. 



The Shaddock (citrus decumama) is much 

 larger than the orange, both in the tree and the 

 fruit. The tree is both lofty and spreading, and 

 the fruit is about eight inches in circumference, 

 some indeed, much larger. The shaddock is a 

 native of China and the adjoining countries, 

 where the name of "sweet ball" is given to it. 

 There are many varieties, some with tlie pulp 

 white, others with it nearly red ; some tliat are 

 sweet, with but little acidity ; and some acid, 

 with but little sweetness. The shaddock de- 

 rived its specific name from having been first 

 carried from China to the West Indies by Cap- 

 tain Shaddock. It has, however, been neglected 

 there, and now but seldom merits its oriental 

 name of sweet ball. The planters have never 

 been remarkable for their knowledge of science, 

 or their skill in the new operations of the arts ; 

 and thus, instead of pi-opagating the shaddock 

 by budding, as is done in China, and which is 

 the only way that it can be improved, or even 

 kept from degenerating, they have reared it from 

 seed, and consequentlj' have generally obtained a 

 harsh and sour sort, which is of very little value. 

 It is showy, no doubt, from its size, and the ap- 

 pearance of the tree when growing ; but it is the 

 least valuable or desirable of the genus produced 

 in the west. 



All the citrus tribe may be propagated by 

 seeds, cuttings, layers, grafting, and budding. 

 In general, citrons, lemons, limes, and shaddocks, 

 are more easily propagated than the orange. The 

 latter do not grow readily from cuttings, and it 

 is advisable to raise them by engrafting. Rais- 

 ing from seed is a tedious process, as the plant 

 is not fruitful for five or six years, even in Italy. 

 They require a rich soil ; and when in pots or 

 in tubs, should be liberally supplied with water. 



The Pomegeanate (Pnnxca granatwn). This 

 plant, so celebrated in ancient and scripture his- 

 tory, belongs to the natural order Myrtacev.; and 

 to the class and order icosandria monogpnxa of 



131. 



The Fomegninat& 



LinniEus. This fruit was called by the ancients 

 the Carthaginian apple, because, according to 

 Pliny, the tree was first known to grow in the 

 vicinity of Carthage. There are two species : the 

 dwarf, which bears very small fruit and flowers, 

 and is common in the West Indies; and the 

 common, or grained, from the number of seeds 

 or grains contained within the pulp of the fruit. 

 The pomegranate is rather a low trce, of about 

 fifteen to twenty feet in height, with numerous 

 slender branches, some of which are anned with 

 sharp thorns. The leaves are opposite, about 

 three inches long, and of a beautiful green. The 

 flowers are produced at the end of the branches, 

 on the shoots of the same year, single, or three 

 or four together ; frequently one of the largest 

 terminates the branch ; and immediately under 

 that are two or three smaller buds, which con- 

 tinue a succession of flowers for some months, 

 generally from June to September. The calyx 

 is very thick and fleshy, and of a fine red colour; 

 the petals are scarlet. The beauty of the tree, in- 

 dependently of its fruit, has caused it to be planted 

 for ornament in the south of Europe, and in many 

 countries in the East. " The nightingale," says 

 Russel in his account of Aleppo, "sings from 

 the pomegranate groves in the day-time." The 

 ft-uit is a berry, covered with a hard leathery 

 coat, and beautifully crowned with the tube of 

 the calyx, which is sharply toothed, and remains 

 even after the fruit is ripe, contributing greatly 

 to its singular and beautiful appearance. The 

 fruit ripens in October; and in a green-house 

 will hang on the trees tiU the spring or summer 

 following. It was introduced into England in 

 1590, and cultivated by Gerarde ; but though it 

 grows very well in the open air, and is prized for 

 the beauty of its flowers, especially the double 

 variety, yet it seldom ripens its fruit. Even at 



