234 
PLANT-LORE OF SHAKESPEARE 
Turner describes it in 1548: “ Pomegranat trees growe 
plentuously in Italy and in Spayne, and there are certayne in 
my Lorde’s gardene at Syon, but their fruite cometh never 
with perfection.” 1 
Gerard had it in 1596, but from his description it seems 
that it was a recent acquisition. “ I have recovered,” he says, 
“ divers young trees hereof, by sowing of the seed or grains of 
the height of three or four cubits, attending God’s leisure for 
floures and fruit.” Three years later, in 1599, it is noticed for 
its flowers in Buttes’s “ Dyet’s Dry Dinner” (as quoted by 
Brand), where it is asserted that “if one eate three small 
Pomegranate flowers (they say) for a whole yeare he shall be 
safe from all manner of eyesore; ” and Gerard speaks of the 
“ wine which is pressed forth of the Pomegranate berries named 
Rhoitas or wine of Pomegranates,” but this may have been 
imported. But, when introduced, it at once took kindly to its 
new home, so that Parkinson was able to describe its flowers 
and fruits from personal observation. In all the southern 
parts of England it grows very well, and is one of the very 
best trees we have to cover a south wall; it also grows well in 
towns, as may be seen at Bath, where a great many very fine 
specimens have been planted in the areas in front of the houses, 
and have grown to a considerable height. When thus planted 
and properly pruned, the tree will bear its beautiful flowers 
from May all through the summer; but generally the tree is so 
pruned that it cannot flower. It should be pruned like a 
Banksian Rose, and other plants that bear their flowers on 
last year’s shoots, i. e. simply thinned, but not cut back or 
spurred. With this treatment the branches may be allowed to 
grow in their natural way without being nailed in, and if the 
single-blossomed species be grown, the flowers in good summers 
will bear fruit. I11 1876 I counted on a tree in Bath more 
than sixty fruit; the fruits will perhaps seldom be worth eating, 
but they are curious and handsome. 2 The sorts usually grown 
1 “ Names of Herbes,” s.v. Malus Punica. 
2 Evelyn had the fruit in his garden. See “ Sylva,” B. ii. c. 6, s. 14. 
