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CHAP. XXXIX.
Of the Pomegranate-tree.
COncerning the Pomegranate-tree,* 1.1 it requireth little husbanding, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 yeeldeth small delight to the sight, by reason of his ill-fauored branches and boughs; saue so long as it is bearing his fruit, before it come to per∣fect ripenesse, and yet put out, quartered, and as it were laid open to th•• shew, out of his coat and couering, this tree is the most delightsome to behold of all others: the frame and fashion of whose flower and fruit being well considered, i•• •• worke of Nature right admirable: there is not that raine, that scorching heat of th•• Sunne, nor yet almost that fading and decaying old age, which can cause it to forgoe his goodly shew of Rubies: and yet notwithstanding, how famous a thing soe••er it be, it groweth without anie daintie or delicate handling and looking to, and that sometimes at the foot of a wall, sometimes in the midst of a heape of stones, and some∣times amongst the hedges by high waies sides. It is true, that it craueth a hot Coun∣trey, and where it may not be debarred of the Sunne: and if it happen to be set at any time in a fat ground, it maketh his best aduantage of it, being in this respect like vnto the Oliue-tree, whereof we haue spoken before. And if it be in such a Countrey as i•• fit for it, you need not to thinke either of the digging or vnder-digging of it: for it reckoneth not of seeing it selfe set in a great heape of stones, as neither to breake crosse-wise through a ruinous wall, neither ceaseth ••t for anie such thing from bring∣ing forth his good and pleasant fruit: but in cold Countries, where it hardly groweth, it would be digged and husbanded about the foot twice a yeare, that is to say, in Au∣tumne and in the Spring. It will grow either vpon roots, or of grafting in the cleft, and that vpon it selfe, about March or Aprill: but and if you will plant it vpon som•• branch that hath roots, you must chuse such a one as is a handfull thicke, and make it a delightsome and fine moulded pit. Some would haue it thrust into the earth with a stake by it, as is vsuall in setting Willow plants, but I cannot find that this way of thrusting it downe thus into the earth, doth proue to anie good. The Pomegranate-tree will not loose his flower, if when as it is flowred you compasse the flocke about with a ring or hoope of Lead, or with the old slough of an Adder.
The wine of Pomegranats* 1.2 is made of this sort: You must take the ripe kernels cleane and free from their skins, and put them in the presse, where they must be pres∣sed by and by. Some straine them through bagges made for the purpose: some 〈◊〉〈◊〉 them to be put into vessels vntill it be well fined; in the end they powre oyle vpo•• them, that they may not corrupt or grow sowre.
The Pomegranate Apple put in a pot of new earth, well couered and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 with clay, set in an Ouen, and in the end so well parched, as that it may be made into pow∣der, then such powder taken the weight of halfe a crowne with red wine, doth helpe th•• partie maruellously that hath the bloudie flux. The innermost flowers of th•• Pomegranate made vp in conserue with Sugar, haue an incredible force to stay 〈◊〉〈◊〉 manner of fluxes of the Matrix, whether white or red, taken in the quantitie of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 an ounce, with the iuice of sowre Pomegranates, or red wine, or water wherein 〈◊〉〈◊〉 hath beene quenched; as also to stay the bloudie flux, the shedding of nature, th•• flux of the guts, or of the stomacke. The kernels of sowre Pomegranates d••ied, made into powder, and after mingled, the weight of an ounce, with a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of fine powdred Frankincense, and two drammes of this powder taken euerie mor∣ning, doe stay the whites.