with it its Roman name of _Punica malus_ or _Pomum
granatum_. _Punica_ showed the country from which the Romans derived it,
while _granatum_ (full of grains) marked the special characteristic of
the fruit that distinguished it from all other so-called Apples. Gerard
says: "Pomegranates grow in hot countries, towards the south in Italy,
Spaine, and chiefly in the kingdom of Granada, which is thought to be so
named of the great multitude of Pomegranates, which be commonly called
_Granata_."[220:1] This derivation is very doubtful, but was commonly
accepted in Gerard's day.[220:2] The Pomegranate lives and flowers well
in England, but when it was first introduced is not recorded. I do not
find it in the old vocabularies, but a prominent place is given to it in
"that Gardeyn, wele wrought," "the garden that so lyked me;"--

"There were, and that I wote fulle well,
Of Pomgarnettys a fulle gret delle,
That is a fruit fulle welle to lyke,
Namely to folk whaune they ben sike."

_Romaunt of the Rose._

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."[221:1]

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 tr