Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 3, 1802).djvu/440

4iS] POM of Europe, wlun-e it grows to the height of 13 or 20 feet. In Britain, it is cultivated only in the gardens of the curious ; as its fruit seldom r.ttaias the delicacy of that imported from warmer cliniat. s. — Among other experiments rp.ade with dif- ferent parts of tliis tree, in dyeing, we shall relate only one mc:nioned by BoHMEU. From the deciduous leaves in autumn, when they pre- sent a brownish-red shade, he ob- tained, by boiling them, a ihiek, muddy liquor, in which cotton, siik, and woollen cloths, acquired a good French-blue colour : these materials had been previously im- mersed in a solution of green vitriolj and, after becoming dry, they were, by difi^erent trials, plunged in vine- gar, and soap-water, neither of which in the least atfe£ted their tint, so that it was doubtful whe- ther they were dark-blue, or black. — In Germany, the tanners former- ly employed the bark of this tree as a substitute for sumach. — See also Morocco-Leather. 2. The Jiaiia, or Dwarf Ameri- can Pomegranate, has a short stem rising only ^our or live feet high, bearing nariow leaves, and minute red blossoms, which are succeeded by small fruit. — It flowers from June till Odtob^r. Both these species may be pro- pagated by layers, that should be sek(5ted from young branches, and planted in autumn. They mav be ti'ained either as half or full stand- ards, or as dwarfs ; but. if the pomegranates are tobe raised against walls, it will he advisable to pursue a treatment similar to that directed under the article Peach-tkee. The fruit of this shrub is agree- able to the palate j and, in com- mon with other sweet .suinmer fruits, allays heat, mitigates thirst. PON and is mildly aperient. Ifs nncT ??' powerfully astringent ; on which account it is, together with th? bitterish red flowers, occasionally employed in diarrhita^, dysente- ries, and other disorders proceed- ing from debility. POND, a small pool, or collec- tion of standing water. Ponds are of great utility in agri- culture, and for various other pur- poses : hence different methods and expedients have been devised', with a view to obtain a constant supply of water : from these we have selected the following, which appear to merit particular atten- tion. In the first vol. of the Jourval (le Physique, we meet with an in- teresting mtthod of viaking ponds irater-tight, iviihout the aid of vinsoiiry, by ISI. Dambourney. — - He direfts the pit to be dug to a convenient depth ; and its sides to be carefully sloped to an angle of about 40 degrees. The cement with which it is to be lined, should then be prepared in the following man:ier. A sufficient quantity of brick- clay ought previously to be pro- cured, in a mciist state, so that it may be easily m orked and incor- porated with one-fourth part of quick-lime, slacked the preceding evening, in such a portion of water, as will reduce it to the consistence of cream-cheese ; and the whole must be formed into balls, about tvvo t'eet In ( ire um fere nee. When an adequate stock is colleded, the workman descends into the cavity, and an assistant supp ics him with a ball, which the forryier throws with all his strength on the ground, near the centre of the pit : thus, he continues the plastering with othei* balls^ in such a dire(5tion that each