Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1872-09-04
Che family Circle.
The Date and where 1t comes from.

Inc Ddtc anu HeTe IL comes FROM
Light houses are usually built on or nea.
the shore, to warn the sailor Of some unseer
danger. But there is another sort of light
house, planted by the loving All-Father. il
barren desert regions, to give notice TO tn,
weary traveller, not only of shade, in which
he may fad needed repose, but Of ,rate7
with which to quench his burning thirst
This is the 1cild Palm Tree growing oc.
casionally in vast forests or groves. but
generally, especially 10 desert regions. i,
stands in solitary grandeur, near a little
bubbling spring, telling the way-worn pill
grim who is just ready to sink down and
die of thirst, to Hold out little LONGER
to be of good cheer, and hasten toward 10
its shelter, where he stall tree7U fu4
lrater"
Can you imagine anything more iuyit-
ing-more replete with JOY and blessing ?
How will the burning thirst be almost
slaked by just the sight Of the distant
palm, and the foot sore travellers run cheer
lily on to partake Of the timely relief! II
may be that they will find tood. as well as
drink and shelter; but this will depeni on
the sort of palm tree they are nearing. a.,
there are a great many varieties OF pal
some bearing delicious fruit. and 9th $
useful only for something else than fop..
| can tell you in the present sketch Of tut
few os these, and we will begin with .le
Date Palm
The Bedouins, or wild Arabs Of the de,-
ert, who consider it beneath their dignity
to SOW, or plant, or cultivate the soil in any
way, depend upon the Date for their chief
support, gathering it Just where they can
find it growing wild but the Arabs of the
plains cultivate ii with great care and skill
thus improving the size and favor Of the
fruit, and producing some twenty or more
varieties. In some they have succeeded
IN doing away with the seed altogether.
and the seedless dates. being very large and
deicately favored. bring always the high
est price. They are, when ripe. Of a bright
golden color, fragrant and luscious. a. well
as wholesome and nOurishing. Ia the dry.
hot countries, where palms grow, no better
food, morning, noon or night. could be
found, and one never wcaries of the sweet
pulpy date gathered fresh from the tree.
The Arabs make what they call date
honey, by expressing the Juice Of the fresh
ripe date and those who can afford il. pre-
serve dates fresh through the year. by keep
ing them in vessels covered over with this
honey. Wine and spirits are also made
from it by distllation, but the Arabs are
very temperate in their habits, and pocr
and ignorant as many OF them are, drunk
en- man IS never found among them But
here Is another preparation Of which
1-# toll -
he poor Arabs in their frequent long jour
leys across the deserts TINS Is dzte four.
made by exposing the ripe fruit to the
leat of the sun, till it Is dry enough to
,rind into fine powder 1t il packed ia
light sacks and if slowed away from the
amp, will keep almost any length of time.
his Is nourlshment in a most compact
orm, easily carried about, and needing no
ooking, only to be moistened with little
'aser, and the meal is ready for eating.
low wisely and kindly has our Heavenly G
'ather provided for these sons of a barren q
1il, suitlng his mercies just to their needs.
wing them, their ship of the desert" as
he camel has been aptly called, the only
east OF burden that could bear the toll
nd prlyatlOn OF their long journeys and 1t
II their own sustenance, the wholesome Z
ltritious date II
The value Of the Date tree is not by any q
cans confined to the fruit. A very
easant beverage call Palm wine, is drawn Il
ON the trunk by tapping, as they do sugar j
aples IN New England the trunks of z
e old trees, furnish hard and durable
ood tor building purposes, and making L
rmture the leaves make baskets, hats, Il
ID various household utensils: and the z
,ers of the leaves are stripped out and +
ade into twines and ropes. Even the a
ones are OF use, the fresh for planting, oI
ID the dried are turned to account. in Il
yypt for cattle feed in China for the man 10
acture of Indian ink, and in Spain for NJ
lking the tooth powder sold as ." ivory Il
lck" al
The Date, you know, is a native Of both 20
ia and Africa, and will grow in most 10
ndy soils. 1t was long ago introduced ~
o Spain by the Moors. and some few are Ill
ind even in the south of France. The pc
st extensive date forests, are those ofthe nc
rbary States, where they are sometimes Pi
les in length. When thus grown. the on
Inns are very beautiful, their towering nj
sts touching each other they seem to an
IN an immense, natural temple in which 20
birds Of brilliant plumage sing their &c
tin and vesper songs; and around the sn
nks OF the trees, vines, and creeping TO
nts, wreath their graceful tendrils, while
ground below is dotted with tinv spi
Vers Of all the tints of the rainbow. rot
re gorgeously beautiful than any floor an
nosaics or tesselated marble could be. do
Now l must tell you something that you
think very curious,-i. e., the Date "a, :.
Is are divided into male and female, the N
7aer bearing the blossoms, and the latter
tTu1t. 1t is for this reason, mainly.
cuttings are planted instead Of seed, u!a
nat the majority shall be fruit bearing MS
8, with only here and there a male
1t to furnish blossoms, without which =
e could be no fruit. salt
IN I