The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1878-09-04

Egypt by simply making an iiiOiSioA
in the top of the tree, reaching the
center A tube is fitted, through
which the sap flows into bamboo
joint vessel. The palm thus yields
about ten quarts every morning The
Egyptians bleed the tree every two
months sometimes every day, to pre-
vent the healing Of the wound. The
operation will kill the tree if contln-
ned too long, but cautiously pract!sed
for a few days, will often invigorate
a sickly or ill-bearing palm. The
cabbage or heart ola date tree, is al
so eaten, add the taste approaches
that of a sweet potato, but it is new
er cut unless the tree has accidentally
fallen.
The punches of fruit are suspended
by peduncles as thick as q mans fist.
The yellow dates are the smallest,
and the black generally the largest,
but there is a greater variety of the
yellow date. The fruit does not all
ripen at once, but each date natures
separately, and falling, makes way
for another to ripen
In this dried state they form the
principal food Of the Arabs, and
are esteemed by many other nations.
The crushed dates which arrive in
Europe in mass, are the inferior and
damaged sorts.
AT the time Of the collection of the
ripe fruit, receptacles, walled with
something in the form Of
large oil jars, are prepared to hold
the dates; these will contain from
1900 to 5000 lbs. Men tread the
dates down, adding from time to
time little water to soften them.
An opening is left at the bottom to
allow the syrupy fluid to be collect
ed. This is eaten with butter. In
the Winter this mass of date paste or
cake, is commenced upon, and it is SO
solid that an antelope horn or some
other hard tool has to be used to dig
itout.
The date palm is found growing in
Central Africa, according to DIR. Bal
kie, as far south as Lukoja.
Its various usefui products are We
ry numerous. The petiole, Or leaf
stalk, is employed for fences and 9th
er supports. The tow from the leaves
is spun, used for stufing saddles, and
serves as finder. The fiber it yields
is Of use as a textile material; of il
are made ropes for wells and cordage
for vessels, as it is not impaired by
sea water. The fiber is obtained
from the terminal shoot of the tree:
and also from the. leaves. The pc
duncle which bears the fruit yields q
very strong thread, Of q silvery white
resembling the agave, which is used
in the baths as a friction rubber
From the split leaves Of the palm; OIL
with its foliclcs, mats and baskets arc
made, as well as chairs, Or seats, at
very low price. The trunk is en-
ployed as posts by carpenters; the
wood is compact and easily cut into
thin planks. which take fine polish.
1t may, indeed, be called the pine
wood Of the desert, for 1t is the only
long and straight timber to be met
with in the regions where it flour
isllos From the unripe fruit spirit
and vinegar, and syrup or molasses
can be made. The kernels or seeds
Of the fruit are given as food to do
mostio animals Icing greedily eaten
by camels. goats, sheep, horses and
dogs
In Egypt there are 100000 female
date palms grown, and the annual
production there is estimated at 10
100000 owt annually, but they are
nearly locally consumed /; only from