Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1899-05-09

must have its head in the fire and i'll
roots in the water is an old Arabian
pfoVefb. The water should be applied
frequently throughout the year. tn,
most in the spring before blooming ant
IN the fall prior to ripening Of the fruit
care should be taken not to irrigate toe
lnuch at the time Of blooming and just
after, as this is liable to interfere with
successful fruit setting. The water NAV
advantageously be quite warm, from Il
TO 30 degrees, and contain considerable
alkali, In midsummer irrigation should
be in the late afternoon or evening to
avoid scalding,
rams may be planted along streams
or Hooded basins. All desert regions are
| characterized by occasional depressions
Where the water comes nearly or quite
10 the surface. During the rainy season
these are filled with water and some
llines DO not become entirely dry before
| another rainy season. The date palm
! thrives in such spots when once estab-
| lished, although its trunk may be par
TALLY submerged for some time Where
irrigation is practiced, however water
should not be allowed to rise above the
surface of the soil for any considerable
length of time, and later to be allowed
to dry away, as baking of the soil under
these conditions may result in serious
injury to the tree. From a study of the
soil and climatic conditions in northern
Africa, where the date palm flourishes,
1t seems probable that dates may be
grown in the region adjacent to the |
Saton basin, west of Yuma
The date may be propagated from
seeds or suckers. The former method is
not much used, except in originating
new varieties. because, like many other |
fruits, the date does not come true to |
seed The fruit is generally later and |
that spring up can not be distinguished
and destroyed until the tree blossoms,
hence propagation by suckers is resort
ed to, although the date is difficult to
transplant with uniform success. Ere
quently as many as 50 per cent of the
dates die after they have
received the best Of care, and if neglect
I'd hardly any will survive.
The date palm, whether male or fe-
male, varies greatly as to time of bloom {
ng. 1t always blooms late, however
hus escaping injury from late spring
rosts In Arizona the blossoming pc
'iod begins about April Is, and con- t
lnues six weeks or more. In planting Y
male trees suckers should be selected {
rom those that blossom earliest and a
most profusely, and continue in bloom l.
rom three to five weeks. t
The varieties Of dates are almost in c
They vary greatly in size, e
olor, sweetness, delicacy of flavor, and
ength of time required to mature. The 4
ates of commerce are usually light {
olored, these being of firmer texture,
nd are hence preferable for shipping
urposes.
The average yield Of tree is eight y
lunches, each weighing about 171b
ounds, though they may weigh as ,
luch as A pounds. In Arizona Seeding y
'ees seven years Of age have produced =
pward of 200 pounds in a single sea- u
On. Young trees blossomng the first d
r second time should not be allowed to "
ear more than four or five punches.
Among the various enemies of the
ate, birds and bees do much injury by
'eding on the ripe fruit. Cheesecloth l
lcks loosely inclosing the punches on 81
le tree afford the best protection. The vi
ipense should not exceed 10 cents per II
ee. Grasshoppers do much damage by VI
eding on the foliage. The most Sc III
Gus pest that the date has in this III
untry is a scale insect that was i'm pa
'rted on palms several years ago. The III
sect is small, but conspicuous against
e dark green leaves, both sides of ai
hich are infested. The Arizona station
Is not yet discovered any means Of
adicating the pest. Applications Of
hale oil soap washes and fumigation I'd
th hydro-cyanic acid gas have been ma
ly partially successful GIG