Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1901-10-17
CULTURE OF DATES.
New Industry for the West Con.
templated by Government.
Arid Region of Arizona ana soa,h-
west May he Nude 90 Bear Much
Fruit-Pinns OF Agricultural
Department.

The department Of agriculture Ia,
just made an interesting report on III,
successful growing Of the date palm il
this country. This opens up new in.
austry for the great arid southwest
particularly in Arizona. where palm,
lately planted are now producing frui,
equal 10 thar OF Africa.
Hitherto Improbable and arid land
IN the west now has prospect OF being
turned into yeritable orchards with
proper irrigation. The governments
work in this line has been carried on
Tor some time back and the final re.
suits just announced are extremely in
teresting says the New York Herald
The export Of dates TO Europe and to
America lssan important industry both
in North Africa and the countries bor.
oering the Persian gulf The value Of
the dates imported into the United
states alone averaged for the ten years
ended June !. 1900. S402, 762 per annum.
he real value when received al tbe
American port was 50 per cent. great.
eri Or 100000 year.
II was found BY government expert.
ment that certain spots III the south
west were especially adapted for the
Gate palm. About % Of the best known
varieties whics grow IN the western
sahara are now being grown In Ari-
zena
The date palm demands a fairly
abundant and, above all. a constant |
supply Of water at the roots; al the
same time il delights in a perfectly
dry and very hot climate. 4 well. |
known Arab proserb runs: "The date
palm, She queen Of trees. must have /
her feet Ia running water and hen
head % the burning sky.
The University 81 Arizona offered a.
provide a special date garden and to
cultivate the palm Il the department |
Of agriculture would furnish q Collec
ton of shoots Of the best sorts 81
dates. This offer was accepted. and
a government expert was sent. with
from the secretary OF
TO visit the large date or
chards near the Algerian eoast and
also the GASES In the sahara desert
about Biskra
Every facility was afforded him. and
be WAS enabled 10 study freely al tho
details - growing and marketing
dstes.i Some al offshoots. comprising
some ~ varieties. we're secured and
shipped 20 this countryside largest
consignment ever sent from North
Africa. Three hundred and nine'y-ont
we're planted a Tempe. Ariz.; n were
planted az the Arizona experiment sta.
Jon, at Phoenix. aud IN the salt River
ALLEY, and the remainder were sent &c
'aiifornia.
The age at which palms come into
'eariug depends much upon climate
nd soil. Trees have been known O.
ear in Arizona four years after b.
ne planted. Trees. however. are gen.
rally considered not 20 yield paying
Of fruit until they are a;
FAST siN years old. They continue
caring from this age, II well cared for. Z
nth they are 100 years or more old. y
ood tree producing an average 81 2
rom 400 20 600 pounds per year when a.
rown in rich soil and abundantly irri- =
ited. "
The department concludes that Il $
dequately supplied with water, the a.
,wer and hotter parts Of the Cal. tr
nrnia desert would be one Of the q
nest date regions in he world. and ~
ayond question the best within the ~
migs 81 the United States. This des. "
r. occupies en- area Of some one thou. 20
md or more square miles in south. az
estern California. The summer tenn ps
,ratures IN this desert are a 5 high a. TN
lose 10 the interior Of the Sahara
,sert, averaging about 100 to i25. ca
The air Is exceedingly dry in this 10
.sert. and this. together with the in be
nse heat. renders the climate pc. Gu
.liariy adapted 20 the culture Of the he
80 variety Of dates, The next hes; he
section IN the salt River val. pc
y. In central Arizona. Date palms ha
lnfed here have been strikingly sue. up
ssful chi
II has been shown that enough dates hin
supply our market can BE- produced ing
home. thus retaining In this country AM
arly half a million dollars now paid cut
nually for foreign dates. The de- old
rtment OF agriculture maintains a lus
ecial date garden a. Tempe. in the eNa
Il River valley. Arizona, and about plo
} young palms. comprising an Of the pre-
81 known varieties imported from Pya
ie regions Of the western Sahara, Gus
now growing and Welding fine wit
it, Of