The Florida agriculturist., 1906-04-18
this, it is doubtful if there can be

than the date-eating Arabs. The re-
markable physique of the Arabs and
their resistance to the almost unbear-
able heat of their country might be
attributed in part at least, to the
nature of their simple food. At any
rate, thorough investigation Of the
food value of the date and its adapta-
bility to the formation of food for our
hot summer season should be made,
and possibly this wonderful vegetable
product, which is now used in America
only as a SecOnd-claSS cOnfectiOn,
might be used as a basis of a nuui-
tiOus new food
An article in the Rural New Yorker
contains a hint that we might find
some difficulties in the way of success
full date culture, besides climatic con-
ditions:
Troubles of Arizona Date Growers
The United States Department of Agri-
culture is making determined and
most cOmmendable effort to promote
the culture of choice varieties OF the
date palm in localities where that heat
loving exotic may be expected to grow.
An agricultural explorer has made
visits to Algeria, Egypt, Persia and
Arabia in behalf of the Department
to select and prepare for shipment
suckers of the most valuable kinds.
Nearly 1000 trees in 81 varieties have
thus far been imported, most of them
being planted, we understand, in the
experimental orchard of the Arizona
Agricultural Station. About 60 per
I cent. of these trees are living and
many show indications of producing
suckers for further increase. Several
varieties planted in 1900 fruited last
year, but the priced Deglet Moor, from
which so much was expected, did not
mature it's fruits, and is supposed to
| be too late for the latitude of the Salt
River Valley. The best crop was
borne by the variety Rhars, ripening
before October 10. This is said to be
J of superior quality, but very soft, re-
quiring artificial heat unless the
weather should be especially favorable
for curing on the tree. Lightweight
suckers imported from Africa and Asia
proved very unsatisfactory, less than
| 40 per cent. surviving the first year.
] 1t is advised that future impOrtatiOns
| should average 30 pounds each in
weight, as suckers of that size retain
their vitality fairly well during the
| long transit. The cost of tranSpOrta-
| ton for 25-pOund suckers from Africa
to Arizona under favorable circum-
stances, after making allowance for a
probable loss of 40 per cent, is eSti-
mated at not less than $4.OO each.
| This considerable expense will likely
| prohibit private impOrtatiOns of un-
tested varieties, but a fair rate of
multiplied ton of those already es-
tablished seems assured. There is
much hope from growing seedlings,
and some desirable kinds have already
been produced. AS the commercial
pOllina ton of date-palm flowers is al
most wholly artificial, the male and fe-
male blooms being borne on separate
| trees, the cross breeding of selected va
rieties will be a very simple matter.
| 1t is probable good dates will be grown
eventually in quantity sufficient to sup
ply the entire home demand. The re
ports of unsanitary conditions under
which foreign dates and figs are
handled make cleanly people wish our
home production were already suffi-
cient American date growers find
difficulties, aside from the crea ton and
acclimatizatiOn of suitable varieties,
not known in the native home Of this
sugary fruit Western birds are al
ready found to have acquired a fond
ness for dates, attacking them in the
I'll