The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-09-20
ASORCERER NTEXAS
BARREN DATE PALMs MADE FRUIT
 HEARING TREES.
Then People Think Him Miracle Worker sad Bring Hin Sick
 and Ip0rm for
 Healaug.

It has been known for many years that date palms were well adapted to the lower Rio Grande region of Texas.
 but 1t was not until two years ago that
 owners of these plants were made aware of the fact that they could be
 dates. In Hidaigo. Rio Grande City. Brownsville and other of the old snt tied towns along the river which form the international boundary between the United States and Mexico are groves of these date palm trees. They never bore fruit and were commonly looked upon as ornaments. They thrlv- ed wonderfully we'll. and a-shoot when transpIanted would soon attain lar2a size. Hundreds of these trees wcr" scattered upon the plantations and in the yards of peoplo who live In towns. It was generally supposed that they did not belong to the fruit-bearings class of palms. but according to a Record. a wonderful change Mas been brough about by q visit to this section of an experienced date grower of Cali fornia nearly two years ago. He ex- pressed surprise at the inc appearance of the numerous date palm trees here and inquired what was done with the
 fruit. He was surprised still more to
 learn that the trees never produced fruit.
 He then stated that they required ar tificial pollenation and thatif this was done they would yield an abundant
 supply of dates He volunteered to
 pollenize the trees. When the blos-
 soms began to appear. year ago. he
 went from tree to tree tnoculating the
 female palm with the pollen of the
 male tree. He treated scores of palms in this manner, and. to tho delight Of
 the owners, oflthe trees, dates began to
 form upon the female palms and enor- nous clusters of the fruit were raised. In this place the yield of one tree was as much as 300 pounds of dates. It seemed to be trying to make up for the years that 1t had been barren. Tho fruit was found to be of a delicious taste and large size.
 There were many doubters as to the outcome of the artificial pollenation when 1t was made, the Mexicans par ticularly being much amused at the work of the American horticulturist. They now look upon him as a sort of sorcerer who Is able to perform mira | cles. They have such an eve and rev- | erence for him that when he visited this place a short time ago for the pur- purpose of further introducing some American owners of date palm groves | of crippled and sick Mexican men. wo-
 men and children gathered around hin,
 and begged that he cure them of their | ills and infrmities.
 The scientist tried to explain to his besiegers that he was not endowed with divine powers; that he had made | the date palms produce fruit by na:- ural means. The crowd would not ac- cept the explanations that he made Had they not seen him wave hls magic | wand over trees that had always been barren. and had they not brought forth | fruit of the most dedcious kind as a result of the mystery which he per formed? If he could make a tree bear fruit he could make the sick and infirm | well. That was the way the Mexicans | who followed him about argued. They | touched his clothes with reverence and l felt that they had been blessed by com ing into contact with him even that | much.
 The artificial pollenation plan as ap' piled to the palms of this region ha.
 been so great that much attention 1, l now being given to the industry o growing these trees. Many new grove: | were planted this winter