Imperial Valley press., 1912-09-27
ERUTTS-THE DATE


The history of the date in Amer
lea is short. For many years it has
been a favorite fruit in this country.
The fruit has been imported from the
deserts of Northern Africa and SOUTH
ern. Asia, where for thousands of years
II has been staple food.
But the popularity of the date sin
the fact that the choicest varieties
We're practically never imported. The
date known TO this country is one
consequently stands the rough treat
ment required for shipment in the way
these dates are shipped.
But back in hidden portions of Africa
superior to those imported that it is
difficult to conceive of their delicious
ness without sampling them. They are
fruit
The department of agriculture at
last determined to secure some of these
choicest dates with a view to estab-
ishing them in this country, and Wal
ter 7. Chumard, explorer for the de-
nartment was sent on several trips to
the date countries. and in fact is just
now about to leave the country for the
interior of Morocco in quest of new
variety of which he has heard.
Private individuals later took up the
hunt for choice dates, and many have
there is now beginning of an acre
age Of dates of true foreign stock in
Imperial and Coachella valleys, Cali
fornia, and Yuma and Salt River val
leys, Arizona, these valleys furnishing
practically all there is of and in Amer
iea adapted to this fruit.
these choice trees and planting them
IN this country has led TO the planting
Of a good many seed from those trees
The date is ordinarily propagated from
suckers for the reason that in this wav
only is there assurance that the tree
VIII come true to variety and to sex
q md 1nIz
but few of the former being required
II propagated from seed. half the trees
VIII be non bearers and of the bear
tyne.
But in the planting of seedlings from
Deglet Moor and other choice varietie es
OF dates there have been obtained a
few trees whose fruit is superior even
TO that of the parent, and these will
pc used in great part for propagatine
IN the future, with the prospect that
there will be a distinctive American
variety of dates.
Beginning several years ago purely
on an eNperim entail basis. the date has
been thoroughly demonstrated in the
valleys mentioned, and there is no
power in the world that will keep ii
from becoming the greatest product
of this valley in the course of a few
years, while il is being multiplied far
more rapidly than was considered pos
SINE a rev years ago.
rms region will have the distinction
of being the only SPOT on the western
hemisphere where the date will be pro
duced in large CONNIE ercial quantities
and 1t viii not only have command OF
the American markets, but of all the
territory bordering on the Pacific
While ranking with the most dainty
delcacies, the date in tonnage will
equal alomst any product Of the sol
per acre, and the cost per pound NJ
production will be as cheap as anv va.
rlety OF, food. The curing of the date
IS simple and inexpensive. and there
IS practically no limit 10 the demand
that will exist for the fruit at prizes
which will leave a large margin Of
In the establishment of Horticultural
industries in California there have
been some great successes. but when
YOU undertake to list the varieties Of
frult which are big factors in the sue
cesses the number seems very small.