MANUltlNG DATE PALMS. 49 



MANURING." 



Tlio continual irri<i:ati()n of the oases and tho small extent to which 

 le<;uniinous crops are grown anion*); the palms are probably respon- 

 sible for the low nitrojren content of the soil, as shown by the analysis 

 on pajre 85. As far as possible tlu' natives seek to remedy this de- 

 ficiency by mannrin<r. Unfortunately, owin<; to the small number of 

 domestic animals kept, the sujiply of stable manure is very limited 

 and the use of chemical fertilizers is as yet unknown. 



No manure is given to the young palms when first set out, although 

 where garden vegetables are grown in new land that is being pre- 

 pared for a date orchard, as shown on |)age 4."). the suckers doubtless 

 receive some benefit from the manure tiiat had been applied to the 

 vegetables during the two or three preceding years. When the palm 

 is 3 years old and is beginning to sucker it is manured directly for 

 the first time. A circular trench is dug around the tree, at least 

 3 feet from its base. This is filled with one i)art of numure to two 

 parts of earth, thoroughly mixed together. Frequently only one- 

 half of the trench is dug and filled the first year, the circle being 

 completed the year following. Subsecpiently the })alm is usually 

 manured only every four years, although some gardeners prefer to 

 give a smaller application every year. 



In the case of older palms the manure is spread on the surface 

 and then worked into the ground, being applied at the rate of one 

 donkey load to each tract of 7 s(iuare yards. Strong soils, containing 

 a high percentage of clay or of organic matter and gypsum, are 

 manured less heavily than the light sandy soils. Where garden 

 vegetables are grown among the palms and manured everj^ year the 

 palms themselves receive no separate application. The best time to 

 manure date palms is considered in the Jerid to be from October to 



January'.'' 



Only thoroughly rotted manure that is at least one year old can 

 safely be used. The natives recognize it as one of the advantages 

 of old manure that it contains fewer viable Aveed seeds. Grass and 

 straw are carefully removed before the manure is applied. The in- 

 habitants difl'er as to what kind of manure gives the most satisfac- 



oFor the practices in this regard in the Oued Souf, see Bui. 86, Bureau of 

 Plant Industry, pp. 22-24. 



6 According to Charlet (Bui. Soc. Geogr. d'Alger, 1905), many of the inhabi- 

 tants of the :\Iazb manure their palms every year, sometimes at the be- 

 ginning of winter and sometimes in February when the sap begins to run. 

 This author estimates 4-1 pounds of m:unire as the quantity needed annually 

 by each palm. In the Oued Souf (Bui. 8(J, Bureau of Plant Industry, p. 23) 

 October and March are considered the best mouths for applying manure. 



30618— No. 92—06 4 



