io6 



also enables one to evaluate or grade male trees as to the germina- 

 ting quality of their pollen, a matter of considerable importance 

 in determining the "best" males. It enables one to determine if 

 the pollen of any cluster of flowers from males usually good is 

 poor because of time of bloom, age of the tree, or of local environ- 

 mental conditions. Thus in many ways it will aid the date- 

 grower in making more certain the important operation of the 

 pollination of his dates. It can reveal whether the pollen is 

 comparatively more precious than "gold dust" or as worthless 

 as an equal amount of sand. 



One aspect of the results demands the attention and action of 

 date-gardeners. It is certain that present methods of drying and 

 storing pollen do not keep it in a viable condition from one year to 

 another. It remains to be shown whether date pollen can ever be 

 kept viable from one season until the next season of bloom. The 

 evidence now at hand rather decidedly indicates that it is not and 

 perhaps cannot be thus kept and that growers of dates must pro- 

 vide early blooming males to supply fresh pollen, if they wish to 

 pollinate the earliest clusters of female flowers with success. 



A. B. Stout. 



Explanation of Plate 289 



Above. Young male date palm, showing clusters of male flowers. When 

 these clusters are cut and placed in a dry room, the ]H)llen which falls from 

 the opening stamens may be dried and kept for future use. It may be kept 

 viable for several weeks, but apparently does not remain alive from year to 

 year, as growers in both the old and new worlds have believed. 



Below. I'^cmale |)alm tree with flowers, shortly after the j>ropcr time for 

 pollination. Note bunch of male llowers placed close to female tlowcrs for 

 pollination, a simple but effective method, insuring free scattering of the light 

 j)ollen by currents of air. Sometimes male flowers are placed within each 

 cluster of female flowers. A common i)ractice is to sprinkle pollen on cotton 

 and place this within the female cluster. It is imperative that pollen thus 

 used be viable if a good set of fruit is to result. 



