284 



spike, enclosed in a leaf or spat he (Tilla'), sprouts round the heart 

 of the tree in a strong cover (Girif), like a sword scabbard. The 

 sheath (Girif) splits in March, and shows a bunch of blossom, milky 

 white in colour. If the sheath in the female tree does not burst 

 by the end of March, it is opened artificially. On the female 

 palm (Nakhla), the spathe (Tilla') contains the flower ('Ilib) and 

 the stalk (Esga), enclosed in a sheath (Girif). On the male palm 

 (Fahl), the spathe contains the twig for fertilising (Ligah), on 

 which is the pollen (Tahin), the whole being enclosed, as on the 

 female tree, in a sheath. 



* 



" It is usual to open the sheath in the male tree artificially, as, 

 when left to itself, the pollen is scattered by the wind immediately 

 it opens. The male blossom is bigger and broader than the 

 female. The male trunk is also bigger and stouter. Its branches 

 and prickles are stronger. The root of the branch (Karab) 

 where it joins the trunk (Jida') is coarser than the female. The 

 male blossom appears about a month before the female. Both are 

 milky white. 



M The branch of the date palm is called Saf , the lower part of it 

 Gasmul, the middle part Jerida, and the leaves Birdel or 

 Khoos ; the prickles on the lower part are called Shok. The 

 fibre of the date palm is called Lif. 



"When the scabbard splits in March and the blossom appears, the 

 female palm is fertilised. This is done by impregnating the 

 female blossom with a portion of the blossom of the male tree. 

 The cultivator climbs the tree, opens the bunch of female blossom 

 slightly and deposits in it a few sprigs of the male blossom. A 

 special kind of male palm called Ghannami is preferred for 

 fertilising purposes because it is stronger than any other. The 

 male blossom is only used to fertilise, it does not turn into fruit. 

 Ihe process of fertilisation is called Telgih. It is said that in 

 places where date palms grow close together, the wind scatters 

 the pollen of the male blossom and the female is impregnated 

 naturally. When, through neglect or oversight, the female palm 

 is not artificially fertilised, the fruit it bears does not come to 

 perfection ; it is seedless and insipid and is called Shis. In 1821, 

 during the plague, the trees were not fertilised artificially. The 

 pollen was scattered by the wind but the crop was less good than 

 when artificially handled. 



n n ^ b0 o Tu f° nth af ter Utilisation the fruit forms and is then 

 cal ed Hababok ; in two months it is green and is called 



£ IS ; ? n e m ° nt , hs ' that is in J ™e or July, it is hard but 



£ TLZ -P- llow ™? ia ^lled Khalal; in four months, that is 



hX^ 1 ? Partially ripe, soft and juicy and is called Rutab ; 



\V tin! * m S e bazars as food but ^ not fit for preservation. 

 l^OdnL XL° r + K f. day / ifc turns sour - In the fifth month, 

 Jhe fru?t fo f nllv 6 f f fe ? ili8ati ™, ^at is about September, 



down Cirinlli 7 £1^ ^ iS C&lled »** I* * then cut 



reo Ld foHnJ;, ThG da - te Clu8ter is call «d 'Ithig. When 



3S8S SHE* '• — 91 - er P o»;^ 



