248 ESSAYS anv OBSERVATIONS 
fome how conveyed into the /patha of the 
female ; its date {tones will not grow.’ I thall 
pafs the very wide differences among them, 
as to the manner of conveying it; and only 
obferve, that’ without the influence of the 
male, the female will either be barren, or 
caft her unripe fruit, according to the anti- 
ents, and A/pimus; that the dates will want 
ftones, be harfh, and not eatable, except by 
camels and cattle, Hadgz. ‘* Omnia fua fru- 
“¢ uum rudimenta, indeclinabili abortu di- 
“ mittunt,’ Kaempfer. “ In fructa pulpae lo-) 
‘co adeft cortex durior, ficcus, adftringens, 
“ officulum vel nullum vel tenue,” Ludwig. 
which are all contradicted by Labat. 
31. “ IT is pretended, (fays that reverend 
father,) thatthe dace-tree is male and female ; 
that the male bears bloffoms, but no fruit, 
that being left to the care of the female; but 
that fhe would carry none, if fhe had not the 
male by her, or at leaft within fight of her.” 
I am forry that I cannot fubfcribe to this opi- 
nion of the naturalifts, but it is a moft certain 
experiment, directly oppofite to their fenti- 
ments, that hinders me ; for we have a date- 
tree befide our monaftery in Martznico, which 
carries fruit, tho’ fingle: whether is is male | 
or 
