Her iey TCT OL a ee oe a a er 
Fe : 
646 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE. 
and produces an abundance of oil. Some growers do not consider 
it as prolific as some other varieties. Ae: 
Picholine. 
This variety was imported from France by the late B. B. Reading, 
with a number of others, and planted on his ranch near Sacramento, 
Cal., several yearsago. All the others died, and after Mr. Reading’s 
death it was propagated, supposing it to be a large-fruited variety: 
But the first fruit proved to be quite small. It ripens about six 
weeks earlier than the Mission and bears more abundantly and has 
smaller and narrower leaves. The tree has a compact, hardy, and — 
vigorous growth and the cuttings root easily. 
THE DATE. 
(Phenix dactylifera.) 
, No doubt many persons are ignorant of the fact that the date palm 
grows and bears fruit in several of the warmer parts of the United 
States. In Louisiana there were several bearing trees of this species, — 
but the freeze of 1886 killed all but one of those in the city of New 
Orleans, and if any others are standing in that State I am not aware 
of it. In Florida there are many trees, but only a very few in bear- 
ing. The same is true of California. ; 
I have no doubt but that the date will within a few years be suc- 
cessfully grown in limited sections of these States, and especially in 
California and Arizona, where a supply of water sufficient to keep the 
roots moist can be furnished. The conditions suitable to date culture 
are hot and dry air, and rich soil with abundant moisture init. These 
conditions can be secured much better in a few valleys in the south- 
ern parts of Arizona and California than elsewhere in the United 
States. The airis quite torrid for months ata time, and the irrigation 
ditches will supply the water; but I do not expect that a sufficient 
quantity will be grown for many years to come to supply any consid- 
erable portion of the market demand. 
Last October a cluster of ripe dates was received at this Depart- 
ment from Mr. O. F. Thornton, of Phenix, Ariz., which was one of 
three borne by a tree seven years old from seed growing on the 
ranch of Col. F. C. Hatch, near that place. There were a number 
of seeds planted there by Mr. Culbertson in 1880, who afterwards 
sold the ranch on which they grew. This tree had also bloomed in 
1885, but no fruit was matured as the bloom was cut off as a curiosity. 
Only one other tree besides this was preserved (the others having 
died in transplanting), and it fortunately is a male. The cluster 
contained 211 fruits of a chrome-yellow color, slightly tinged with 
bronze, and, all told, weighed 5 pounds. The seeds were perfect, 
and many of them were sent to Florida and have now grown into 
thrifty plants. 
THE CRANBERRY. 
(Vaccinium macrocarpa.) 
Although the culture of the cranberry is from climatic reasons 
restricted to a small territory compared with its market range, it is 
by no means an insignificant fruit. It is wholesome and palatable 
to the consumer, and profitable to the grower where he has the right © 
