60 DATE GROWING 



among others and surrounded by a secondary culture, 

 particularly if that be fruit trees, and their dislike to 

 offshoots grown under such conditions seems to be 

 well founded. 



They also make it a point to choose offshoots 

 which have grown from the ground and developed a 

 root system of their own, but experiments in California 

 indicate that in this case they err. Offshoots which 

 have grown on the side of the tree, several feet from 

 the ground, and are quite without roots, have given as 

 good, and often better, results when planted. If roots 

 are formed in the ground by an offshoot when still 

 attached to the parent, it seems that they do not 

 grow after the shoot is detached, but that an entirely 

 new system must be thrown out. 



Most offshoots are bent or curved, but readily 

 straighten out when planted. Those which are un- 

 usually distorted should be rejected. 



The best time to cut and plant offshoots is a 

 matter of dispute. Of course the operation should 

 not be carried out in the hottest or coldest weather; 

 and if they are to be planted in the open ground, spring 

 is certainly the best season. In California May or early 

 June are to be chosen. But fall planting gives fairly 

 good results in most climates, and in Oman, where 

 the winters are mild, it is the rule, as it also is in 

 India. If the offshoots are to be rooted with bottom 

 heat, fall is a desirable time for work in America, as 

 shoots will be rooted during the winter and can be 

 set in the ground as soon as it gets warmed through 

 in spring, thus having as long a growing season as 

 possible. 



To detach offshoots, a specially made tool is 

 desirable, in the shape of a large and heavy chisel 



