CULTURE OF THE PALM 91 



it, and they suflFer no inconvenience. At Baghdad 

 the period of flowering is frequently the period of 

 inundation from the Tigris, when plantations are 

 submerged to the depth of a foot or two for several 

 weeks; and the growers nevertheless get a heavy 

 crop of fruit. It may be a safe precaution to omit 

 one irrigation immediately after the female has been 

 impregnated, but in a dry climate and porous soil 

 I doubt if it has any advantage. 



It has also been advised to suspend irrigation 

 when the dates are nearly ripe, in order to keep them 

 from becoming soft and sticky. This again sounds 

 reasonable, and for some varieties is desirable, but 

 other varieties demand an increase rather than a 

 decrease of water at this period. In Coachella Valley, 

 for instance, Deglet Nur dates show a tendency to 

 shrivel or mummify toward the end of their ripening 

 on the tree, just at the time when they should be 

 filling with honey. The climate appears really to be 

 too dry for them. This tendency, which has sometimes 

 caused serious loss, can be checked by giving copious 

 irrigation right up to the time the dates are taken 

 from the tree. With varieties which are likely to be 

 unpleasantly soft, irrigation at the last might well 

 be withheld. The character of the soil must also be 

 taken into consideration. In short, the grower's 

 own judgment and experience are essential to decide 

 on this point, but in general it offers little trouble, 

 and is not of importance. 



It will be seen, then, that irrigation and cultiva- 

 tion offer no puzzling problems. The grower who gives 

 his palms plenty of both will have little need to worry 

 about details. 



Nor does the fertilization of the land present 



