136 DATEGROWING 



salt and left overnight. A similar method is in use 

 in Egypt. 



Most of the dates of Spain are also artificially 

 ripened, by immersion in hot vinegar for a few minutes. 

 The acetic acid ripens them over night into an eatable 

 product. 



A peculiar slow method of ripening the variety 

 Yatimeh is used in Algeria, an entire cluster being 

 cut before it is quite ripe, and packed in a box entirely 

 surrounded by dry dates, usually of the variety 

 Mashi Degla. They are left until spring, when 

 the dates come out in perfect condition. 



Most Deglet Nurs of North Africa undergo 

 slow artificial ripening, usually without realization 

 on the part of the packer of what he is doing. They 

 are picked when they show a translucent spot on 

 one side, and are then packed; after eight or ten days 

 they are in perfect condition for use. 



The big Majhul dates of Tafilalet are all ripened 

 off the tree, being picked when they have turned 

 yellow, and spread on the ground in the sun. They 

 are not protected at night, but the dates of Lower 

 California and Mexico, which are artificially ripened 

 in the same manner, are wrapped up in blankets at 

 night to keep the temperature more even. The 

 same process, in principle, is used all over the date- 

 growing world, and at harvest-time the flat roofs of 

 the houses are always covered with curing dates. 



Even before the Christian era, Pliny points to 

 artificial ripening of dates in Egypt, when he says,* 

 "The date of Thebais is at once packed m casks, with 

 all its natural heat and freshness; for without this 

 precaution it quickly becomes vapid; it is of a poor, 



♦Hist. Nat., Bk. XIII, ch. 9. 



