THE DATE TREE. 143 



then divided by a board, or measure, into eight parts, 

 and cut through by a piece of wire, giving sixty -four 

 squares ; then each square or cake is placed on a hurdle 

 in the shade to dry. The doors of the drying house are 

 locked up, and the indigo in that state takes a month to 

 dry ; when it is packed in a strong coarse case, and sent 

 to market. 



In precipitating the indigo, it is not good to use any 

 thing. Lime is destructive, and gum makes it hard, 

 and liable to crack, which is not liked. 



DATE TREE. Phoenix Sylvcstris. 



It requires little more than to bring this tree to the 

 notice of Americans. The cultivation of it is simple ; 

 any man who ever planted a tree can manage this. 

 The tree gives toddy, (a milky kind of juice, and intoxi 

 cating,) on the third or fourth year. In India the plant 

 er taps it so soon, that the jackalls drink the taree or 

 toddy out of the earthern pots. 



This tree grows all over East India, but it is said to 

 do best on the sea coast. It produces 8 to 10 Ibs. of 

 sugar, and even 12 Ibs., per tree. 



It may be planted one in every 12 feet square. 



The sugar from the date tree makes a beautiful grain ; 

 it has, if exposed much, a peculiar flavor, and con 

 sequently in East India it is frequently mixed with cane 

 sugar, which improves both. 



The tree will grow in all the pine lands, and in all 

 sandy lands. 



To collect the taree, a slit is made in the tree, and 

 a pot, (earthern,) is secured immediately under the 



