IMPORTATION OF FOREIGN DATES 321 



of 1890 by the United States Department of Agriculture, under the 

 direction of H. E. Van Deman, then chief of the Division of Pomology. 

 The plants were divided between New Mexico, Arizona and California. 

 The plants for California were sent to the Department of Agriculture 

 of the University of California, and were planted at the experiment sta- 

 tions at Tulare and at Pomona, some of them being subsequently trans- 

 planted to the United States Date Garden at Mecca in the Colorado 

 desert region. Upon fruiting a number of these plants, they seemed to 

 be only seedlings and not the best foreign varieties, as represented. 



A full account of this effort and its outcome is given in Bulletin 29, 

 of the Arizona Experiment Station. 



The United States Department of Agriculture undertook arrange- 

 ments in 1899 for new importations, which were successfully made, but 

 all that was anticipated in securing valuable varieties was not attained. 

 Director R. H. Forbes, of the Arizona Experiment Station, writes in 

 Timely Hints No. 72 (April, 1908) : 



"Several of the Old World varieties which have thus far fruited 

 have failed to make good for various reasons. Some have required a 

 longer growing season to mature ; others have soured in damp or cool 

 weather, and still others do not appeal to the American consumer. A 

 few varieties have proved acceptable in all respects, and to such as these 

 we must look for future commercial developments." 



Of the foreign varieties thus introduced the following have been 

 produced in small commercial quantities : Rhars, Tedalla, Birket el 

 Haggi and Deglet Noor. 



During recent years large importations for commercial planting in 

 southeastern California have been made by Mr. Popenoe, after search- 

 ing foreign investigations. 



Growing Palms from Seed. Seeds taken from the dried dates 

 of commerce germinate readily ; in fact, seedlings frequently appear in 

 the gutters of unpaved streets where the seeds have been thrown during 

 the rainy season. Director Forbes, of the Arizona Station, says that 

 seeds will come up more promptly if first stratified. This may be done 

 by taking a gasoline can or deep box and placing three inches of sand in 

 the bottom after making a number of holes in it for drainage. The 

 seeds are placed upon this layer and the can or box filled with sand, the 

 whole then being put in a sheltered place and kept moist from three to 

 six weeks, when the seeds will be soft and ready for prompt growth 

 when planted. The seedlings may be started in nursery rows for trans- 

 planting after one to three years, or if frequent irrigations may be 

 relied on, in the field where the trees are to remain. 



Dr. W. T. Swingle, whose work on date growing has already been 

 cited, gives the following suggestions on the growing of seedlings and 

 their subsequent handling to determine sex and to select bearing palms 

 of desirable type: 



The seed should be planted rather thickly in well-drained beds of fertile soil, 

 free from alkali. These beds should be watered frequently, as the young date 

 seedlings need an abundance of moisture. If properly cared for, the seedlings 

 will reach a height of from 12 to 18 inches the first year and can be transplanted 

 into the permanent orchard the second year. 



