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full growth. From a mature tree the sap will flow at the rate o about 

 a gallon per day for the first fortnight, and at a gradually falling rate 

 up to six weeks or two months. Arrangements are made for the reception 

 of the sap as it exudes from the trees, and the receiving vessels should 

 be emptied daily. The Date Palm is utilized in various other ways, as 

 the fibrous parts of the stems are made into coarse ropes, mats and 

 baskets, and the leaves are turned to account for similar purposes. 

 From the medullary portion of the stems a farinaceous substance 

 resembling sago is obtained, though in small <[iiantities. 



CULTIVATION. 



The Date Palm is specially suitable for cultivation in the dry interior 

 districts of Australia included within the tropical or sub-tropical regions. 

 It may also be grown successfully in warm districts outside of those 

 regions, provided the winter temperature is not too low, and frosts are 

 not troublesome. As an ornamental plant only the Date Palm may be 

 cultivated successfully as far south as Victoria, but a higher winter 

 temperature is necessary for the production of fruit. It is however well 

 worthy of cultivation for ornament, as it is a very handsome plant. As 

 an avenue tree in the hot dry districts it is to be commended, as its leaves 

 afford a dense and grateful shade. This tree is not particular as to soil, 

 and will thrive in poor sandy land where most other plants will refuse 

 to grow. As a fruit-bearing tree it thrives best in regions where there 

 is great heat and dry ness in the atmosphere, but at the same time 

 it likes a steady supply of moisture at the roots. It is a tree that is 

 specially suitable for planting near to rivers, lakes and dams in the 

 interior, and also alongside irrigation channels. The Date Palm will 

 also thrive in land that contains a large proportion of salt, and in 

 which few other trees can be grown In making a plantation the 

 trees should stand not less than twenty feet apart, and ought to be 

 arranged in regular rows. If plants from offsets or suckers are used 

 they will begin to bear in five years, and yield full crops in ten years. 

 When the plants are from seedlings it will be seven or eight years 

 before they begin to bear. They are many varieties of Dates which 

 differ considerably in the size, shape and colour of their fruit, as also 

 the times of ripening. As yet, however, we have no reliable data as to 

 the respective merits of the different varieties, as but a limited number 

 have as yet been introduced to Australia, and these have not had a 

 thorough trial. As there are both male and female plants, there must, 

 as a matter of course, be a proportion of the former in each plantation, 

 in order to obtain fruit. Opinions vary somewhat upon this subject, 

 but the writer would recommend one male tree to twenty. In order 

 to ensure fruitfulness it is necessary to artificially fertilize the female 

 flowers with the pollen from the male ones. This is done by cutting 

 the spathes of the male flowers before they open, and placing pieces in 

 the spathes of the fruit-bearing plants. 



PROPAGATION. 

 The Date Palm may be easily propagated either by seed or suckers. 



