HORTICULTURE 299 



done by means of the off-shoots or suckers. Suckers should not be 

 taken from the parent tree until they have attained a diameter of 

 5-6 inch and a weight of 15-20 pound. Suckers should be re- 

 moved by cutting in and down along the line of cleavage between 

 them and the main trunk, with a strong chisel or a sharp, flat-pointed 

 bar. If possible the cut should be carried down so as to bring away 

 at least one or two sound roots. The leaves should be closely pruned 

 and for shipment the cut bases had better be protected against drying 

 out by a layer of wet moss or similar material. 



In planting, the sucker should be set in previously irrigated 

 and well settled soil to the depth of its greatest diameter, taking care 

 that the center of the palm is not below the irrigating water level. 



For convenience in irrigating, a shallow basin of earth should 

 be made about the sucker, in which, to lessen evaporation and the 

 rise of alkali, a mulch of chip dirt or fine barnyard litter three or 

 four inches deep should be spread. The soil about newly trans- 

 planted suckers should be kept constantly wet by frequent irrigations. 

 Planted in this manner, from two to one hundred per cent of im- 

 ported lots of suckers have been made to grow, according to their 

 condition on arrival. Suckers should be cut and transplanted April 

 to August, inclusive ; but not during or approaching cool weather. 



Enemies. The most dangerous enemy of the date palm thus 

 far encountered is the gopher (Thomomys cervinus) which feeds 

 upon the roots and eats out the centers of the trees, and which, un- 

 checked, will quickly destroy an entire orchard of palms. Rats, 

 also (Sigmodon hispidus eremicus, Mearns) have been known to 

 destroy a crop and damage the trees. A constant warfare must also 

 be kept up against the birds, beetles, weevils, and flies which attack 

 the crop. 



Production. While a little fruit is occasionally produced by 

 suckers at two years after planting, commercial yields cannot be ex- 

 pected until about the sixth or eighth year. The waste, due to in- 

 sects, handling, untimely rain and other causes, is sometimes very 

 great. Several of the Old- World varieties have failed 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 depends the future 

 commercial developments. Certain seedling trees developed have 

 produced early-maturing fruit of excellent quality. It is necessary, 

 also, to develop an assortment of male palms which shall bloom at 

 all times during the flowering season for fruit bearing trees in order 

 that fresh pollen may be constantly available for this important 

 operation. By reason of the difficulty, oftentimes, in securing num- 

 bers of desirable suckers from the Old World, and the fair propor- 

 tion of successful seedlings usually obtained, those having ground 

 and water to spare may wisely plant seed with a view to the ulti- 

 mate establishment of a grove of valuable trees. Such seeds, in order 

 to offer the best chance of success, should be derived from parent 

 trees one or both of which should be characterized by excellence and 



