THE PALMS OF EUROPE AND AFRICA. 43 



from the base to the leafy top, give the stem a 

 remarkable appearance, and have the advantage 

 of serving as steps to enable persons to ascend 

 to the summit, Avhich ■would otherwise be a very 

 difficult enterprise. This ascent is necessary, 

 not only to lop off the decayed leaves, but to 

 impregnate the fruit-bearing blossoms with 

 pollen. The fibrous character of the stem, 

 composed of the roots of leaves, (as before ex- 

 plained,) renders the trunk useless as timber — 

 indeed it cannot be called timber, though very 

 valuable for other purposes. 



The date palm reaches its full maturity in 

 about thirty years, (though it bears fruit much 

 earlier,) and continues in full productiveness 

 and perfect beauty for about seventy years 

 longer. After this, it begins gradually to de- 

 cline, and perishes towards the latter end of its 

 second century. This may serve as a general 

 statement, but it is liable to large exceptions. 

 Trees far more than two centuries old have 

 been known ; but perhaps the best general rule 

 is afforded by the popular expression of the 

 Arabs, which states that after the date tree has 

 attained maturity, it remains in luidiminished 

 vigour during three human generations. " They 

 shall still bring forth fruit in old age ; they shall 

 be fut and flourishing," is the description which 



