98 TILLERS OF THE GEOUND CHAP. 



to grow. For this reason also the cultivator can 

 only afford to grow the smallest number possible of 

 pollen-bearing trees. Further, in the oases where 

 it grows naturally, and where the air in summer is 

 very dry and very hot, the soil often contains alkali 

 and salt to these the date-palm is remarkably 

 resistant. If it can get water for its roots, it does 

 not mind if this water is brackish. This is a very 

 important point in connection with its growth in 

 countries like Arizona. 



Next to the bringing of the requisite amount of 

 water to the roots of the date, which is often a 

 very laborious process, the most troublesome part of 

 date-growing is fertilising the flowers. At this the 

 Arabs are very skilful, but at best it is a tedious 

 and laborious process. 



As we have already seen, each date-palm 

 requires a large amount of water, and, in the 

 country where date-palms grow, water is one of the 

 most precious commodities there are. Therefore, 

 while in the wild state there are as many pollen- 

 bearing dates as fruit-bearing, the Arabs only 

 allow one pollen palm for a hundred fruit palms. 

 So much pollen is produced that there is then enough 

 if the pollen is not wasted, as it is in a state of 

 nature. A great difficulty, however, is to be sure 

 that the pollen palms and the fruit palms will 

 flower at the same time. It does not matter much 



