34 THE DATE PALM. 



The following table is of interest in this connection. 



TABLE VI 



Showing the diurnal ranges of temperature in degrees Fahr. in May, August, 

 and October in the Punjab. 



August is our dampest month (see Table XVII, pages 50 and 

 51), and in it the diurnal range of temperature is least. Our climate 

 is drier towards both May and October ; therefore the diurnal range 

 is greater towards these months. Alexandria (see Table XV, 

 pages 48 and 49), is very humid and gets gradually more so from 

 May to October. There, as we expect, the diurnal range is small, 

 being only 15'5F. in May and gradually falls to 12'5 in October 

 while Nefta, with its comparatively dry atmosphere all summer, 

 has a diurnal range of about 30'7F. throughout the fruiting season. 

 A great diurnal range is apparently not necessary to the produc- 

 tion of good fruits, however, as Bahrein, which produces very 

 good fruits, has only a diurnal range of 9'5F, in February to 

 12'5F. in October. Most of the date varieties at present growing 

 in the Punjab mature between 20th July and the end of August, 

 therefore although intending growers should take notice of the 

 temperatures in the broader date-fruiting period May to October 

 inclusive in case varieties are introduced which will ripen later 

 than those now growing, it should be noted that May to August, 



