THE DATE PALM. 



We have seen (see para. 18, page 33), that the minimum 

 and mean temperatures in the fruiting season at all the Punjab 

 stations mentioned above are quite satisfactory, and if other 

 factors are equal and if first class dates ripen under 3,277 units 

 of heat, then the finest dates should ripen in the Punjab, at 

 the places and by the dates given in the following table : 



TABLE XII. 



* Lahore is hotter than Delhi before 6th September, see Table X, p-ige 39. 



So far as temperature is concerned, then, the finest dates 

 ought to ripen at all the ten stations mentioned. 



1 The amount of heat required to ripen date fruits has been 

 calculated by various other methods, but we need not deal at 

 greater length with the subject here. No amount of heat has 

 yet been found too much for date trees when properly established. 



20. In order that the date palm may produce abundant 

 fruits of the best quality, it is essential that the 

 a ^ r be ver y ^ r y fr m the ti me the flowers open 

 to the time the fruits ripen. Eains or a damp 

 atmosphere at other times of the year may be beneficial. The 

 presence of water vapour in the air has been considered to cause 

 harm to the date palm in the fruiting season by absorbing heat 

 from the sun's rays and thereby preventing the temperature 

 from rising to the great height necessary to develop and ripen the 

 fruits properly. It would appear from the Tables V, X and XII, 

 however, that we need not fear insufficient heat in most parts of 



Rai hum!dit and 



