PROPAGATION BY SEEDS. 75 



judicious applications of it may be beneficial even where the roots 

 can reach a good underground supply. On lands where the 

 subsoil water is far below the reach of the palm roots, excellent 

 crops of date fruits can be got if a regular and plentiful supply 

 of irrigation water is given. The disadvantages of the situation 

 are the expenses incurred before the water can be applied, and the 

 very serious damage that may be done if regular irrigations are 

 not given. In parts of the Persian Gulf the lands are both 

 aerated and irrigated by the rise and fall of the tide in the river, 

 but unfortunately we have no such efficient, cheap, automatic 

 method in the Punjab. When a young plantation is to be laid 

 down, even where the subsoil water is at such a height as to be 

 well within reach of the roots of adult palms, it is absolutely 

 vital to its success that an abundant and regular supply of irri- 

 gation water should be provided for the young plants throughout 

 the year during the first 2 to 3 years after they are planted out 

 (see pages 84 and 85, paras. 49, 50, and 51). Should this not be 

 done the death-rate will be appalling. If the plants have been 

 properly treated, they should be growing vigorously by the end 

 of that time and more hardy. They should still receive artificial 

 waterings in accordance with their requirements however. A 

 plentiful water-supply will be well repaid by the trees coming 

 several years earlier into bearing than they otherwise would. 

 By the time well-kept trees have been planted out 5 to 6 

 years, they ought to have developed a strong root system 

 penetrating into the soil to a depth of 7 to 9 feet (see para. 2, 

 page 1 ; and illustration No. 1, page XIX), and if there is a good 

 supply of subsoil water well within reach of these, the plants 

 may yield good crops without further artificial waterings. If 

 the natural water-supply is below the reach of the roots of 

 adult trees, permanent arrangements for the necessary waterings 

 (see page 84, para. 49) must be made. 



Perhaps the best sites as far as water-supply is concerned, 

 are where the permanent water-level is at a depth somewhere 

 between 9 and 16 feet. Even with a water table at these depths 

 irrigations might improve the crop. With a water table at 



