116 THE DATE PALM. 



generally sold unpacked in the bazars and railway stations at 

 about 3 to 4 seers (6 to 8 Ibs. approx.} per rupee. Muskat 

 dates simply packed in cardboard boxes each containing about 

 1 lb. of dates are annually sold at 8 annas approximately per 

 box in Lahore ; also Algerian dates, first packed in small 

 wooden sided boxes each containing about J lb. of dates and 

 then encased in air-tight tin cases are sold in the Punjab at 

 9 annas per box. 



The first-class fruits of the 1915 crop from the Persian Gulf 

 trees growing at Muzaffargarh and Multan Central Jail were sold 

 at annas 6 per lb. packed for dessert purposes in small cardboard 

 boxes or jars, and most glowing tributes to the quality of the 

 fruits were received from those to whom the fruits were sent. 

 Indeed the limited quantity which we had, could have been sold 

 several times over at Re. 0-10-0 per lb. 



87. The crop of fruits got per adult tree from the local 

 Punjabi trees has been variously estimated at 



pLbt from 10 seers ( 2 J lbs -) to 25 seers ( 512 * lbs -) 



and average yields in various places have been 

 calculated at anything from 20 seers (41 lbs.) to 60 seers (123 lbs.) 

 or more. Owners of the more important date gardens usually 

 lease their trees annually to a second party early in the fruiting 

 season. This second party known as a " baikhar " arranges 

 for the guarding of the fruits while on the trees ; the harvesting 

 and marketing of the fruits ; and takes all risks of making a 

 profit on the sum which in the early part of the season he agreed 

 to give the owner for the season's produce. For reasons given in 

 para. 25, page 64, the owners of these larger gardens are generally 

 unable to give accurate information regarding the crops got from 

 the trees and both the " baikhar " and the smaller owners 

 who harvest their fruits themselves, do not care to give the 

 information required. Again, the crop of fruits per tree varies 

 greatly not only with the variety of tree, but with the age of the 

 tree, the quality of the land, the amount of water-supply, the 

 climate of the locality, etc., therefore, a fair estimate of the average 

 yield is very difficult to get. Regarding the crops of dates per 



