THE DATE 211 



The presence of pollen in the male flower is in most cases 

 easily to be detected by shaking a cluster of the blossoms. 



As soon as the spathe containing the pollen-bearing flowers 

 opens, it should be cut and put into a large paper bag to dry, the 

 bag being stored, open, in a dry room. Thoroughly dry pollen 

 will retain its vitality for many years, and a small quantity 

 should be kept in a bottle from year to year, as a precaution. 

 In case of need it can be used with a wad of cotton. 



The pistillate flowers should be pollinated as soon as the 

 spathes crack open, the plantation being inspected every day 

 or two with this in view. The operation is preferably carried 

 out about midday. The split female spathe is held open, and a 

 sprig from the male flower gently shaken over it and then tied, 

 open flowers downward, at the top of the female cluster. A 

 single pollination with one sprig is enough for each cluster 

 unless rain follows within twenty-four hours, in which case 

 the operation should be repeated. The grower should keep 

 the situation well in hand. 



The grower must not let his young palms bear too many 

 dates, particularly if he wants them to produce offshoots at the 

 same time. Part of the female spadices (flower-stalks) should, 

 therefore, be cut off. In most cases a palm may be allowed 

 to bear its first two bunches of fruit in its fourth year, and three 

 or four bunches in each of the next two years. If even a full- 

 grown palm is allowed to bear to its limit in any year, it is likely 

 to bear less the following season. 



In case the grower should find himself absolutely without 

 date pollen at a time when his pistillate trees are flowering, 

 he may have recourse to the pollen of some other Phoenix, or 

 even of a different genus of palms, Chamserops, Washingtonia, 

 or whatever it may be. This will often enable him to save 

 part, if not all, of the crop. 



