150 



years so great a variety of new flowers and 

 fruits. 



The date-tree grows very rapidly, and 

 will produce fruit in some countries in the 

 third year, while in others it is from four to 

 six years before it begins to bear : when ar- 

 rived at maturity, it makes no change, but 

 remains in the same state for three genera- 

 tions, according to the account of the Arabs. 

 Like most other fruits, the date requires 

 cultivation to have it good, as the fruit which 

 is produced from trees which have been 

 raised from seed is poor and ill-tasted, 

 while those trees which are reared from the 

 shoots, give dates of a good quality. 



The flowers of both sexes come out in 

 very long bunches from the trunk between 

 the leaves, and are covered with a spatha 

 which opens and withers : those of the male 

 have six short stamina, with narrow four- 

 cornered anthers filled with farina. The 

 female flowers have no stamina. 



Dates are imported into this country 

 in a dried state, similar to dried figs: 

 when in good condition, they are much 

 esteemed, and fetch a high price. At the 

 present time, they are sold for five shillings 

 the pound, although interior kinds may be 



