ILLUSTRATIONS. 



PLATES. 



Page. 



PLATE I. Old date palms at Hermosillo, northern Mexico Frontispiece. 



II. Map of a portion of the Sahara Desert in southern Algeria, showing 



principal centers of date culture 76 



III. Map showing distribution of soil types and of alkali in the Imperial 



area, in the Salton Basin, California 106 



IV. Relief map of California, showing the principal regions where dates 



can be grown 122 



V. Fig. 1. Fruiting date palms at Old Biskra, Algeria, with fig trees 

 growing underneath, August, 1902. Fig. 2. Date palms at Old 

 Biskra, Algeria; two large male trees at left 144 



VI. Fig. 1. Native gardeners ( Rouara) at Ourlana, Algeria, preparing date 

 offshoots for shipment by camel back. Fig. 2. Caravan loaded 

 with date palm offshoots for Arizona, starting from Ourlana north- 

 ward, May, 1900. Fig. 3. Final trimming of date offshoots at 



Algiers preparatory to shipment to America, June, 1900 144 



VII. Fig. 1. Flower cluster of male date palm just emerged from sheath 

 and letting pollen escape. Fig. 2. Three female flower clusters. 



Fig. 3. Male and female flowers of the date palm, magnified 144 



VIII. Fig. 1. Forest of old date palms at Biskra, Algeria, showing Arab 

 pollinating flowers. Fig. 2. Arab pollinating a date palm, Ramley, 

 Egypt, using a rope and broad belt in climbing. Fig. 3. Arabs 

 demonstrating the pollination of the date palm. Fig. 4. Cluster 

 of female flowers being tied together to hold the sprig of male 

 flowers in place 144 



IX. Deglet Noor dates from the Sahara Desert, natural size. Photo- 

 graphed at Washington two months after being picked 144 



X. Deglet Noor dates packed for the retail trade 144 



XI. Date palms growing in basin irrigated by flooding at Bedrachin, near 



Cairo, Egypt. September, 1902 144 



XII. Fig trees growing under partial shade afforded by date palms, oasis 



of Chetma, Algeria 144 



XIII. Arab climbing tall palm in a garden at Biskra, Algeria, to pollinate 



the flowers. May, 1900 144 



XIV. Fig. 1. Date palms growing without irrigation near Fougala, 



Algeria. Fig. 2. Shallow well used to irrigate date palms at 



Fougala, Algeria 144 



XV. Fig. 1. Very alkaline undisturbed Saharan soil at Fougala, Algeria; 

 young palms growing in pits. Fig. 2. Date palm in diseased con- 

 dition called "ineznoon," Fougala, Algeria *. 144 



XVI. Fig. 1. Young date palms growing on very alkaline soil at Chegga, 



Algeria. Fig. 2. Young date palms and alfalfa at Chegga, Algeria. 144 



9 



