138 THE DATE PALM. 



EXTENT OF THE MARKET. 



The enormous quantities of dates imported into this country every 

 year are a measure of the extent of the market for the cheaper grades 

 of this fruit. The average value of the imports of dates was $402,762 

 per annum for the ten years ended June 30, 1900, and the following 

 table gives the quantities and values of imports during the last five 

 years, almost entirely from Bassorah and Maskat: . 



TABLE 46. Quantities and values of dates imported into the United States. 1 



1 Yearbook, Department of Agriculture, 1901. 



The value per pound is very low for these common dates, amounting 

 to 2.06 cents in 1900 and 2.02 cents in 1901. These values are those 

 invoiced at the port of export, and the dates probably sell at wholesale 

 for at least 50 per cent more at the receiving port. a 



Even at these prices it is probable that date culture would be profita- 

 ble if varieties that yield abundantly and regularly were planted on" 

 rich, naturally irrigated lands, and it is evident that the market is 

 practically unlimited if the cost of production can be kept low enough 

 to permit competition with the oriental dates. 



There exists already a large market for a date of superior quality, 

 suitable for household uses and for emplo3 7 ment in confectionery, 

 while the demand for the finest grades of Saharan Deglet Noor dates 

 far exceeds the supply even when they are sold for more than selected 

 Smyrna figs. American orders fora quarter of a million pounds have 

 been refused by the Algerian producers because the supply barely 

 suffices for the European demand. The consumption of these deli- 

 cious dates is certain to increase as their merits become better known; 

 they reach the same class of consumers as Smyrna figs, and like them 

 can be served as a dessert fruit which can be eaten without soiling the 

 lingers. At somewhat lower prices a practically unlimited market 

 would exist for Deglet Noor dates, and the American grower would 

 have the great advantage over his rivals in the Sahara of being able to 

 gather the crop in abundant time for the Holiday trade. 



Thus Mr. E. W. Maslin shows that while the average invoiced value of figs 

 imported into the United States is 5. 7 cents a pound, the prices brought by these figs 

 at auction sales in New York City range from 9 to 28 or 30 cents a pound. ( See Eisen, 

 G., The Fig, Bulletin 9, Division of Pomology, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture, p. 289.) 



