PROFITS OF DATE GROWING 175 



countries; a yield of 250 pounds for Birket al Hajji 

 in Arizona is not considered exceptional. 



In the Sudan the average yield, according to 

 official returns,* is 160 pounds. 



Indian palms are so closely crowded, as many as 

 139 being set to the acre, that they do not get a 

 chance to do well; yet even under these circumstances 

 Milne estimates the average yield at from 40 to 120 

 pounds, while Bonavia says the average in the district 

 of Multan is 160 pounds. 



All of these estimates are the work of trained 

 scientific observers. When we turn to the Arabs 

 we cannot feel the same confidence, but I have checked 

 up their estimates in many districts and believe I 

 have reached correct figures. 



At Baghdad, a palm which yields less than 100 

 pounds a year is considered a very shy bearer indeed. 

 Khustawi, for instance, is so considered; but even 

 with the lax Arab methods of cultivation it averages 

 from 75 to 125 pounds, while a crop of 300 pounds 

 on Zahidi or Barban is quite ordinary. Conditions 

 are about the same at Busreh and in Oman; I would 

 put 150 pounds as the average yield of a good palm. 



What can be done elsewhere can certainly be 

 done in the United States. Any one can find out 

 from the growers what their average yields are, and if 

 he does so, I am satisfied that he will admit that the 

 figure of 100 pounds is very reasonable. 



Of course, exceptional yields can sometimes be 

 found. A crop of 500 or 600 pounds is not rare among 

 Arabs, and has been closely approached, if not equaled, 

 in America. If we could secure some of the religious 



*Report from gov. genl. of Sudan to gov. genl. of Queensland, 

 in Queensland Agr. Journal, vol. XXVII, p. 131, Sept. 1911. 



