0. I'. W. Collection. Plate CX 



Phoenix dactylifcra. 



THE DATE PALM. 



The date, which is a native of North Africa, Arabia, and Per- 

 sia, is a noble palm, often growing to a height of from 80 to 100 

 feet. It is of remarkable longevity, and will continue to produce 

 fruit even at the age of a hundred years. The neighborhood of 

 the sea is considereed unfavorable to their production, although 

 they will luxuriate in satlish soil and bear well when brackish 

 water is used. 



Many varieties of dates exist, the fruit differing in shape, size 

 and color. They will grow from seeds, although the superior 

 varieties can be continued only from off-shoots of the root. These 

 will commence to bear in five years. In Asia, the growers of the 

 commercial date find it necessary to pollinate artificially by hang- 

 ing sprays of the male flowers in the branches of the fruit-bear- 

 ing trees. There are no imported trees bearing in Hawaii, and 

 although there are many date trees in Honolulu, artificial pollina- 

 tion would doubtless greatly increase the )neld and the quality of 

 the fruit. 



