PREFACE 



Although dates have been the object of culture 

 for several thousand years, it is still too early to 

 write a complete account of the industry. At no 

 time in history has their cultivation been undergoing 

 more change than at present. A year gives us an 

 entirely new aspect of a problem; a month, even, 

 may cause us to revise our views respecting some 

 part of it. 



Accordingly, I am aware that this book can not 

 be considered final. It aims only to present a practi- 

 cal exposition of the methods of growing the date, 

 as they are understood in the Old World and in 

 the United States today; in six months more some 

 phase of the work might need to be presented 

 in an entirely different way. 



Nevertheless, it is hoped that the volume may be 

 of service to the men who are actually engaged in 

 building up an industry that is certain to be one 

 of the largest fruit enterprises in Cahfornia and 

 Arizona. There is nothing else in print that covers 

 the ground. The material for the present volume 

 has been gathered during two years of travel in the 

 most famous date-growing regions of the Orient, on 

 behalf of the West India Gardens of Altadena, Cali- 

 fornia. In addition to my own study of cultural 

 methods in the United States, I have had the advan- 

 tage of assistance from all the men best qualified to 

 help me, and I am glad to have this opportunity 

 of publicly thanking them. References throughout 

 the book indicate the extent of my indebtedness. It 



