132 DATEGROWING 



care, and a narrow space left down the middle of the 

 box, lengthwise, in which a piece of one of the slender 

 branches of the date cluster is placed, so that the 

 effect, on opening the box, is that of dates still attached 

 to the branch. A minute's inspection of any well- 

 packed Algerian or American dates will show the 

 method of packing, and the packer's success with it 

 depends solely on his own neatness and good taste 

 and the quality of his materials. The oiled paper 

 should be folded over the top of the dates, before the 

 cover is put on. If one wishes to sell dates at $1.00 

 a pound, there must be nothing about the package 

 that is not first-class, and the grower has plenty of room 

 to show his artistic skill in providing a suitable label. 



There remains the marketing of dates in bunches, 

 a feature of the industry that, I believe, will have an 

 important future for those date-growing regions 

 which are conveniently near to a market, and in the 

 case of suitable varieties, such as Zahidi in the stage 

 which Baghdadis call "kursi." Deglet Niir and 

 Yatimeh also hang well on the cluster, and are much 

 sold in that condition in the Algerian markets; so do 

 many other varieties, if they are properly handled. 

 For this purpose as large a cluster as possible should 

 be selected, and all spoiled or immature dates picked 

 off. If it is placed in the grocer's window, properly 

 protected from flies, and if the dates are really good, 

 few customers can resist purchasing. A large bow of 

 ribbon on the stem of the cluster would add to the 

 attractiveness of the display. 



By the use of artificial ripening, it is possible that 

 clusters of dates which mature evenly could be shipped 

 while still firm, even to a distant market, and ripened 

 on their arrival, before being exposed for sale. 



