170 DATEGKOWING 



the variety of a date, particularly with specimens 

 which have been preserved so long as to have changed 

 their appearance. Furthermore, some date descrip- 

 tions are made from fruit taken directly off the tree 

 (which is the proper way) and others from fruit that 

 has been cured, and these naturally differ; the seed, 

 however, remains as an unchanged factor. Arabs 

 have long recognized the value of the seed for this 

 purpose, and one of the famous incidents of 

 Muhammad's military career relates to an expedition 

 which he made to cut off a caravan from Madina. 

 After some scouting, the tracks of a caravan were 

 crossed, but it was impossible to say whether that 

 was the one which they sought. Finally an Arab 

 dismounted and pursued the track a short distance 

 until he came upon some camel dung, in which he 

 found a date seed. He examined it a moment and said 

 without hesitation, "They have come from Madina." 

 The caravan was followed and captured.* 



In addition to the color and general outlines, the 

 position of the germ pore and the appearance of the 

 ventral channel should be noted. 



Every grower should know the dates of his own 

 plantation. If he has any good ones which cannot 

 be identified, he should make a careful description 

 of them, even if they are seedlings. It will always 

 serve as a check on accuracy in the future, when the 

 palm may have been propagated widely by means of 

 its offshoots. 



*Told in the famous classical encyclopedia of natural history, 

 Hayet al Hayw4nat. 



