57 

 small hollows where the rain water would collect and play 

 round them, but too much of It would kill them. Planting 

 should be done three yards apart each way . Pits In vifhich they 

 are planted should be manured at the end of each season and 

 the ground ploughed up before and after the rainy season until 

 they are fairly well grown up. Each palm before it enters 

 Into Its full adult stage throv/s up about 50 to 20 shoots which 

 mair be detached and transplanted. One per cent of male trees 

 for fecundating purposes would be quite enough. But male and 

 female trees should be grown indisciminately where obtaining 

 juice is the only object. If after planting the trees are 

 left untouched for seven years, good healthy trees may be 

 expected. When the tree is ripe the process of tapping 

 begins, and it is continued each year thereafter. There are 

 In the date palm two series, or stories, as it vvere, of 

 leaves ; the crown leaves, which rise straight out from the 

 top of the trunk, being, so to speak, a continuation of it ; 

 and the lateral leaves, which spring out of the side of the 

 top part of the trunk. When the rainy season is completely 

 passed, and there is no more fear of rain^ the cultivator cuts 

 off the leaves for one-half of the circumference, and thus 

 leaves bare a surface measuring about ten ot twelve inches 

 each way. This surface is at first a brilliant white, but 

 becomes by exposure quite brown, and puts on the appearance of 

 coarse matting. The surface thus laid bare is not the Vsroody 

 fiber of the tree, but is a bark formed of many thin layers, 

 and it is these_*layers which thus c?iange their color and texture. 



