330 FOBEST TBSXS. 



pursued in the adjoinihg districts of B. Gariarai 

 Krishna, and Cochin. The leaves of the tree ari 

 plaited into useful mats, and the spadix of' the feiuale 

 flower, cut at a certain stage of growth, forms d 

 good chunam brush. 



Cultivation.— It is an axiom in this province that 

 the presence of Ichalu in a healthy condition is a 

 sure indication of good land, and as a matter* of fact 

 the species has never been known to succeed on bad 

 land. ' A good depth of alluvial silt on a porous 

 subsoil, is generally looked upon as the best medium 

 for the successful cultivation of this industrial palm. 

 The species is reproductive from seed, and the 

 latter germinate freely under artificial treatment 

 also. In forming groves, plant at 12 — 15 feet 

 apart. 

 596 PhcEnix dactylifera, Linn. Kan. Kurjopra, Khar- 



jura. 



References.— 5raw(^. Jor. Fl. 552. Diet: of Econ, 



Prod, oflnd. 



The Arabian date palm. A number of superior 



varieties and several bags of seeds were imported 



from the Persian Gulf districts in 1 885. Subsequent 



cultivation at the Lal-Bagh and a few provincial 



centres proved fairly satisfactory ; but the experience 



thus gained points to the probability that Mysore is 



too far removed from the date, zone to offer special 



facilities for more than an ornamental growth of 



this useful palm. The trees in the Botanical i&ardens 



have grown fairly well, and have been productive of 



offsets, but none of them have flowered. The 



species is established in North-West India, Sind, 



and is under cultivation at Saharanpur, Lucknow, 



Hyderabad, and other important centres. IJhder 



the most favourable conditions of growth, the date 



palm is a magnificent tree of 100 feet and upwards. 



It differs from the wild date tree in throwing put 



numerous offsets. 



