i4 o>- THE MANUFACTURE OF DATE SUGAR. 



^eady for planting out in the following April or Ma}*-, after the first showers 

 of the season have moistened the ground sufficiently. Before the date 

 sugars became important as a staple for export, and the cultivation extended, 

 the trees were seldom seen planted elsewhere than along the hedge-rows or 

 boundaries of the fields, or on other spots where they did not interfere with 

 the growth of cereals or other field crops. Gradually as date produce 

 became more valuable, systematic plantations appeared, and fields were set 

 with trees ten and fifteen feet apart, but without much regard to order or 

 regularity of distance. After planting, no manuring or further expense was 

 incurred, except, perhaps, in supplying fresh plants in place of those 

 destroyed by cattle. 



The spaces between the trees are generally occupied by oil-seed or other 

 dry weather crops, and thus the cost of a native plantation is reduced, 

 whilst the trees benefit by the ploughing, which loosens the earth, and the 

 ground is kept free from weeds. 



At the expiry of the fifth year from the planting of the young tree in 

 the field, it is ready to be tapped for its juice. This is the average time 

 allowed, though it may be varied a year sooner or later by the difference 

 of soil and climate. The first year a young tree is tapped, it is reckoned 

 to yield only half the usual quantity of juice produced by a full-grown 

 tree ; for the second year of tapping it is reckoned to yield three-fourths of 

 full average quantity ; and it is not till the third year of bearing that it is 

 considered as in full yield. 



The process of tapping and extracting the juice commences about the 

 first of November. Some days previously the lower leaves of the crown 

 are stripped off all round, and a few extra leaves from the side of the tree 

 intended to be tapped. On the part thus denuded a triangular incision is 

 made with a knife about an inch deep, so as to penetrate through the cortex, 

 and divide the sap vessels ; each side of the triangle measuring about six 

 inches, with one point downwards, in which is inserted a piece of grooved 

 bamboo, along which the sap trickles, and from thence drops into an 

 earthen pot suspended underneath it by a string. The pots are suspended 

 in the evening, and removed very early the following morning, ere the sun 

 has sufficient power to warm the juice, which would cause it immediately to 

 ferment, and destroy its quality of crystallising into sugar. 



A plantation is always divided by the cultivator into seven equal sections, 

 and one such section is cut afresh daily. The cutting is made in the after- 

 noon, and the pot suspended as above mentioned. Next morning the pot 

 is found to contain, from a full grown tree, ten seers of juice, the second 

 morning four seers, and the third morning two seers of juice ; the quantity 

 exuding afterwards is so small, that no pot is suspended for the next four 

 days. On the evening of the seventh day it again comes to the turn of 

 this section of trees to be cut, which is effected by a thin slice being pared 

 from the triangular face, which, by again dividing the sap vessels, causes the 

 juice to flow afresh as at first. Each section is thus cut in succession, and 

 the process is repeated throughout the goor season, which usually ter- 



