49 
many dates as possible by the comparatively fair prices which 
won obtained last year for the first arrivals of dates in London, 
while they seemed either to forget, or fail to take into considera- 
tion, the considerable quantity remaining ond from last T 8 
shipments. So eager and impetuous were some of the min 
native shippers to obtain as many dates as they could that, it is 
related, they have parted with their wives' jewellery even in 
their hot haste to secure as much profit as possible. But looking 
at the state of the date market in Lo ign which has already 
been adverted to above, there would s em to be very little 
room for doubt that many will repent their rash and ill-judged 
Er gren 
It may be gen nerally said that the culture of the date palm in 
the Turkish province of Bussorah has steadily increased since 
the packing of dates in boxes for export to the United Kingdom 
and America was started, which is about 15 years ago. fi the 
year 1896 the greater part of the country was inundated by 
unprecedented floods, in which it is reported over a million diis 
alms were destroyed ; these trees, it is believed, have been all 
replaced by young €Ó but still it will take 6 to 10 years before 
the latter produce fruit in any quantity. The high prices which 
h 
culture of the date palm receives from the t g care, 
attention, and expenditure of capital in manuring and irrigation, 
which is not the case with land under any other form of produce. 
Tt may be interesting to note that one of the uses to iine the 
date has been applied is the manufacture of vinegar. mpany 
was formed for the hed east but es is no information avaliable 
as to its success or other It n owore to have affected 
no appreciable danori in as denna for 
Until France imposed a dE pene duty, dais i in baskets used 
to be imported into that country for distilling pe At 
present she imports an inconsiderable amount of date 
It might be worth while giving the date a iria for making 
whisky, as “arak,” the cheap native liquor of the country, is dis- 
tilled exclusively from dates. 
may be observed that the date business of Bussorah 
does not pret very bright prospects, although British rasis 
employed in it has shown, and may show this year, good returns ; 
nevertheless, there are circumstances connected with it, briefly 
touched upon in this memorandum, which demand the considera- 
tion of the British firms, and which may detrimentally and per- 
manently influence their share in it. 
The consumption of dates — to have been on the decline, 
for which there may be many reasons, but perhaps it may 
primarily ascribed to other dried fruits, such as currants, raisins, 
and figs, ep dose at a cheaper rate, and it would terelie 
see istake to bolster up the price of dates by combi- 
nations bids will certainly not tend to augment the demand for 
them. The large rper shipments serve only to glut as hen. 
gae no signs of an increasing demand are appare The 
and for dates must be dependent to a very piel Pas 
idus on the supply and price of other dried fruits, and it 
16781 ee 
