388 



[November, 1912. 



This unique requirement of date culture with regard to water lies at 

 the root of all the failures to extend its cultivation in India, as will be 

 pointed out later," 



On the subject of sunshine and temperature we read : " The require- 

 ments of the date palm in regard to temperature are very peculiar as, 

 when in a dormant condition it is not injured by temperatures as low as 

 20°F., while no upward limit to its endurance has been found. Indeed, 

 extremely high temperature is absolutely necssary to enable it to ripen 

 its fruit and neither flowers nor fruit are formed unless the mean 

 temperature rises above 6f*5°F. If the mean temperature for the fruiting 

 season (May to October) is above 70°F. and for one month at least above 

 80°F., early varieties of dates will ripen fruit, but for the moderately late 

 varieties the.'-e temperatures must be above 75°F. and 85°F. respectively, 

 and for best and latest 84°F. and 94°F. Further, not only are these 

 temperatures in the shade necessary, but the tree must be exposed to 

 the direct rays of the sun and will not grow under the shade even when 

 young." 



The question as to whether date planting would be profitable on 

 our low dry country must be considered an open one. There is no in- 

 stance as far as we aware of successful date growing on a plantation scale 

 so near the equator, but yet certain favourable conditions would seem 

 to be present and available which warrant a trial ; e g., heat, dryness 

 (in certain parts), irrigation. Does the temperature drop low enough for 

 the tree to ha ve a period of rest ? Is a period of rest necessary for success ? 

 These are two questions that require clearing up. 



THE NEW YORK RUBBER EXHIBITION 



The Exhibition held in New York from September 23rd to October 3rd 

 last is the third International Rubber and Allied Trades Exhibition. 



It is to the credit of Ceylon that the very first Exhibition specially 

 devoted to Rubber was held at Peradeniya in 15J06 when Sir Henry A. 

 Blake was Governor. The India Rubber World, referring to it says :— 

 " Who will deny that the seed sown has germinated and fructified in the 

 immense extension which has since marked the rubber industry ?" 



Then followed the London Exhibition of September 1908— the first of 

 the International Series. The second was also held in London in 1911, 

 In the case of the present, as of past exhibitions, the Organising Manager 

 is Mr, A. Staines Mander, who is ably assisted by his Secretary Miss D. 

 Fulton. 



The Commissioner for Ceylon at the New Yoi k Exibition is Mr. F. 

 Crosbie Roles, Editor of the "Times of Ceylon," who, though a journalist 

 by profession, has placed himself inclose touch with the planting industry 

 of the Island. Mr. Roles was one of the Commissioners at the St. Louis 

 Exhibition in 1904, and has visited the States on several other occasions, 

 so that he is well acquainted with the interests of the American people. 

 The Ceylon section, which is illustrative of Kandyan architecture, w ill 

 fully demonstrate the details of growing, gatheiing and preparing rubber 

 as carried on in this Colony. 



The programme of events in connection with the Exhibition promises 

 to provide a feast of information which, when printed and published, 

 should prove of great utility to all those interested in the industry who 

 had not the opportunity of being piesouo ac the conferences and dis- 

 cussions, 



