DATE CULTURE IN EGYPT AND THE SUDAN 45 
and the cut releases the numerous layers of the brown fibrous basal 
sheaths (Arabic, "leef"). This varies considerably in fineness 
and strength with the different varieties of dates and also with the 
soil and locality. An average of 26 piasters per kantar, or about 
$1.20 per hundredweight, was the best price at which this material 
could be bought on contract for several tons used in packing the 
date offshoots shipped to California. 
POLLINATION 
POLLINATION PRACTICES IN EGYPT 
In general, pollination practices in Eg} 7 pt correspond closely with 
those of other date-producing regions. As soon as the fruiting 
spathe is ruptured by the expanding flowers, or within a few days of 
this event, the gardener climbs the tree, taking with him a supply of 
strands cut from the male inflorescence, carried in a little flat-braided 
basket suspended by a cord in front of him. If the spathe is only 
ruptured the inflorescence is pulled out and a sprig of the male 
flowers tied in with a thread pulled from a leaflet within reach. 
A most unique and primitive method of pollination as practiced in 
Siwa Oasis, in the northern Libian Desert, is described by Belgrave 
(l,p.l57). He states: 
A branch (flower heart with stalk) is cut from the male date tree, whicb 
bears no fruit, sharpened, and thrust into the trunk of the female tree. Unless 
this is done to every tree, the fruit becomes small and worthless. 
In the development of artificial pollination to replace the wind 
pollination of natural seedling groves, nothing can be conceived of 
more primitive than this. 
In considerable plantations a regular round is followed, so that any 
given tree is reached only once in about three or four days. On the 
last round a fragment of leef the size of a pocket handkerchief is 
tied to a lower midrib in a conspicuous place to indicate that work 
on that tree is finished. 
An attempt to learn how long the flowers remained in a receptive 
condition elicited much difference of opinion. The limit of vitality 
was placed at from 5 to 8 clays, but the often-expressed opinion was 
that pollination was best at the day of opening and good for 3 or 4 
days after. About 20 trees is considered a day's work in pollinating 
trees 50 to 60 feet high, though sometimes not more than 15 trees are 
done. 
Pollination practices in the Sudan differ considerably from those 
observed in any other country. The use of the climbing girdle has 
apparently never been introduced. In spite of the crude methods of 
pruning, in which the persistent leaf bases are left long and as sharp 
as bayonets, young bo} T s climb the trees, without ropes or girdles, 
with the agility of monkeys. 
The native male spathes, some having already burst, others un- 
opened, are brought together in a sheltered spot and the flower heads 
removed from the " boat," as the Dongola natives call the spathe or 
casing, and the branchlets or " fingers " cut off with a sharp knife. 
The longer branchlets are cut in two. These pieces are made up in 
little bundles of three or four, along with a piece cut from the wall 
of the spathe, apparently to give stiffness to the bundle, and wrapped 
