48 BULLETIN 1457, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
RAIN INJURY AND VARIATION IN FLOWERING PERIOD 
The Delta region of Egypt and the Nile Valley as far as upper 
Giza Province are subject to occasional cold, drizzly spring rains, 
and nothing is more dreaded by the date grower than their occur- 
rence at the time when his date trees are in full bloom. 
There is considerable difference in the flowering period of differ- 
ent varieties, so that in a mixed garden the pollination of one may 
fail, and another variety may escape the unfavorable weather and 
set a full crop. Around El Marg the Amri is one of the earliest 
varieties to bloom, but not far ahead of the Hayany. In the upper 
Giza country the Amhat is the earliest variety to flower, the 
Hayany next, and the Saidy several days later. The young trees of 
a variety are said to be usually some days later in flowering than 
the old ones. 
Trees that did not fruit the previous year are expected to flower 
several days earlier than those of the same variety that bore a 
good crop. As one gardener put it, " When trees have a good 
rest, they are ready to begin work earlier the next year." 
The progress of the seasons in different latitudes is a well-marked 
feature in date pollination. In the region of Merowe and Korti, 
in Dongola Province, date pollination was in full swing by Feb- 
ruary 15, 1925, and more than half completed by March 1. At 
Wacli Haifa, from March 4 to 6, pollination was decidedly more 
backward than at Merawi. At Cairo, from April 3 to 5, pollina- 
tion was about as far advanced as it was at Merowe on March 1 
and 2 ; that is, 15 degrees of latitude, or about 1,000 miles, made an 
approximate difference of one month in date-palm flowering. 
In the Giza district there is a considerable scarcity of male 
trees, and male flower heads are a staple commodity commanding 
fair prices, according to the standards for other articles. 
CUTTING MALE SPATHES BEFORE OPENING 
Fayum, with its prevalent growth of balady, or seedling, trees. 
is a reliable source of supply of pollen, and small rail-truck loads 
of the plump but unopened spathes may be seen unloading at the 
sidings of Bedrashen and El Hawamdiya during the pollinating 
season. 
A very important detail in pollination practice is here brought to 
light. The flowers are not allowed to remain on the trees until they 
burst the spathe and are fully open, as is the American practice, 
but the spathes are cut when they are nearly matured, before the 
bursting point has been reached. The proper degree of maturity 
can be judged by the degree of plumpness the spathes have attained 
and by the appearance of the " erion," or wool, on the surface 
When the spathes are cut at the right stage, the pollen is sufficiently 
matured to be fully efficient; yet, excepting a few which may split 
open on the way, there is no waste from discharge, and a lot of 
spathes can be transported considerable distances, as, for example, 
from Fayum to Bedrashen or El Hawamdiya, about as readily 
as the same weight of onions or cabbage. When the spathes have 
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