62 BULLETIN 1457, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
The growth rate of the Saidy date (Sewi in Giza) differs in a 
very marked way from that of the Amhat. Up to 20 years of age 
the two varieties, often planted in mixed gardens, hold close to- 
gether, both growing with great vigor. At 25 to 30 years the Saidy, 
although no less vigorous, falls rapidly behind the Amhat in height 
gains, but is notable for its sturdy trunk and splendid crown of long 
outcurved leaves. (PL 2 and pi. 9, B.) 
The difference in growth is shown in Figure 8, A-X and AS. 
In the columns of 100-year and 120-year trees man} 7 of the indi- 
viduals of the two varieties were growing in the same gardens 
and were said to be of the same age. It will be noted that the 
greater number of the Saidy trees reported to be 100 years old were 
between 45 and 55 feet in height, while the Amhat at the same age 
ranged between 65 and 80 feet. Only four Saidy trees were found 
of the extreme age measuring 60 feet or over, the' highest record 
being 61 feet 10 inches for a tree near the little village of Uram 
Khanan. 
A very significant supplemental curve (A—jS') is shown in Figure 8 
for the Saidy from plotting the mean growth of about 30 trees found 
either in sandy land (marked s) or extra salty land (marked st). 
Contrary to the usual impression in America that date palms prefer 
a somewhat alkaline soil, the best palms in Giza Province were ob- 
served on land of fine quality, capable of producing good crops of 
grain or sugar cane. Date palms were seen growing and producing 
remunerative crops on land too salty for profitable general agricul- 
ture and on heavy land showing strong salt efflorescence and need- 
ing drainage, but such trees were not at their best. The Saidy in the 
Kerdaseh district on rather thin sandy land furnished the speci- 
mens marked s. Here the factor of water scarcity may also play 
a part. This strip of country is above the line of gravity canals 
but in one of the few remaining flood-basin districts. During the 
dry season the trees are watered rather scantily from wells. 
In a section a few miles west and northwest of Cairo, generally 
in crop cultivation but with many scattered palm gardens, some of 
the oldest Saidy trees in the valley are found. On the better soils 
they have reached the maximum height for their age, but where the 
soil is strongly salty the falling off in height is very marked. As 
an example : At El Baragil, in heavy salty land, 3 average Saidy 
trees of a group of 17 said to be about 100 years old measured 42 
feet 9 inches, 46 feet 7 inches, and 43 feet, with Amhat trees near 
by, said to be of the same age, running to 72 feet 5 inches. At El 
Maatemdiyeh. in a group of trees estimated to be from 100 to 120 
years old, on heav} 7 salty land, sample trees ran to 40 feet 7 inches, 
39 feet 7 inches, 41 feet 6 inches, 38 feet 11 inches, 42 feet 2 inches, 
and 45 feet 9 inches. The best Amhat tree near bv reached 68 
feet. 
From these figures it may be inferred that the Saidy is more sen- 
sitive than the Amhat to alkali in the soil. In general, the Saidy 
appears to suffer more from advanced age than the Amhat, and it 
may prove to be a somewhat shorter lived tree, though generally 
trees up to 75 years of age were still bearing well. 
