DATE CULTURE IN EGYPT AND THE SUDAN 
63 
THE HAYANY GROWTH CURVE 
The Hayany, the most numerous elate palm of Lower Egypt, 
makes a rapid height growth during its early years, though scarcely 
equaling that of the Amhat and Saidy, but its curve flattens rapidly 
after it is 40 or 50 years old, and few trees reach a height of 60 
feet (fig. 9, A-II). 
A tree 60 feet high growing near a shallow well in El Marg evi- 
dently had its roots in permanent soil water. It was reputed to be 
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Fig. 9.- — Diagram showing the comparative rate of growth of Hayany (o), Samany 
(8), and Zaglonl (Z) dates : A-7?=Average growth of 1 foot a year ; A-ff=average 
growth of Hayany ; 1 T -Z=average growth of Zaglonl ; os— Hayany trees in very 
sandy soil; oto= Hayany tree near a well (ground water near surface). The 
growth curve of the Hayany is shown as about keeping pace with the Amhat 
and Saidy up to 30 years of age and with the Saidy up to 50 years of age, after 
which the curve flattens rapidly, and very few of the Hayany trees were found 
more than 50 feet high. A small number of Zagloul trees which were measured 
indicates a growth vigor for this tree perhaps equaling that of the Amhat. Most 
of the Hayany trees were measured in the El Marg district and in Kerdaseh. 
Compare with Figure 8 
80 years old. On sandy ground east of El Marg a sample tree of a 
group reported as very old — 100 to 120 years — was only 54 feet high. 
A balady (seedling) tree grown under similar conditions and said 
to be of the same age was 67 feet high. This is strong circumstantial 
evidence, at least, that the slender trunk and shorter growth of the 
Hayany are varietal characteristics and not due to the rather light 
soil" of 'this neighborhood. In rather lean sandy soil near Kerdaseh 
two Hayany trees 51 feet 2 inches and 49 feet 3 inches high, respec- 
tively, were classed as being 100 years old. A Saidy tree growing- 
near and said to be of the same age was 43 feet 4 inches high, and 
two Amhat trees were 64 feet 9 inches and 66 feet, respectively. The 
Hayany has a trunk more slender than either of the other two 
