DATE, 
parts of ersia, Arabia, and even in Spain. The latter 
country, however, is not sufficiently warm to ripen the 
fruit in perfection, without the constant labour of the 
cultivator. He is obliged to ascend the trees, from 
time to time, to examine the flowers and turn them 
towards the sun. This is chiefly done in the spring of 
the year; and, during the month of August, another 
and much more dangerous operation is requisite, 
namely, to tie all the branches into one bundle, and 
cover them over with broom. To make this bundle, 
the person employed is obliged to leap, as it were, over 
the flexible branches, for the purpose of surrounding 
and uniting them with a cord. This operation over, he 
places a ladder at the bottom of the tree, on which he 
stands to make a second band ; he then places his lad- 
der on this second band, ascends and ties the top with 
a third cord. His bundle being formed, he throws 
down his instruments, replaces his ladder by a grada- 
tion contrary to the former, and descends, from band 
to band, to the stem of the tree, down which he slides 
to the bottom. 
Among the Africans and Egyptians the date con- 
stitutes a principal article of food, and, as such, it is 
considered both wholesome and nutritive. Its name is 
a word, formed of dacte or dactylus, implying a finger, 
from an imaginary resemblance which this fruit has to 
the end of the finger. Although dates, in general, are 
of yellowish colour, some are black, some white, and 
others brown : some also are sweet, and others bitter. 
The best are called royal dates, and are imported into 
this country from Tunis. 
Each tree produces ten or twelve bunches of fruit, 
which, when gathered, are hung up in a dry place, un- 
til so much of their moisture is evaporated as to allow 
of their being packed in boxes for exportation. 
Nearly ail the parts of the date-tree are useful. The 
wood, though of spongy texture, is employed for the 
beams and rafters of houses, and Tor implements of 
husbandry, which are said to be very durable. The 
