DATE, and DATE-PALM (OF. date, data, datille, Fr. finite, from Lat. dactylus, Gk. SaKroXos, daktylos, finger. date; so called from the shape). The common (late of commerce is the fruit of the date-palm (Plarnix daetylifera). Besides this there arc several other whieh hear fruits of more or less value, lint none rank in impor tan•e with Pha•ix dactylife•a. 'this plant is a native of the southwest of Asia and the north ern half of Africa, finding its most congenial home and most extensive cultivation in Arid a. The plant is also cultivated in China, in France, Italy, and, very sparingly as yet, in the 'United States. California, however, promises to he conic a commercial date-producing section.
The date is borne on one of the tree-palms, although ninny of the representatives of the genus Phwnix are low-growing plants. The date-palm is a tree ranging front 40 to 100 feet in height, bearing a dense head of pinnated leaves several feet in length. The plant is diwcions, the staminate flowers being borne on one plant, while the pistillate ones are borne by another individual. This peculiarity is well understood by the natives, who cut ofF the stand nate flower (-lusters and place them in the pistillate trees to insure fertilization. Since each tree reproduces its sex in the sprouts or suckers front its base, date orchards or planta tions are made up of the young plants taken from the roots of hearing trees, with only a sufficient number of staminate plants to insure fertilization. The date enjoys a hot, bright, sunny situation, thrives on soils too alkaline for other vegetation, but must have water within reach of its roots. The hearing age is reached
in about eight years, and as the plants are long lived and frequently bear as much as 300 to 500 pounds of fruit in a season when at full bearing, they become enormously profitable; in fact, the date is the chief source of wealth for Arabia, and is used as the staple food by caravans cross ing the great desert. The ft-nit possesses a high food value, being chiefly composed of sugar, to gether with pectin, gum, and proteids. The fruit5 are eaten both fresh and dried. The seeds when roasted form a substitute for coffee. and when ground yield a valuable oil, as well as a pomace used as a cattle food. Beside these products the tree itself yields in its leaves materials for baskets and Nviekerwork ; the trunk yields a fibre from which twine and rope can be made; an edible Inn] known as 'palm cabbage' is produced at the crown of the tree. and the wood is used for fencing and for the construction of light shelter. Besides those economic uses, the date-palm has long figured conspicuously in religious services among Jews and Christians. as we]] as among pagans. The palm-tree of the Seripture is Pha-nix dactylifera, and Christ's triumphal entry into Jerusalem is to this day celebrated on Palm Sunday. It has other symbolic meanings: to the Ilebrews and Hellene.s it stood as the symlail of beauty and of victory. See Plate of