. Date culture in Southern California. Date palm. 17. Imported Palm fruiting in California, 1912. results because five carloads of manure have been put in it during the last few years. Of course, the date will yield results proportionate to the good soil and good care it gets, just as other fruits will. The palm is not at all discouraged by the presence of a slight amount of alka- linity in the soil. Some years ago it was held to succeed better in a salty ground than in a clean one. but many growers are beginning to doubt this and to hold that, while it is remarkably tolerant of alkali, it wil
. Date culture in Southern California. Date palm. 17. Imported Palm fruiting in California, 1912. results because five carloads of manure have been put in it during the last few years. Of course, the date will yield results proportionate to the good soil and good care it gets, just as other fruits will. The palm is not at all discouraged by the presence of a slight amount of alka- linity in the soil. Some years ago it was held to succeed better in a salty ground than in a clean one. but many growers are beginning to doubt this and to hold that, while it is remarkably tolerant of alkali, it will give the best results in the best surroundings. How- ever that may be, it is certain that a small amount of salt in the ground is no hindrance to successful culture, and that dates can even be grown after a fashion in soil that is too alkaline to produce anything else. The station at Tempe, for instance, is so salty that weeds will not grow in the garden, and there is practically nothing, aside from the dates, except a few unhappy pome- granates. The salt on the surface is the thickest, and of course it does the least harm here, but the fact that the palms will grow at all in such surround- ings speaks well for their resistance. Anyone who contemplates establish- ing dates in an alkaline soil should in- vestigate it thoroughly to a depth of six or eight feet. If there is a good layer of soil which does not contain more than one per cent of salt, the date roots will spread out in this layer, and the palm will thrive even though there should be a surface layer, or several other layers, that are much more alka- line. If there is not a body of soil with less than one per cent of alkali, it is useless to plant dates and hope for good results. Those who intend to make commercial plantings can not be too strongly advised to select land that is as rich and clean as possible, for their results will be proportionately better. One often hears a rancher say, "I've got a piece of gro
Size: 2048px × 1220px
Photo credit: © Central Historic Books / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookauthorjamesgeo, bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, bookyear1912
