'Handbook of Mesopotamia. Vol. I. 1918' [‎180] (189/568)

180 AGEICULTUEE AND LAND TENURE
Shatt el-Arab district lies in the ease with which the plantations are
watered by the rise of the tide. The river-water reaches them through
creeks from which are cut side-channels intersecting the gardens.
The tree is raised from offshoots, which, where water is plentiful
and the soil good, develop rapidly and bear fruit within four or five
years. Early in April the blossom of the female palm, which is the
fruit-bearing tree, is fertilized by hand. The Arabs climb the trees
to insert a sprig of the pollen-bearing male blossom in the sheath
which contains the female flowers. About one month after fertiliza
tion the fruit forms ; it is partially ripe in August, and is sold in
the bazaars as food, but is not yet fit for preservation. In September
the fruit is fully ripe, and the clusters are then carefully cut off.
When required for local consumption the dates are spread on the
ground and left to dry for about a month. For export they are
sold damp to the date-brokers. A considerable importation of labour
takes place at the time of the date harvest; compounds
are established in the largest date gardens, and here the dates are
packed by the Arabs for export. The date crop is liable to suffer
from the effects of frost in winter and from excessive heat or drought,
and from hot winds in the summer which may cause the fruit to
fall before it is matured.
Many varieties of dates are grown in Irak ; of these
hhadrawis, sairs,se/ulis. and deris are exported. and
Ichadrawis are the best. (See further on the date trade pp. 214-15.)
The date-palm and its fruit are put to a number of uses in Irak.
The ripe fruit is one of the principal articles of food in the country,
while the windfalls are collected and are used either as human food
or as cattle-fodder. Araq is distilled from dates. The branches
of the date-palm are used for fuel and as material for furniture-
making, building, and fencing. The trunks are used for foot-bridges |
as well as in house-building. The fruit-stalks are made up into
brooms, the fibre into rope, and the leaves into matting.
Other Fruits. —In Irak common fruits are melons, water-melons,
pomegranates, oranges (in the northern part of the country), sweet
and sour limes, apricots, quinces, and grapes ; almonds, figs, citrons,
apples, nectarines, peaches, and plums are also grown. The mul
berry is cultivated in the Baqubeh district in connexion with the
silk industry.
In Arabistan pomegranates, figs, and grapes are widely dis
tributed ; limes, oranges, citrons, quinces, apples, pears, apricots,
plums, peaches, mulberries, water-melons, musk-melons, and almonds
are grown in various places. Oranges are said to do well in the Dizful
plain.