Page 223 - Bahrain Gov Annual Reports (I)_Neat

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anu unless the crop is severely damaged by locusts there should
bo double the amount of dates in 1350 than there were in 1349.

/he present local consumption of dates exceeds the amount that
zve grown in Bahrain so the indie try is one to be encouraged.
..n
INCREASE OF CULTIVATION. Since it has been possible to obtain
772;ter by boring artesian wells, in certain parts of Bahrain,

the area under cultivation has increased, Several local mer-
ch: nts and some members of the Ruling Family have acquired
ground or used ground which they previously owned and by sinking

veils they have been able to increase their date gardens.
H. E. Shaikh Earned recently obtained a very large supply cf
772 ter by boring a well at Seddad, on the coast west of Mansmah.

- considerable crea of ground has been planted by him with date
trees and lucfrne but a great deal of water is still running to
vEste into the sea. About 4500 young dote trees, for planting,

'ere imported into Bahrain during the first 9 months of 1349
*nd also a selection of other fruit trees which were purchased
by private owners.
The government endeavoured to buy several hundred trees

from Rustum farm, Ber-.aad, but unfortunately they no longer
supply them and so far none hove been obtcined.
SEKIAN GARDEN E. E. Shaikh Earned has arranged for one of

bis finest gardens, which contains over 2000 date trees and which
is conveniently situated close to the town of Ixnaraah, to be
managed by Hr. Said Abdul Nour.

Experiments are being carried out in pruning and manuring on
•~e lines followed in Iraq and other countries««
The manuring of date trees is a thing unknown in Bahrain and

*-9 local cultivators regard the experiment with much suspicion,
iey are aggressively conservative and dislike innovations which
entail in the future an-increase of work.

The system is that of trenches round the base of the trees
rUch are filled with rich old manure. It is hoped that suc-