'Lord Curzon's Notes on Persia' [‎574r] (1149/1386)

TEHRAN. 13
v
the works was said to be 180,000 tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. (about 60.000/.),
and a further large sum was required for agricultural operations.
The capabilities of the Lower Karun lands for date cultivation Date trade
are great, and are sure to attract planters soon. The date supply and cultiva-
keeps increasing year by year, and so does the demand: 60,000 tion
tons were exported last season from Busrah in ocean steamers and
coasting craft, 20,000 tons being sent out in boxes, the material
for which, in the form of 7,000 tons of cut lengths of wood, with
nails, oiled paper for inside wrapping, and iron hooping for out
side binding, all prepared for easy putting together, was imported
from England and elsewhere. The palm-leaf itself formed woven
bag and basket package coverings for 40,000 tons.
An acre of ground holds 100 trees. They bear fruit at five
years, and reach full fruition at seven. In a fairly good season a
tree in full bearing gives an average profit of 3 rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. , at which
rate the acre would return 207. a year. While the trees are
growing up, the ground, with the irrigation which they require,
yields a crop of wheat, clover, or grass, and later can be managed
to afford pasture, there being but little heavy shade thrown by
the feathery foliage above.
I was informed that the Sheikh Mizal of Mohamrah has lately Increase
planted about 30,000 trees, and that the total late increase of ofdateton
young date palms on Persian soil amounts to nearly 60,000. I
remember the Ainin-es-Sultan mentioned at Tehran, last spring,
that encouragement was being given by Government to date palm
cultivation in Arabistan, and what I heard at Mohamrah would
seem to bear this out.
It was interesting to hear of 160 varieties of dates said to be Many varieties
distinguishable in these palm districts by the native growers, by " 8 ‘
some difference or peculiarity in fruit or stone, leaf or stem. The
Arabs pay close attention to conditions of climate, soil, water, and
place, so as to cultivate the date to the best advantage.
I have given the profit on date cultivation in rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. , as my Indian rupee
informant spoke of it in that coin. This is explained by the fact rrtan
that the Indian rupee is current all over Arabistan. It is taken
and asked for in preference to Persian krans, which there are all
of the old currency, and the Arabs state as the reason of their
preference that a bad rupee is seldom seen, whereas they find
many false coins among the krans.
I have alluded to the Nasiri Company as developing into a The Nasiri
strong rival of the Messrs. Lynch in Karun navigation. It is company a
believed that the company has a good backing at Tehran. Mr. Neagro
Taylor, the manager of the Messrs. Lynch’s Karun business, is Lynch's,
well aware of the growing strength of the Nasiri Company, and
it is said that efforts and offers have been made by the Muayin-
ut-Tujjar towards amalgamation with Messrs. Lynch. But the
point at issue is control. Mr. Taylor very wisely objects to any
arrangement which does not give him, for Messrs. Lynch, full
working control.
It is to be hoped that the partnership may be effected, and Combined
that, eventually, the new Road Company may join to make one ransporriver
company