The soil was a deep and
rich alluvium, and was cultivated with the utmost care. It grew chiefly
wheat, barley millet, and sesame, which all nourished with wonderful
luxuriance. By a skilful management of the natural water supply, the
indispensable fluid was utilized to the utmost, and conveyed to every
part of the country. Date-groves spread widely over the land, and
produced abundance of an excellent fruit.

For the cultivation of the date nothing was needed but a proper water
supply, and a little attention at the time of fructification. The male
and female palm are distinct trees, and the female cannot produce fruit
unless the pollen from the male comes in contact with its blossoms. If
the male and the female trees are grown in proper proximity, natural
causes will always produce a certain amount of impregnation. But
to obtain a good crop, art may be serviceably applied. According to
Herodotus, the Babylonians were accustomed to tie the branches of
the male to those of the female palm. This was doubtless done at the
blossoming time, when it would have the effect he mentions, preventing
the fruit of the female, or date-producing palms, from falling off.

The date palm was multiplied in Babylonia by artificial means. It was
commonly grown from seed, several stones being planted together for
greater security; But occasionally it was raised from suckers or
cuttings. It was important to plant the seeds and cuttings in a sandy
soil; and if nature had not sufficiently impregnated the ground with
saline particles, salt had to be applied artificially to the soil
around as a dressing. The young plants needed a good deal of attention.
Plentiful watering was required; and transplantation was desirable at
the end of both the first and second year. The Babylonians are said
to have transplanted their young trees in the height of summer; other
nations preferred the springtime.

For the cultivation of grain the Babylonians broke up their land with
the plough; to draw which they seem to have employed two oxen, placed
one before the other, in the mode still common in many parts of England.
The plough had two handles, which the ploughman guided with his two
hands. It was apparently of somewhat slight construction. The tail rose
from the lower part of one of the handles, and was of unusual length.
[PLATE XXIV., Fig. 3.]

It is certain that dates formed the main food of the inhabitants, The
dried fruit, being to them the staff of life,