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.