[MR] Good period farm news

[Nicholas S. Malone]

Source: World Entertainment News Network 

Israeli researchers have succeeded in growing a date palm from a 2,000 year
old seed. It was unearthed during an excavation of the ancient mountain
fortress of Masada 30 years ago (75) and is thought to be the oldest seed
ever germinated. 

Researchers in Jerusalem have managed to germinate the seed and grow it to a
30-centimetre (11.8 inch) high plant. The baby date palm has been nicknamed
Methuselah, after a biblical figure said to have lived for nearly 1,000
years. 

The researchers' achievement may turn out to be more significant than simply
bringing an ancient seed back to life. The discoverers of Methuselah have
now sent some of its leaves off for DNA analysis with the hope it might have
medicinal uses that are missing in modern cultivated varieties.
(ES/WNWCAAB/SC) 

(c) 2004 World Entertainment News Network