SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                          WASHINGTON, DC  20549

                               SCHEDULE 13D
                              (Rule 13d-101)

            INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN STATEMENTS FILED
                                PURSUANT
        TO RULE 13d-1(a) AND AMENDMENTS THERETO FILED PURSUANT
                                   TO
                              RULE 13d-2(a)

                          (Amendment No. 17)<1>

                          Dole Food Company, Inc.
                          -----------------------
                             (Name of Issuer)

                                Common Stock
                          -------------------------
                        (Title of Class of Securities)

                                 256605105
                                 ---------
                               (CUSIP Number)

                               Roberta Wieman
                           10900 Wilshire Boulevard
              Los Angeles, CA  90024 Telephone (310) 824-1023
              -----------------------------------------------
              (Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person
              Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications)

                               April 23, 1999
                               -------------
          (Date of Event Which Requires Filing of This Statement)

     If the filing person has previously filed a statement on
Schedule 13G to  report the acquisition that is the subject of
this Schedule 13D, and is filing this schedule because of Rule
13d-1(e), 13d-1(f) or 13d-1(g), check the following box. [  ]


     Note.  Schedules filed in paper format shall include a
signed original and five copies of the schedule, including all 
exhibits.  See Rule 13d-7(b) for other parties to whom copies 
are to be sent.


    (Continued on following pages)           (Page 1 of 9 Pages)

<1>  The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a
reporting  person's initial filing on this form with respect to
the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment
containing information which  would alter disclosures provided in
a prior cover page.

The information required on the remainder of this cover page
shall not be deemed to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 
of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934 ("Act") or otherwise 
subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall 
be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see 
the Notes).



CUSIP NO. 256605105                         Page 2 of 9

1      NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS
       I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON (ENTITIES ONLY)

       David H. Murdock

2      CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP:  (a) [ ]
                                                          (b) [x]
3      SEC USE ONLY

4      SOURCE OF FUNDS*
       PF, BK, WC, AF

5      CHECK IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS              [ ]
       IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(d) OR 2(e)

6      CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
       U.S.

       NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH
       REPORTING PERSON WITH:

       7       SOLE VOTING POWER
               13,164,862

       8       SHARED VOTING POWER
               None

       9       SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
               13,164,862

      10       SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
               None

      11     AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH
REPORTING
             PERSON
             13,460,774

      12     CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11)   [X]
             EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES<*>

      13     PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
             23.6%

      14     TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON<*>
             IN

<*>  See instructions before filing out!




CUSIP NO. 256605105                                Page 3 of 9

1    NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS
     I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON (ENTITIES ONLY)
     FLEXI-VAN LEASING, INC.

2    CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*  (a) [ ]
                                                        (b) [x]

3    SEC USE ONLY

4    SOURCE OF FUNDS
     BK, WC, AF

5    CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS           [ ]
     IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(d) OR 2(e)

6    CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
     DELAWARE

NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING
PERSON WITH:

     7     SOLE VOTING POWER
           1,240,310

     8     SHARED VOTING POWER
           NONE

     9     SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
           1,240,310

    10     SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
               NONE

11   AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

     1,240,310

12   CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11)          [x]
     EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES<*>

13   PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
     2.2%

14   TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON<*>
     CO


*SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT!

This Schedule 13D, as previously amended, relating to the Common 
Stock of Dole Food Company, Inc. ("Dole"), is hereby further amended 
with respect to the items set forth below.  This amendment is being 
filed to report the acquisition of 960,700 shares of Dole Common 
Stock by one of the Reporting Persons.


Item 5.     Interest in Securities of the Issuer.

Item 5 is hereby amended in its entirety by substituting the 
following:

On April 23, 1999, Dole had outstanding 57,049,786 shares of Common 
Stock, according to information provided by Dole as of such date.

Mr. Murdock has beneficial ownership of 13,460,774 (approximately 
23.6%) of the outstanding shares of Dole Common Stock.  Of such 
shares, 11,843,682 shares are held by Mr. Murdock as sole trustee 
of the Murdock Trust, and of those shares, 2,875,000 shares are 
pledged pursuant to the forward purchase contract described below.  
In accordance with Rule 13d-3(d)(1)(i), this computation of shares 
beneficially owned by Mr. Murdock includes 295,912 shares issuable 
upon exercise of Dole employee stock options, 1,240,310 shares 
(approximately 2.2% of the issued and outstanding shares of Dole) 
held by Flexi-Van, and 80,870 shares (less than 1% of the issued 
and outstanding shares of Dole) held by Mr. Murdock's sons.  As 
permitted by Rule 13d-4, Mr. Murdock disclaims beneficial ownership 
within the meaning of Sections 13(d) or 13(g) of the Securities 
Exchange Act of 1934 ("1934 Act") of the 80,870 shares of Dole 
held by his sons.

On August 8, 1996, Mr. Murdock, as sole trustee of the Murdock Trust, 
entered into an underwriting agreement for the sale  in an 
underwritten public offering of 2,875,000 shares of the Common 
Stock of Dole at $39.25 per share, less underwriting discount, 
fees and expenses.  A Registration Statement on Form S-3 with 
respect to such offering was filed with the Securities and 
Exchange Commission on July 10, 1996 and, as subsequently amended, 
was declared effective August 8, 1996.  The sale was consummated 
on August 14, 1996.  

On August 8, 1996, the Murdock Trust also entered into the Contract 
with the Dole Food Automatic Common Exchange Security Trust 
("Exchange Trust"), a trust not affiliated with Dole or Mr. Murdock, 
relating to the disposition of a maximum of 2,875,000 additional 
shares (subject to adjustment) ("Exchange Shares") of the Common 
Stock of Dole held by the Murdock Trust.

On August 14, 1996, the Exchange Trust completed a public offering 
of the Automatic Common Exchange Securities ("Traces TM/SM) and the 
Murdock Trust received $91,261,722 ($31.7438 per share), representing 
the price for the Contract before expenses and fees.  

The Contract requires delivery to the Exchange Trust on August 15, 
1999 ("Exchange Date") of a number of shares of Common Stock equal 
to the maximum amount of Exchange Shares of Common Stock subject 
to the Contract multiplied by the Exchange Rate, unless the Murdock 
Trust elects to pay the then current market price (as determined 
in accordance with the Contract, the "Current Market Price") of 
that number of Exchange Shares in cash to the Exchange Trust.  The 
Exchange Rate is equal to (i) if the then Current Market Price of 
the Common Stock is less than $47.125 per share (the "Appreciation 
Threshold Price") but equal to or greater than $39.25 per share 
(the "Initial Price"), an amount equal to the Initial Price divided 
by the then Current Market Price, (ii) if the then Current Market 
Price is equal to or greater than the Appreciation Threshold Price, 
 .8329 and (iii) if the then Current Market Price is less than the 
Initial Price, 1.0, subject in each case to certain antidilutive 
and similar adjustments.

The Murdock Trust retains the right to vote the Exchange Shares 
and receive dividends and other distributions on the Exchange Shares 
subject to the Contract during the term of the Contract.  The 
Exchange Shares have been pledged to secure the obligations of the 
Murdock Trust under the Contract.  The occurrence of certain 
defaults by the Murdock Trust under the Contract would cause the 
acceleration of the Contract and of the required delivery of the 
Exchange Shares (or other eligible collateral), cash or a 
combination thereof.  Under these arrangements, the Murdock Trust 
retains an interest in appreciation, if any, in the market price 
of the Exchange Shares above (but will not realize a decline, if 
any, in the market price of the shares below) the Initial Price.

The Murdock Trust holds 431,000 Traces TM/SM issued by the Exchange 
Trust (or approximately 14.9% of the outstanding Traces TM/SM 
issued by the Exchange Trust). 
 
All the transactions of the Reporting Persons in Dole Common Stock 
effected since the most recent filing on Schedule 13D (Amendment 
16 to this Statement filed April 7, 1999)  are described on 
Schedule B, which is incorporated herein by reference.  These 
purchases were effected through brokers on the New York Stock 
Exchange or in privately negotiated transactions.

Neither of the persons filing this Statement nor to the best of 
their knowledge any executive officer or director of Flexi-Van has 
any right in the next sixty days to acquire, directly or indirectly, 
any shares of Dole Common Stock, except under Dole employee stock 
options  referenced above or in Schedule A.  Neither of the persons 
filing this Statement nor to the best of their knowledge any of 
the executive officers or directors of Flexi-Van owns or has 
since March 15, 1999 effected any transactions in the Common Stock 
of Dole, except as described in Schedule A, filed with Amendment 
15 to this Schedule 13D, or Schedule B to this Amendment 17.
  
Mr. Murdock makes investment decisions and directs the voting 
of proxies relating to the Common Stock of Dole held by the 
Murdock Trust and Flexi-Van.  In view of the investment and 
voting power vested in him, Mr. Murdock should be deemed a 
beneficial owner for purposes of Section 13(d) of the 1934 Act 
of the securities so owned by the Reporting Persons.  The 
Reporting Persons disclaim any interest in or ownership of the 
shares held by the executive officers and directors of Flexi-Van 
whose interests were reported on Schedule A, filed with 
Amendment 15 to this Schedule 13D.

                         SIGNATURE



After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, 
I certify that the information set forth in the statement is true, 
complete and correct.

Dated this 23rd day of April, 1999.



/s/ David H. Murdock
- ---------------------                                    
David H. Murdock, as an individual and as 
Trustee of the David H. Murdock Living Trust, 
dated May 28, 1986, as amended



FLEXI-VAN LEASING, INC.



By:  /s/ David H. Murdock
     ---------------------   
     David H. Murdock, as Chairman of the Board and
     Chief Executive Officer of Flexi-Van Leasing, Inc.




                                   SCHEDULE B

                    LIST OF PURCHASES OF THE COMMON STOCK 
                                      OF 
                            DOLE FOOD COMPANY, INC. 
                                    BY THE 
                      DAVID H. MURDOCK LIVING TRUST

Date of Purchase         Number of Securities          Price per Security*
                                                 

4/7/99                   6,600**                       $30.000
                         1,000**                       $29.938
                         3,900**                       $29.875
                         5,900**                       $29.812
                         3,100**                       $29.750
                         4,600**                       $29.688
                         1,500**                       $29.625
                         2,000**                       $29.562
                           500**                       $29.513

4/23/99                766,600***                      $32.375
                       165,000***                      $32.000



*   exclusive of brokerage fees
**  open market purchase
***privately negotiated purchase