70 SEEDS AND PLANTS [MPOETED. 



lence of the dates of Sukkot and says that the merchants of Merowe brought commodi- 

 ties in exchange for them, their own country having but few dates and those of bad 

 quality. Dongola Province is now the great date-producing region, and the people 

 are alive to the value of the offshoots and are planting every one they can get. offering 

 none for sale. The great source of supply is the Sukkot country, already mention' 1 1 

 where the industry has declined from the going out of the young men and on account 

 of the difficulties of transportation. The three important varieties recognized in both 

 districts are Barakawi, Gondeila, and Bentamoda." 



36818. "Bentamoda. No. 1. The find which is worth the whole journey 



is the Bentamoda, a Sukkot variety which is very rare. A man of consequence 

 may have two or three trees. The gift of an off shoot to a friend is a mark of dis- 

 tinction. I was at once told by both Governor Jackson and his head gardener 

 that one could not by any means go out and buy a stock of these. I really 

 think the Bentamoda variety ranks with the Deglet Noor and Menakhcr. The 

 stone is small and clean, and the fruit has the appearance and flavor to give it a 

 place in the first rank. It was learned from the Omda of Aswan that the Barta- 

 moda, or Suhhota, of which a few trees may be found near Aswan, is identical 

 with this variety, the first name being a modification of Bentamoda and the 

 second givenin reference to the district from which the offshoots were obtained . 

 Aaronsohn secured a few offshoots under the name 'Bartamoda' in 1911." 



36819. "Bentamoda. No. 2." 



36820. "Bentamoda. No. 3." 



36821. "Bentamoda. No. 4." 



36822. "Bentamoda. No. 5." 



36826. "Barakawi is the great food staple and export date and is said to reach 

 Cairo under the name Ibrimv, though there may be a distinct variety of this 

 name. It is 2 J inches long or longer, narrow, tapering from base to apex; dull 

 purplish red; it dries bone hard, but is sweet and of a wheaty flavor; said to 

 resist the weevil and to keep two or three years. The people say that these 

 dates put in a tightly closed vessel of water a day or two become as good as 

 fresh dates and that the water makes a very pleasant drink. Governor Jackson 

 informs me that this date is much sought as a food supply by pilgrims jour- 

 neying to Mecca, on account of its excellent carrying and keeping qualities." 



36827. "The Gondeila (as these people have it), or Jendila, is an oblong or 

 oval, blocky date, antimony yellow (Ridgway, xv), ripening to a chestnut 

 brown. It is a semidry date as it ripens, but exposed to the sun for two 

 hours each day it is made quite dry. It must, however, be carefully guarded 

 against weevils. It reaches Cairo only on special orders or as presents. It 

 is one of the varieties offered to guests as a sweet. When sold, an ardeb of 

 320 pounds brings here about 154 piasters (a piaster is about 5 cents'). This 

 variety is worth importing and is common enough, so that a fair supply can 

 probably be obtained." 



36828. "Kulma. A very soft, sticky date when first mature, but becomes 

 firmer when cured in the sun. The fruit is 2\ to 2^ inches long and 1 \ to 1| 

 inches broad; dull yellow, ripening to a rather dull, unattractive brown. 

 The skin is a bit thick and the flesh soft and rich, but with a lot of tough rag. 

 It is a date worth trial, but not equal to the Bentamoda, though reminding 

 one in a way of the Tafilelt. The people explained that this variety should 

 never be planted on land near a river bank, but well inland, in a dry situation. 

 Then the fruit cures without spoiling." 



For full notes on these date varieties, see "Dates of Egypt and the Sudan.'' by S. <'. 

 Mason. Bulletin No. 271, U. S. Department of Agriculture, 1915. 



