SEPTEMBER, 1000. T<> DECEMBER, HX).!. 200 



8573. Phoenix dactylifkka. Date palm. 



From Bahrein, Anihia. Re«Mve«l through Mes.'frs. Lathrop and Fairrhild (Xo. 

 835, Ft'hruary 10, 1902), April 4, 1902. 



KhahtMi. " Drieil thites of oiio of the lirn-st variotio.* in the IVrsian (\n\i. These 

 dates are so delicate that they are not sliippi'd t«> America, altiiini<,'h they may he 

 kept several months, a.s is evidenced l)y the present samples. They ari- reported to 

 suffer hv the sea voyajre. Tiie <late has very little tiher, heiu'r a stitky .sort with a 

 deiidediy earameldike texture. The Havor is superior to that of the he.st Phnl date 

 and the skin is soft and <lelicafe. The stone is small, but not unusually so. It is 

 considered the best date on the Persian (iulf hy Mr. .1. C. (iaskin, British consul, 

 who has been a dealer in one of the lar<:est date Hrms at P.a.«sorah, and by Mr. S. M. 

 Zwemer, who ha.s traveled all over Arabia. Personally I prefer tlu- I'lnu/li tilmr 

 date and the DegJi't Xoor, but the KhalaMt approaches these closely for sweetness 

 and delicacy. It is sticky, however, and nii>rht not be well suited to such style of 

 packing: as is in vogue with the French packers in .Vlgiers. Secured through the 

 kindness of Messi-s. Gaskin and Zwemer, of Bahrein." {Faircliild.) (8ee No. 875.3. ) 



8574. PiSTACiA VERA. Pistache. 



From Bunder Abbas, Persia. Received through Me.ssrs. Lathrop and Fairchild 

 (No. 839, February 11, 1902), April 4, 1902. 



"Bought in the market of Bunder .\bbas. They were said to have been brought 

 down some nineteen days by caravan from the town of Kerman, in the interior. 

 They were fresh in I)ecend)er or November. The trees were probalily grafted, 

 although no definite information on this point could be obtained. Kerman is said 

 to have a temperate climate." [Fairchild.) 



8575. Lauknakia .sp. G-ourd. 



From Jask, Persia. Received througli Messrs. Lathrop and Fairchild (No. 840, 

 February 11, 1902), April 4, 1902. 



"A white, edible gourd growing to a large size, lo ff'Pt long by S inches in diam- 

 eter. It forms a pretty trellis plant in Jask, where the temjieraturc rises to 110° F. 

 and no rain falls. It is grown by irrigation. It may ]>rove of value in the Colorado 

 desert region. It is prepared by boiling in salt water like any of the squash family. 

 The leaves are large and the flowers are white with long tubes to the corolla." 

 ( Fairchild. ) 



8576. ViTis CANDiCANS. Mustang grape. 



From Tiger Mill, Texas. Presented by ^Mr. II. T. Fuchs to Hon. A. S. Burleson 

 and by him to this Department. Received April 7, 1902. 



Seeds of the finest wiM grapes of Texas, according to Mr. Fuchs' letter. 



8577. Carica papaya. Papaw. 



From Mexico. Presented bv Mr. Elmer Stearns, 3226 Manitou avenue, Los 

 Angeles, Cal. Received :Slarch 29, 1902. 



"These seeds were from a fruit 6 inches long bj' 31 inches in diameter, grow;n in 

 the hot country southwest of (Guadalajara." [Stearns. ) 



8578. Opuntia sp. Prickly pear. 



From Guadalajara, Mexico. Presented by Mr. Elmer Stearns, 3226 Manitou 

 avenue, Los Angeles, C"al. Received March 29, 1902. 



Tuna Colorado. "These seeds were from a fruit 2 inches by Ij inches in diame- 

 ter. ' ' [Stearns. ) 



8579. Opuntia sp. Prickly pear. 



From City of Mexico, Mexico. Presented by Mr. Elmer Stearn.s, 3226 Manitou 

 avenue, Los Angeles, Cal. Received March 29, 1902, 



Tuna amarilla. 



