SEPTEMUKK, l'.>UO, TO DECEMBER, l!X)3. 223 



8754 to 8761 — Continued. 



8755. 



Banii. "This is a light-ooloreil date about tlu' «iim' si/c as tlu- Funl, hut 

 thinner, als^o from Seniail. It ripons in Maskat in July. It was formerly 

 shipped to Ameriea, hut was found to 1)e a jMiorer keeper than the Fnnl, and 

 now it is no longer demanded. Bec-ause of its scarcity it sells for $50 Mexican 

 per 1,800 pounds." {Fairchild.) (No. 907.) 



8756. 



Xa(/al. "An early variety from Semail, 50 miles in the interior, ripe)ii)i</ 'ni 

 Jam' It is a lijiht-colored date ahout 1 { inches lonjr and three-fourths inch 

 in diameter. It is not as sweet as the Furd, hut is highly prized because it ix 

 the earlicxi dale in (he reqioii. It is consumed locally and only in a fresh con- 

 dition. High i)rii-es are paid for it by the Arabs. It is a soft sort, resembling 

 the Fard. ' ' ( Fairchild. ) ( No. 908. f 



8757. 



Mubmli. "From Semail, 50 miles inland from Maskat. This date is a long, 

 large variety, which is picked before being ripe, boiled for an hour in^ salt 

 water, anil then spread out in the sun to dry. (See Nos. 8568 and 8564.) 

 These dates, w Inch art- as hard as stick candy, and almost as sweet, are sold 

 in India, w here there is a big <lemand for them, and where higher prices are 

 paid than for the ordinary /Vn-f/ variety. They sell for $80 Mexican i)er 

 1,800 pounds. This Ijelongs to the Karak- pokhta cUlss of dates, which are 

 served in India at every wedding and festival. They are sometimes eaten 

 fresh It is the l)est paving date in Maskat. Suitable for dry, hot regions. 

 It ripens in July." {FairchUd.) (No. 909.) 



8758. 



Khanezi "From Semail, 50 miles inland from Maskat. An almost round, 

 soft, very sweet sort, oidy consumed locally. It is a rare variety, rii)ening in 

 July It is eaten in the" fresh state and considered one of the best of this 

 kind in Maskat. ' ' ( Fa irch ild. ) (No. 910. ) 



8759. 



Khcmcdt. "From Semail, 50 miles inland from Maskat. A red variety 

 when ripe, somewhat shorter in shaije than the Fard. It ripens in August. 

 It is a soft variety, therefore not a shipping date. It is reported to be the 

 heaviest yielder of any, as much as 450 pounds being borne by a single tree. 

 It is not as sweet as'tlie Fard, but is still of good quality." {Fuirchild.) 

 (No. 911.) 



8760. 



Helliili. "From Semail, a date region 50 miles back of the town of Maskat. 

 It is as round fruited as a walnut, light colored and soft. It is not a packing 

 date but is used fresh. The bunches are exceedingly large. A rare sort even 

 in Maskat." {Fairchild.) (No. 912.) 



8761. 



''Fachl or FaheJ, meaning male date, from the valley of Semail, 50 miles in 

 the interior behind Maskat. This is the variety used in this great valley, 

 where half a million trees are grown, as the pollinator. It might be called 

 simply Semail Fahel, to distinguish it from the Egyptian Fahel or male sent in 

 1900. ' ' ( Fairchild. ) ( No. 913. ) 



8762 to 8785. Phoenix dactylifera. Date palm. 



From Kej, Baluchistan. Received through Messrs. Lathrop and Fairchild (Nos. 

 914 to 937, March 23, 1902), June 7, 1902. 



A collection of date palms secured through the kindness of Lieutenants Grant and 

 Maxwell, of the First Baluchistan Liglit Infantry, from Kej, a region six days by 



29861— No. 66—05 15 



