SEPTEMBER, IWO, TO DECEMliEK, l'JU3. 225 



8786 to 8793 —Continued, 

 8789. 



Kustatvi. From Bagdad market. (N... SHH.) ( Set- No. H7:i8. ) A very Hue 

 date, though somewhat stringy. 



8790. 



Berhi. Dates as packed in paiier rartoiis lor Knmpean market, i No. S!».">. ) 

 (See No. 8746.) 



8791. 



Ilakiwi. Dates a.>i packed in paper cartons lor ixiiort to all parta of tlie 

 world. (No. 899.) (See No. 8750. ) 



8792. 



Busser. From Bassorah, Arabia. An inferior variety. 



8793. 



Zehedi. ' ' From Bagda< I market. ' ' ( Fa lirli iM. ) { No. 87 1 . ) (See N( >. 8743. ) 



8794. Phoenix dactylifeka. Date. 



From Bagdad, .\ral)ia. Received tlirougii Mes^srs. Latliroi. and Fairchild (No. 

 885, March 10, l!to;i), .June 7. 1002. 



Taherzal. " Sample of dried dates. This is a rare date even at Bagdad, and I did 

 not find it on tlie markets. Aglia Mohammed, British consular agent at Kasimain, 

 very kindly donated these to the Department. It is a small ilate \\ to 1; inches 

 long by about seven-eighths inch in diameter. When dry it is of an amber color. 

 The .skin is a lighter shade than the tlesh, is loose, rather papery in texture, and can 

 be removed with the fingers from the dried flesh. The flesh is never dry in the 

 sense of l)eing hard, 1)nt has the consistency of a chocolate caramel and is sweet and 

 of characteristic <late flavor. The seed is of medium size and fits loosely in the dry 

 flesh. There is scarcelv any fiber about the seed. The stem has a trifle too large 

 disk (involucre), but is" easily removed with the fingers. When fresh it is con.«id- 

 ered one of the most delicate dates in Bagdad, though not so fine or so large as the 

 Berhi (No. 8746), whi<-h it resembles. I have not seen the Berhi, but take this as 

 the opinion of a date shii^per. These dates, if not pressed into skins or cases, are 

 drv enough to be handled with the fingers. This is a point of great importance. 

 Tlie Deglet Xoor of Algiers would pnjbably be (juite as unappetizing if jjressed into 

 baskets or boxes. I secured these samples too late to make it possible to secure 

 plants, but they can be had through Vice-Consul Hiiruer, of Bagdad, from Agha 

 Mohammed, who donated these." {Fairddld.) 



8795. Phoenix dactylifera. Date. 



From Bagdad, Arabia. Received through Messrs. Lathrop and Fairchild, .lune 

 7, 1002. 

 Aschermi. Samples of dates. (See No. 8739, L. & F. No. 867.) 



8796 and 8797. Vitis vinifeka. G-rape. 



From Kandahar, India. Received through Messrs. Lathrop and Fairchild, 

 June 7, 1902. 

 Samples of raisins bought in the Kurrachee market. 



8796. 



Seedless. Very sweet and thoroughly candied. 



8797. 



A large, light-colored raisin with seeds. 



