VARTETTES OF SKPONDAin' TMPORTANOE. 



75 



FlO. IT.- Outlim-sul Thaby soed 

 and fruit. (Natural size.) 



than tho white inner poi-lion: swA altout ihrec-fit'ths as lon<>; as ihv 

 fi'uit. lathci- sl(Mi(l('r. ( I''i^'. IT.) The stalks and branches of the 

 fi nit chisters are rich orange (•()h)red. 



This variety aj)i)ears to be confined to the Jerid. and to be by no 

 means common there. It is one of the liandsoinest of the (h'v dates, 

 and one of the most attractive when preserved, keeping perfectly its 

 shaj)e and its b(<autifnl warm, reddish brown coh)r. UnHke most of 

 thi' (by (hites, in this variety the comparatively soft and dark part 

 of the Hesh is thicker than the hrm, white 

 core. It has an agi'eeable, wholesome 

 flavor, and can be eaten in qnantity with- 

 out cloyini; It iiiatiii-es in Octobei'. Of 

 the Thaby variety, hfteen offshoots wen- 

 imported. 



Lemsv (p. 00). Fniit U to 1§ inches 

 lonfj, about one-half as wide, elliptical in 

 outline, not conspicuously narrowed to the 

 ape.x, often sli<;htly curved, dull purplish 

 maroon when ripe; the flesh 1 to 2 lines thick, becoming very firm 

 and dry ; the seed about two-thirds as long as the fruit, generally one- 

 third as wide as long. (P'ig. 18.) The branches of the fruit clusters 

 are orange colored. 



This variety is said to be known in the Nefzaoua as Halooa Hamra. 

 It is common at Gabes and in the Xefzaoua, but is apparently want- 

 ing in the Jerid. It is a small, thin-fleshed, dry date, sometimes pre- 

 served, but usually eaten fresh and even 

 before it is perfectly ripe, as the flesh soon 

 becomes dry and hard. It is deliciously 

 sweet and has a fine flavor, tasting some- 

 what like a chestnut. At Gabes, where it 

 is regarded as a great delicacy, it is said to 

 mature at the end of August, at the same 

 time as Ammary (see p. 87). Of Lemsy 



Fig. 18.-Outlinos ot Lemsy .seed ^^^q offshootS Were imported. 



and fruit. (Natural size.) ^^ „ , „„> »i ^ n i 



Halooa Bayda (p. 99).— Also spelled 

 " Halouaia," which designates the palm, " Halooa " referring to the 

 fruit itself. The name means " white sweetmeat." Fruit U to U 

 inches long, about one-half wide, elliptical in outline, not con- 

 spicuously narrowed at the apex, widest near the middle, dull pur- 

 plish bay when ripe ; the flesh 1 to 1^ lines thick, becoming very firm 

 and dry; the seed about seven-tenths as long as the fruit and one- 

 third to two-fifths as wide as long. (Fig. 19.) The branches of the 

 fruit clusters are pale orange. 



92 



