6(3 



DATE VARIETIES AND DATE CULTURE IN TUNIS. 



for the Fteemy and Kenta varieties 200 and 300 pounds, respectively, 

 ure not considered extraordinary yields. 



Opinions differ in the Jerid as to the degree of resistance of this 

 variety to large amounts of salts in the soil. The proprietor of one 

 garden at Tozer, in a part of the oasis where there is much saline 

 efflorescence, regarded the Deglet Noor as the most susceptible of all 

 varieties to the effect of " alkali," while at El Hamma experts in date 

 culture told the writer that, if freely irrigated, this variety shows a 

 high degree of resistance. 



Boo Affar (p. 101).— A soft date (PI. IX, fig. 2), about 2 inches 

 long and from a little more than one-half to three-fifths as wide, 

 conspicuously wider above than below the middle but narrowed to 

 the blunt apex, bright purplish maroon when ripe, the flesh 3 to 3^ 

 lines thiclv, tender yet firm, the seed a little more than one-half as 

 long as the fruit, cinnamon brown. (Fig. 8.) The stalks and 



branches of the fruit clusters are deep 

 orange. The foliage is said to be heavy 

 and the leaves wide and very green. 



This variety occurs in the gardens 

 of El Hamma oasis (Jerid) and in 

 the Nefzaoua, but is nowhere common. 

 The fruit is remarkable not only for 

 its large size, thick flesh, and delicious 

 flavor, but for its beautiful coloring, 

 its tints rivaling those of scarlet oak 

 leaves in the autumn. The fruit ripens 

 rather late (in November, according 

 to Masselot). It resembles that of the 

 Areshty variety (see p. 70), but is mucli more highly colored. It is 

 said to be better flavored than the Areshty when thoroughly ripe, and 

 in the writer's opinion this is true. On the other hand, the natives 

 prefer the fruit of Areshty to those of Boo Afl'ar when only partly 

 ripe. The flesh is tender, yet rather firm, and is very sweet and full 

 of sugar. The skin, even of the ripe fruit, is fairly clean and dry. 

 Of this variety 8 offshoots were imported. 



Tronja (p. 99).— (Also spelled Troundja.) A soft date (PI. IX, 

 fig. 1), perfectly round, or nearly so, 1^ to nearly 2 inches in greatest 

 diameter, maroon to prune purple when ripe, the flesh 4 to 5 lines 

 thick, very sugary, yet firm ; the seed very thick, six-tenths to seven- 

 tenths as long as the fruit and about three-fifths as long as wide, 



engaged in other business, they are not so dependent for a livelihood upon the 

 product of their date pahns as are tlie natives of other Saliaran oases, else they 

 would probably tittach greater importance to the connnercial superiority of the 

 Deglet Noor, (See Charlet, in Bui. Soc. Geogr. d' Alger, 1005.) 

 92 



FiG.8.- 



-Outlines of Boo Affar seed and 

 fruit. (Natural size.) 



