78 



DATE VARIETIES AND DATE CULTURE IN TUNIS. 



shaped, broadest near the base, dull dark purplish maroon when ripe ; 

 the flesh 1^ to 2 lines thick, the firm white central portion nearly as 

 . thick as the soft, dark outer zone : seed small and thick, only about 

 one-half as long as the fruit and about one-half as wide as long, 

 narrowed at both ends. (Fig. 23.) The stalks and branches of the 

 fruit clusters are light orange. 



This variety, which is one of the most highly esteemed and fre- 

 quently planted in the Nefzaoua, does not appear to be found in the 

 Jerid. It is a dark-colored, rather small date, with moderately soft, 

 dark-colored flesh, and with a clean, dry skin. It is very SM'eet and 

 of a fine flavor, suggesting that of the Deglet Xoor. The number of 

 Doonga offshoots imported was 10, all from the Xefzaoua. 



Besser Haloo (p. 101).— Also spelled " Bisra Haloua." The name 

 means a sweetmeat (haloo) that is eaten just before it is thoroughly 

 ripe (besser). Fruit 1^ to 1^ inches long, about tAvo-thirds as wide, 

 broadest at or above the middle, rounded at the apex, keeping its 

 shape well when ripe, bright bay colored ; the flesh 2 lines thick, com- 

 paratively dry when the fruit is ripe, light brown ; the seed two-thirds 



to three-fourths as 

 the fruit 

 two-fifths 

 as wide as long, 

 with more or less 



long 



as 



generally 



conspicuous 

 like ridges on 

 sides. (Fig 



w 1 n g 



&• 



Flu. 2:^.— Outlines of Doonga 

 seed and fruit. ^Natural 

 size.) 



Fig. 24.— Outlines of Besser 

 Haloo seed and fruit. (Nat- 

 ural size. ) 



The leaves are short 



and rather stiff, with 



comparatively short 



stalks and wide leaf- 

 lets. The spreading or ascending stalks of the fruit clusters are so 

 short that the small bunches are nearly hidden by the foliage. 



This is a common and highly esteemed variety in the Jerid, and is 

 said to be found also in the Xefzaoua, as well as at Biskra and in the 

 Oued Rirh, in Algeria. It is one of the kinds that is most sought by 

 the nomads of the interior, who come to the oases in the autumn to 

 exchange their grain for dates. It is a small, light-colored date, with 

 thick, comparatively firm flesh. It is very sweet and has an agree- 

 able flavor, somewhat intermediate between that of Lagoo (p. 80) and 

 that of Horra (p. 71). The natives seem to prefer it when not per- 

 fectly ripe. It matures early in October. According to information 

 obtained by M. Minangoin, it yields a good crop every year and is 

 one of the six most productive varieties of the Jerid. At Nefta the 

 amins (see p. 32) rank it among the four most salt-resistant varieties 



92 



