VAUIETIKS OF SECH)^•DAUV IMrOKTANCE. 



79 



Tho stalks aiul hranches of 



Fi(i. 25.— Outlines of Okht Ftcemy seed and 

 fruit. (Natural size.) 



of the oasis. ( )f lliis variety 18 oli'shoots were iiiiixd-tcd. all iVoiii llif 



rh'i'itl. 



Okiit Ftkkimy (p. lO'J), — Tho Froiich ortho<rrai)hy is Oukht Ftiiui. 

 The naiiu' iiu'ans " sister of Fteeniy," this vari(>ty irreatly re- 

 .<euil)iin<' Fteeiiiv in its trunk and foliap' characters, as well as in its 

 fruits. Fruit '1 to 'l}- inches lonjr. about two-lifths as wide, oblonj^, 

 strai<,dit, somewhat pointed at the ape.x, deep purplish maroon ^vhen 

 ripe, the surface shininjr: the llesh '1\ to '^ lines thick, soft; the seed 

 slender, about one-half as lon^' as the fruit, less than one-third as 

 wide as lonj^. dark bi-own. (Fiji. •!').) 

 the tVuit clusters are rich oran«re. 

 The nuniei'()U> leaves ai'e lon<r and 

 broad, crowded with lon^jf li'aflets. 

 The many fi'uit clusters are short- 

 stalked and almost hidden by the 

 f()lia<jfe. 



This variety appears to be con- 

 fined to the Jerid, beinj; especially 

 abundant at Xefta, where it is i)re- 

 f erred to Fteemy. while at Tozer 

 the latter is better liked. The very handsome fruit is Ioniser and 

 more slender than that of Fteemy {\). (IS), and is often brijxhter col- 

 ored, but is otherwise very similar. In regard to flavor, the writer 



could detect no diU'erence. Al- 

 thou<rh very soft and sirupy, the 

 fruits preserve well, Okht Fteemy 

 beinjj: enmnerated by one authority 

 amoiij; the seven best-keepini*" sorts. 

 The fruits are said to be the kind 

 most in demand by the nomads 

 from other parts of North Africa 

 who obtain their supply of dates 

 in the Jerid, and who exchange 

 -1 measures (about 2i pecks) of 

 Avheat for D measures (about 5^ pecks) of dates of this variety. ■ 



Okht Fteemy palms give a good crop every year and are very pro- 

 ductive, this being among the six best-yielding varieties in the Jerid, 

 according to M. Minangoin. A tree at Xefta, l)y no means excep- 

 tionally productive, which had 15 well-furnished clusters of fruit, 

 was estimated by the tenant of the garden in which it gixnv to bear 

 at least 220 pounds of fruit. These dates are not generally ripe be- 

 fore November. The amins of Nefta place this among the four most 

 alkali-resistant varieties of the oasis. Offshoots to the number of 21 

 were imported. 



92 



Fig. ;it).— Outline . of Rliars sei-il and fruit. 

 ( Natural size. ) 



