VARIETIES OF THE DATE PALM IN TUNIS. 511 



hriirlit l):iv color ;iii<l transparent flosh, nor does its flavor bolio its 

 apjx'arancc. It m'cius to !»' an cai'licr lipcnini:- kind tlian (he I)('<il('t 

 Noor, aiul niiiilit he cxpoctcd to take its placv in regions Avhere the 

 snni total of teniperatnres is not (jnite snIHcient to ripen the hitter. 



Ahhonjrli (U'cidetUy inferior in flavor and probably in keepinj^ 

 qnality to the De^let Xoor, the Fteeniy (IMs. VII and X, fi<>-. ;^) is a 

 fine variety. It is by far the most abnnchmt kind p:r<nvn in the Jerid 

 oases and is snrpassed l)y none in prodnctiveness, rapidity of ojrowth, 

 viffor, and hardiness. The frnit is handsome and highly eolored, 

 the flesh soft and sirupy, and the flavor so rich and sweet that Fteemy 

 dates can not be eaten in large qtnintity at any one time. Tn the 

 writer'^ judgment this is a finer fruit than the Khars, that is so ex- 

 tensively grown in Algeria, although it shares with the latter the 

 disadvantage of being sticky when fresh and consequently dillicult 

 to handle as a dessert fruit. It is a late-ripening sort, little if at all 

 earlier than the Deglet Xoor, and hence should not be planted except 

 in the warmest localities of the Southwestern States. It has, how- 

 ever, a decided advantage over the Deglet Xooi- variety in point of 

 rapidity and vigor of growth and in productiveness, being said to 

 yield heavily every year. 



Areshty (fig. 13, p. Tl) is a variety considerately resemliling the 

 Boo Affar in si/.e and shape, but is less richly flavored and less 

 brightly colored. Tn its rather firm flesh and wholesome, moderately 

 sAveet flavor it resembles dates of the dry class. Were it not for the 

 irreat size of its fruits it would be somewhat doubtful whether this 

 should be classed as a variety of primary importance, as the flavor, 

 although attractive, is not to l)e compared with that of the Deglet 

 Xoor and hardly equals that of the Fteemy variety. 



The Horra variety (PL X, fig. 1) is very highly spoken of by 

 French settlers in the oases, and is exported in small qtumtity to 

 Europe. "^AHiile from a botanical point of view it belongs to the " dry 

 date'' class, in reality its flesh is thick and never becomes very dry or 

 hard. It is easily the finest of its type. The flavor is delicious, yet 

 not so rich as to fatigue the palate. When we consider, furthermore, 

 the good size of the handsome fruit, its early ripening, and the hardi- 

 ness of the palms, there seems ample justification for giving the 

 Horra a very high rank among Tunisian varieties. 



Ranking next after the Horra among the dates of the dry type is 

 the Kenta variety (PL X, 'fig- 2). This has a medium-sized fruit, 

 smaller than the Horra. Its flesh is thicker and more tender than in 

 most of its class. It ripens early, preserves well, and is one of the 

 most productive of all varieties. The flavor is very .agreeable and 

 wholesome, while not so rich as to be easily cloying. Kenta palms 

 appear to be unusually hardy and resistant to alkali in the soil. 



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