88 



DATE VARIETIES AND DATE CtTLTURE IN TUNIS. 



Fig. 43. — Outline.s of Ammary 

 seed and fruit. (Natural size. ) 



and dark colored ; the seed about two-thirds as long as the fruit 

 about two-fifths as wide as long, blunt at both ends. (Fig. 48.) 

 The stalks and branches of the fruit clusters are orange colored. 

 Foliage coarse and heavy, leaves very numerous, rather short stalked, 

 with long, wide leaflets. 



Common in the Jerid, the Nefzaoua, at Gabes, and in Algeria. Is 

 the earliest maturing variety in Tunis, ripening in the Jerid in 

 August (or even the middle of July, according to Masselot), and 



from September 1 to September 15 at Gabes. 

 Said to give a good crop every year, and to 

 be very productive. Fruit of rather medi- 

 ocre quality. Number of offshoots im- 

 ported, 12, all from the Jerid. 



GooNDY (p. 103). — Fruit about If inches 

 long, about one-half as wide, inversely egg- 

 shaped, oblong (broadest above the mid- 

 dle), keeping its shape fairly well Avhen 

 preserved, bay to maroon colored when 

 ripe; the flesh about 1] lines thick, dark 

 colored, remaining rather soft; the seed more than one-half as long 

 as the fruit, about one-third as wide as long. (Fig. 44.) The stalks 

 and l)ranches of the fruit clusters are bright orange colored. Foliage 

 rather coarse, the leaves very numerous, short, and rather short 

 stalked, the leaflets long and broad. 



Rather common in the Jerid, and said to occur also in the Nefzaoua 

 and at Biskra, in Algeria. Sweet and of agreeable ])ut not pro- 

 nounced flavor, of the Lagoo type. (See 

 p. 80.) Ripens in the Jerid on October 

 20, according to Masselot, although the 

 writer was told that it ripens sometimes 

 as early as September 15. The fruit is 

 preserved in skin bags for home use, but 

 is not an article of commerce. Number 

 of offshoots imported, 9, all from the 

 Jerid. 



Karooy (p. 104). — Fruit If inches long, 

 about one-half as wide, egg-shaped, nar- 

 rowed from near the base to the rounded apex, keeping its shape 

 fairly well when preserved, bay colored when ripe; skin, where loose, 

 olive-broAvn; the flesh about U lines thick, rather tough; the seed 

 more than one-half as long as the fruit, about one-third as wide as 

 long. (P^ig. 45.) The branches and stalks of the fruit clusters are 

 orange colored, 



A variety found in the Jerid, but not common. The name is not 

 given in any published list of the varieties. Flesh rather tough, 



92 



CZI> 



Fig. 44.— Outlines of Goondy seed 

 and fruit. (Natural size.) 



