92 



DATE VARIETIES AND DATE CULTURE IN TUNIS. 



Fig. 48.— Outlines of Chedakli seed 

 and fruit. (Natural size.) 



VARIETIES INCLUDED IN THE KEY BI^T NOT IMrORTED. 



Chedakii (p. lOG). — Is of the soft type. Fruit nearly 2 inches 

 long, about one-half as wide, oblong, narrowed slightly at both ends, 

 keeping its shape fairly well when preserved, purplish maroon when 



ripe; the flesh only 1 line thick, all of 

 it soft and dark colored ; the seed about 

 three-fifths as long as the fruit and 

 about one-third as wide as long. (Fig. 

 48.) The leaves are rather short, and 

 the fruit clusters loose and open, with 

 rather short, erect or ascending stalks. 

 Common in the Jerid, and said also 

 to occur in the Nefzaoua. Is a " R'tob," 

 the fruit being eaten fresh and not pre- 

 served. It is not highly esteemed by the natives, and the flavor is 

 uninteresting. Ripens toward the end of October. 



Deglet Hamidatoo ( p. 105 ) . — Fruit 

 of the soft type, about 2 inches long, 

 about one-half as wide, somewhat 

 blunt pointed at the apex, elliptical, 

 not keeping its shape well when i)re- 

 served, light hazel brown when ripe; 

 the flesh 2^ lines thick, very soft and 

 sirupy, translucent; the seed about 

 one-half as long as the fruit, about 

 one-third as wide as long, russet to 

 chestnut colored. (Fig. 49.) The 

 foliage is very well developed, the 

 leaves numerous and long, crowded with long leaflets, the bunches of 

 fruit rather loose and open, with ascending or spreading stalks. 



A very rare variety of the Jerid, 

 said to be represented at Tozer by only 

 two trees. Reported to occur also in 

 the oasis of Xegrine, Algeria. It is 

 said to be eaten only when fresh and 

 not to be conservable. The fruit is of 

 splendid appearance, beautifully col- 

 ored, and extremely soft and sirupy 

 when ripe. Although very sweet and 

 rich, the flavor is rather insipid and 

 soon cloys, like the Iteema (p. 81)). Ripens in the latter part of 

 October. 



Deglet Hassen (p. 10^)). — Fruit of the soft type. If to If inches 

 long, one-half as wide, inversely egg-shaped, tapering slightly at both 

 extremities, not keeping its shape well when preserved, bright bay 



92 



Fro. 49.— Outlines of Deglet Hamidatoo 

 seed and fruit. (Natural size.) 



Fig. 50.— Outlines of Deglet Hassen seed 

 and fruit. (Natural size.) 



