14 THE MONTHLY BULLETIN. 



boiled in the Masqat market, when it is locally known as Sakkari, 

 ' ' Sugary. ' ' A small date but one of the best soft dates of the region, 

 so much like Khalaseh in appearance that attempts are often made to 

 sell it under that name. Ripens in latter part of August and bears 

 well ; a common variety. The dates are great favorites as rutab, but 

 also keep well. . As a soft date, it has a tender, light brown skin, small 

 seed and no fibre ; flesh light golden brown in color, caramel consistency 

 but sticky if not properly cured. Flavor mild and sweet. Boiled 

 specimens which I obtained were 1-]- in. long, f in. wide, broadest about 

 base, tapering gradually to rounded apex. Color dark chestnut brown. 

 Flesh ^ in. thick, fairly soft, dark cafe an lait color, some fibre, cavity 

 large and loose seed, ^ in. long, 5/16 in. broad, flavor in boiled form bad. 

 Has not yet fruited in California. 



Burni, "The Sweetmeat Jar,'' according to the Omanis, and this 

 etymology is perfectly legitimate, but half a dozen others have also been 

 given by experts, and the name is so confused that it is even a question 

 whether it should be spelled Burni, Barni or Birni. Apparently there 

 are several varieties under this or similar names. The common Burni 

 of Mastjat, as I saw it, is a dry date similar to Naghal, and of unique 

 appearance. Fruit 1 11/16 in. long, Jl/16 in. wide, basal half of almost 

 uniform width, tapering thence to blunt, flattened, sometimes depressed 

 apex. Basal half a dead, yellowish gray, apical end light chestnut 

 brown, the division of colors being very distinct. Seed cavity large 

 and large seed loose in it, with considerable fibre. Flesh thin but more 

 tender than that of the ordinary dry date ; keeps indefinitely. Seed 

 1 in. long, ^ in. wide, usually some fibre adhering to it. The date 

 requires chewing and has a rich, full, but not cloying flavor with slight 

 trace of bitterness. It is often sold on strings like necklaces, in the 

 Masqat bazar, at the rate of 30 for one cent. Ripens midseason, bears 

 moderately ; not a common variety ; can not be considered of first 

 quality, but is decidedly interesting on account of its great size and 

 double coloring. Introduced to the United States last year. The 

 Bureau of Plant Industry introduced a date to the United States under 

 this name in 1902, which is entirely different, and is described by 

 Fairchild as follows : Light colored, about the same size as the Fardh 

 but thinner. Season, July. Formerly exported to America but found 

 to be a poorer keeper than Fardh and now not in demand. Scarce. 

 (S. P. I. No. 8755.) 



Burshi, "The Curved Dagger" (Hind.) according to modern ety- 

 mology, but the classical meaning is "speckled." A small, fat, yellow, 

 dry date, valued because it is very early in maturing. Common and a 

 moderate bearer. Has not yet fruited in California. 



Busriyyeh, sometimes called Qush* Busreh, both names alluding to 

 its origin, in Busreh, the great date-growing center of Turkish Arabia ; 

 but if it is one of the varieties now recognized at Busreh under another 

 name, I do not know which one. It is a yellow, dry date of medium 

 size, ripening late in the season ; bears scantily and is rare. Not in 

 United States. 



Bu Sukhun, "The Father of Heat," a long, slender, yellow date, 



*Qush (spelled in various ways) is the Oman equivalent of the more comrhon 

 Deglet or Degal : a variety of adventitious origin and usually, but not always, of 

 second quality. Sometimes it means merely an inferior seedling, as does the word 

 Deglet or Degal. 



