220 MANUAL OF TROPICAL AND SUBTROPICAL FRUITS 



ance, but inferior in flavor. The keeping and shipping qualities are 

 unusually good. Named probably from Amr, a common personal name. 



Asharasi. Form ovate to oblong-ovate, broadest near the base 

 and pointed at the apex ; size medium, length 1| to If inches, breadth 

 | to lj inches; surface hard, rough, straw-colored around the base, 

 translucent brownish amber toward the apex ; skin dry, thin, coarsely 

 wrinkled ; flesh \ inch thick, at basal end of fruit hard, opaque, creamy 

 white in color, toward tip becoming translucent amber, firm; flavor 

 rich, sweet, and nutty; seed oblong-elliptic, pointed at apex, f to f 

 inch long, smooth, the ventral channel almost closed, and the germ-pore 

 nearer base than apex. Ripens midseason. 



Syn. Ascherasi. The best dry date of Mesopotamia, if not of 

 the world. It can be used as a soft date ; having always some trans- 

 lucent flesh at the apical end of the fruit, it has by some writers been 

 classed as semi-dry. Grown principally in the vicinity of Baghdad; 

 now also in the United States, where it succeeds well. The name means 

 Tall-growing. 



Deglet Nur. Form slender oblong to oblong-elliptic, widest near 

 the center and rounded at the apex; size large, length 1 to If inches, 

 breadth f to | inch ; surface smooth or slightly wrinkled, maroon in 

 color ; skin thin, often separating from the flesh in loose folds ; flesh J 

 inch thick, deep golden-brown in color, soft and melting, conspicuously 

 translucent; flavor delicate, mild, very sweet; seed oblong-elliptic, 

 pointed at both ends, about 1 inch long, with the ventral channel 

 shallow and partly closed, the germ-pore at center. Season late. 



Syns. Deglet Noor, Deglet en-Nour. This variety is considered the 

 finest grown in Algeria and Tunisia, where its commercial cultivation is 

 extensive, and it is highly esteemed in California, where it holds at 

 present first rank among dates planted commercially. Its defects 

 are a tendency to ferment if kept for several months, and the immense 

 amount of heat required to mature it properly. The name is properly 

 transliterated Daqlet al-Nur, meaning Date of the Light, an allusion 

 to its translucency. 



Fardh. Form oblong, widest near the middle and rounded at the 

 apex; size small to medium, length about 1 inches, breadth about f 

 inch ; surface shining, deep dark brown in color, almost smooth ; skin 

 rather thin, tender ; flesh | to J inch thick, firm, russet brown ; flavor 

 sweet with a rather strong after-taste; seed small, length f inch. 

 Ripens midseason. 



Syn. Fard. This is the great commercial date of Oman, in eastern 

 Arabia. It has recently been planted in California ; American markets 

 are thoroughly familiar with the fruit through the large importations 

 which are annually made from Oman. While inferior in quality to 

 many other varieties, Fardh holds its shape well when packed and 

 keeps well. For these reasons it is a valuable commercial variety. 



