TIIK 1)K<JI,KT NOOK DATK. 33 



They seem to be dry enough to pack when they are down to about 85 to 

 80 per cent of their fresh weight."" 



The Teddala is another early sort, having a great advantage over the 

 Khars in that its fruits can be cured without difficulty. This variety 

 was brought into notice by M. Yahia ben Kassem. It is a \crv lar^e 

 date, often 3 inches long, and ripens about the same time as the Khars. 

 It is as yet but little known, even in North Africa, but is a very 

 promising sort. The palm is exceedingly vigorous and bears large 

 crops of fruit. This variety is now growing at Tempe. 



It has been noted on page 61 in treating of the heat requirements of 

 the date that hardy rather than early sorts are needed for southern 

 Nevada and southwestern Texas, where the summers arc long enough 

 and hot enough to ripen even late sorts, but where the winters are 

 sometimes very cold. 



Now that considerable areas in the Salton Basin have been put under 

 irrigation, there is at last open to our enterprising fruit growers a 

 region superior to most parts of the Sahara for date culture, in which 

 even the latest and best sorts will ripen perfectly. It now becomes of 

 great importance to secure these late varieties for trial, as they com- 

 prise the choicest sorts which bring the highest prices on the American 

 and European markets. 



THE DEGLET NOOK DATE. 



Among these late sorts one in particular is worthy of special men- 

 tion, the famous Deglet Noor.^ 



This sort is of medium or large size, oval in outline, dark amber 

 colored, and translucent, with a small, pointed pit. The flesh is linn, 

 very sweet, and of exquisite flavor and aroma. This date, if properly 

 handled, remains clean, with the skin smooth, unbroken, and dry, so 

 that w r hen served as a dessert fruit it has a most appetizing appear- 

 ance, very unlike the ordinary sticky, misshapen dates from the Per- 

 sian Gulf region. A bunch of dates showing how the dates are 

 attached is represented on Plate XXII (see also Yearbook, 1900, PI. 

 LX), while several dates and a few pits, all natural size, are shown 

 on Plate IX. 



The palm which produces these dates has a slender trunk, bearing 

 long, narrow leaves, which stand more upright than those of most 

 other sorts. The bunches of fruit have long, slender stems, which allow 

 them to hang down when the dates are ripe (PI. XXII). The slender, 

 upright leaves give this variety a characteristic appearance, which 

 enables it to be recognized easily even when growing with other sorts. 



Forbes, R. H., in letter to the writer, dated Tucson, January 9, 1903. 

 & In French orthography Deglet Nour; also called Deglet en nour, or Deglat ennour. 

 13529 No. 5304 3 



