38 THE DATE PALM. 



date palm, to be "the best date in the celebrated date region Pandsch- 

 gar." a This variety is reported by Mr. Fairchild to be one of the 

 finest in the world; it "is packed in date syrup in small jars and sold as 

 a great delicacy in the Kurrachee market." Such preserved Mozaty 

 dates were eaten by Mr. Fairchild in February, 1902, at Kurrachee. 

 He says, "They impressed me as the richest flavored dates I had ever 

 tasted." 6 



THE ORDINARY DATES OF COMMERCE. 



The standard varieties of dates which are grown along the Shat-cl- 

 Arab River and which are exported from Bassorah to America and 

 Europe in enormous quantities have recently been secured and intro- 

 duced into this country by Messrs. Lathrop and Fairchild. The prin- 

 cipal varieties grown for export in this region are the Halavvi, 

 Khadrawi, and the Sayer. Of these the Halawi is doubtless the best; 

 it is a medium-sized, rather light-colored, sticky date, and forms the 

 best grade of the ordinary dates imported into America. The tree 

 grows well on an adobe soil and needs much water. From the region 

 about Maskat Messrs. Lathrop and Fairchild secured the Fard date, of 

 which about 1,000 tons a yeW are exported. It is largel} 7 shipped to 

 America, but it is darker colored and inferior in flavor to the Halawi 

 of Bassorah, according to Mr. Fairchild/ whose recent bulletin should 

 be consulted for a detailed account of the varieties and methods of 

 culture observed by him in a trip through the oriental date regions. 



VARIETIES OF DATES THAT SHOULD BE SECURED FOR TRIAL IX THE UNITED STATES. 



There are other very promising late sorts which should be secured 

 as soon as possible, even at considerable expense, in order that the} 7 

 may be tested in the Salton Basin and in Arizona in comparison with 

 the Deglet Noor. 



Among these may be mentioned the Menakher (or Monakhir) of the 

 Tunisian Sahara, a variety later than the Deglet Noor, with large 

 brown fruits which attain the length of tha little finger. This sort is 

 rare and much sought after in the Tunisian Sahara, where it sells for 

 slightly more than the Deglet Noor, which it surpasses in length by 

 50 per cent and to which it is by many considered superior in quality. 

 The average yield of a Menakher palm is said to be 30 kilos or 66 

 pounds, only half the yield of the Deglet Noor. The offshoots are 

 more costly than those of the Deglet Noor, selling at from 4 to 6 francs 

 each, while those of the Deglet Noor cost only 2 to 3 francs, and the 

 ordinary sorts from 1 to 3 francs. 



Fischer, Th. Dattelpalme, p. 26. 



6 Fairchild, D. G. Persian Gulf Dates and Their Introduction into America. 

 Bui. 54, Bureau of Plant Industry, U. S. Department of Agriculture, 1903, p. 27. 



Fairchild, D. G. Persian Gulf Dates and Their Introduction into America. 

 Bui. 54, Bureau of Plant Industry, U. S. Department of Agriculture, 1903, p. 25. 



