CONTENTS. 



Page. 



Introduction _ 9 



Characteristics of the region _ _ 11 



Geography 11 



The Jerid 11 



The Nef zaoua 17 



Gabes 19 



Gafsa 20 



Climate 21 



Temperature 21 



Atmospheric humidity _ _ _ 26 



Precipitation _._ ...._ 27 



Irrigation and drainage _ _ . 28 



Water supply _ _ _ 28 



Irrigation system 31 



Drainage system 33 



Soils of the Jerid region 33 



Texture 33 



Fertility .'_.. 35 



Alkali 36 



Culture of the date palm _ 41 



Size and value of the gardens _ _ 41 



Labor and tenantry system 42 



Propagation 43 



Preparing the land _ 45 



Planting 46 



Irrigating 47 



Manuring .... 49 



Other cultural methods 50 



Pollination and male palms _ _ 50 



Ripening 51 



Harvesting _ 52 



Preserving _ 54 



Varieties of the date palm in Tunis . - 55 



Descriptions of the varieties 60 



Varieties of primary importance . .. - - 60 



Soft dates .... 60 



Dry dates _.. 71 



Varieties of secondary importance 74 



Dry dates '_ 74 



Soft dates .- 76 



Varieties of minor importance 82 



Drydates 82 



Soft dates 84 



Varieties imported but not included in the key 90 



Varieties included in the key but not imported 92 



Descriptive key to the characters of the fruits 94 



Synopsis of the groups 96 



Key to the varieties _ 97 



Index 107 



Description of plates 112 



92 



5 



