54 DATE VARIETIES AND DATE CULTURE IN TUNIS. 



animals for the " jerrara," and the " khartaf," who attaches cords 

 to the bunches and brings them to the " alleg " and who also arranges 

 the bunches upon beams in the storehouse where they are dried. 



It is said that one getaa can keep employed seven meddada, twelve 

 lagata, two adal, six jerrara, one alleg, and one khartaf. In one day 

 a skilled getaa can harvest the dates from 60 to 90 palms, according 

 to the height of the trees. With the above-mentioned number of 

 assistants of all classes, he can harvest on an average 5,500 pounds of 

 dates daily. 



Deglet Noor dates that are to be exported to Europe are often 

 packed for shipment in the gardens where they are grown. A large 

 part of the crop is put up in wooden boxes holding 22 pounds each, 

 which is the maximum weight that can be sent by parcels post in a 

 single package. (See PI. I, Frontispiece.) They are then trans- 

 ported by caravan to the railway terminus, which is about 35 miles 

 from Tozer. 



The fruits of a few of the best varieties other than the Deglet Noor 

 are harvested with the same degree of care. In the case of certain 

 rare and highly esteemed sorts, especially of the earlier ripening vari- 

 eties, the fruits are even picked one by one from the bunches as they 

 mature. These are dates that are reserved for the tables of the 

 wealthiest class of natives. But in harvesting by far the greatest 

 number of varieties, including the popular Fteemy date, which con- 

 stitutes probably more than one-half the total crop of the Jerid, the 

 bunches, as they are cut by the getaa, are merely dropped upon mats 

 spread on the ground underneath the palm, instead of being passed 

 from hand to hand by the " meddada." In harvesting Fteemy dates 

 the men are paid in kind. For each day's work the getaa is entitled 

 to a bunch, which he selects among the finest, to two bunches of 

 medium value, and to 11 pounds of detached fruit. The other 

 laborers are paid with a proportionate share of dates. For harvest- 

 ing " khalt," or dry dates, the daily wage of the getaa is eight meas- 

 ures of fruit, amounting to about 88 pounds. 



PRESERVING. 



The fruits of the different varieties differ greatly in their keeping 

 quality. Some must be eaten fresh, remaining edible at most only a 

 few weeks after ripening. Certain kinds, including some that keep 

 very well when ripe, are nevertheless preferred by the natives when 

 in the " besser " stage ; that is, before they are perfectly soft and ripe. 

 These have the peculiarity of losing their astringency before they be- 



According to Masselot (ibid., p. 124), the total value of this quantity of 

 fruit would be about 95 cents (5 francs). If this be true, the getaa receives 

 about twice as much for harvesting Fteemy as for harvesting Deglet Noor dates, 

 which seems improbable. 

 92 



