

VARIETIES OP THE DATE PALM IN TUNIS. 57 



In classing the varieties as of first, second, or minor importance, 

 such points as the size, flavor, earliness of ripening, and keeping 

 quality of the fruit, the thickness of the flesh, and the proportionate 

 size of the seed, as well as the rapidity of growth, hardiness, and pro- 

 ductiveness of the trees have all been considered. Thus the Fteemy 

 variety (PL X, fig. 3), although not ranking with the Deglet Noor 

 (PI. VIII, fig. 1) in respect to flavor and cleanness of skin, is yet a 

 very attractive date and is remarkable for the ease with which it is 

 propagated, its rapid growth, vigor, and productivity. Hence it has 

 seemed advisable to place it in the first class, and the Kenta variety 

 (PL X, fig. 2) has been inserted there for similar reasons. On the 

 other hand, the Mokh Begry (PL X, fig. 4), although of delicious 

 flavor and highly esteemed by the Arabs, is not as attractive as other 

 kinds in the shape and size. of its fruit, besides being a rather light 

 bearer. Consequently it is ranked as of secondary importance. 



It should be remembered that, in judging such characters as flavor, 

 personal bias enters very largely into the equation. In regard to the 

 fruits of several varieties, the waiter's opinion did not at all agree 

 with that of the inhabitants of the oases, nor has it always coincided 

 with that of colleagues in the Department of Agriculture with whom 

 he has compared notes in testing dates. 



Another point that should be emphasized is the great likelihood 

 that the varieties imported will undergo more or less change in their 

 now environment, some improving and others deteriorating. It is 

 by no means impossible that varieties which in Tunis appear to be 

 second-rate or even of minor importance will take rank among the 

 best when grown in the United States, and s that some of the kinds 

 that are classed in this paper as of first importance will not prove to 

 be the best adapted to our conditions. At all events it will be ex- 

 tremely interesting to watch the behavior of the Tunisian varieties 

 that have been introduced into the United States. 



Among Tunis dates the Menakher variety (see also p. 60) must be 

 given first rank, so far as the quality of the fruits is concerned. (See 

 Pis. V and VIII, fig. 2.) These are fully equal to the Deglet Noor 

 in flavor, cleanness of skin, and keeping quality, and are usually 1J to 

 If times as large as the latter. The fruits appear to ripen earlier, 

 and the trees are said to give considerably heavier yields than the 

 Deglet Noor variety. Unfortunately Menakher palms are so ex- 

 tremely rare that only nine offshoots of this variety could be obtained 

 for importation into the United States. Even rarer is the Selatny 

 date (see fig. 52, p. 93), the fruits of which resemble and perhaps 

 equal the Deglet Noor in flavor, and are as large as those of the 

 Menakher. These two varieties are in fact nearly extinct. At the or- 

 dinary rate of propagation it would require a great many years to 



92 



