

VARIETIES OF THE DATE PALM IN TUNIS. 59 



bright bay color and transparent flesh, nor does its flavor belie its 

 appearance. It seems to be an earlier ripening kind than the Deglet 

 Noor, and might be expected to take its place in regions where the 

 sum total of temperatures is not quite sufficient to ripen the latter. 



Although decidedly inferior in flavor and probably in keeping 

 quality to the Deglet Noor, the Fteemy (Pis. VII and X, fig. 3) is a 

 fine variety. It is by far the most abundant kind grown in the Jerid 

 oases and is surpassed by none in productiveness, rapidity of growth, 

 vigor, and hardiness. The fruit is handsome and highly colored, 

 the flesh soft and sirupy, and the flavor so rich and sweet that Fteemy 

 dates can not be eaten in large quantity at any one time. In the 

 Avriter's judgment this is a finer fruit than the Rhars, that is so ex- 

 tensively grown in Algeria, although it shares with the latter the 

 disadvantage of being sticky when fresh and consequently difficult 

 to handle as a dessert fruit. It is a late-ripening sort, little if at all 

 earlier than the Deglet Noor, and hence should not be planted except 

 in the warmest localities of the Southwestern States. It has, how- 

 ever, a decided advantage over the Deglet Noor variety in point of 

 rapidity and vigor of growth and in productiveness, being said to 

 yield heavily every year. 



Areshty (fig. 13, p. 71) is a variety considerably resembling the 

 Boo Affar in size and shape, but is less richly flavored and less 

 brightly colored. In its rather firm flesh and wholesome, moderately 

 sweet flavor it resembles dates of the dry class. Were it not for the 

 great size of its fruits it would be somewhat doubtful whether this 

 should be classed as a variety of primary importance, as the flavor, 

 although attractive, is not to be compared with that of the Deglet 

 Noor and hardly equals that of the Fteemy variety. 



The Horra variety (PI. X, fig. 1) is very highly spoken of by 

 French settlers in the oases, and is exported in small quantity to 

 Europe. While from a botanical point of view it belongs to the " dry 

 date " class, in reality its flesh is thick and never becomes very dry or 

 bard. It is easily the finest of its type. The flavor is delicious, yet 

 not so rich as to fatigue the palate. When we consider, furthermore, 

 the good size of the handsome fruit, its early ripening, and the hardi- 

 ness of the palms, there seems ample justification for giving the 

 Horra a very high rank among Tunisian varieties. 



Ranking next after the Horra among the dates of the dry type is 

 the Kenta variety (PI. X, fig- 2). This has a medium-sized fruit, 

 smaller than the Horra. Its flesh is thicker and more tender than in 

 most of its class. It ripens early, preserves well, and is one of the 

 most productive of all varieties. The flavor is very agreeable and 

 wholesome, while not so rich as to be easily cloying. Kenta palms 

 appear to be unusually hardy and resistant to alkali in the soil. 



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