78 DATE VARIETIES AND DATE CULTURE IN TUNIS. 



shaped, broadest near the base, dull dark purplish maroon when ripe ; 

 the flesh H to 2 lines thick, the firm white central portion nearly as 

 thick as the soft, dark outer zone; seed small and thick, only about 

 one-half as long as the fruit and about one-half as wide as long, 

 narrowed at both ends. (Fig. 23.) The stalks and branches of the 

 fruit clusters are light orange. 



This variety, which is one of the most highly esteemed and fre- 

 quently planted in the Nefzaoua, does not appear to be found in the 

 Jerid. It is a dark-colored, rather small date, with moderately soft, 

 dark-colored flesh, and with a clean, dry skin. It is very sweet and 

 of a fine flavor, suggesting that of the Deglet Noor. The number of 

 Doonga offshoots imported w r as 10, all from the Nefzaoua. 



BESSER HALOO (p. 101). Also spelled " Bisra Haloua." The name 

 means a sweetmeat (haloo) that is eaten just before it is thoroughly 

 ripe (besser). Fruit 1^ to 1J inches long, about two-thirds as wide, 

 broadest at or above the middle, rounded at the apex, keeping its 

 shape w r ell when ripe, bright bay colored ; the flesh 2 lines thick, com- 

 paratively dry when the fruit is ripe, light brown ; the seed two- thirds 



to three-fourths as 



long as the fruit 



generally two-fifths 



as wide as long, 



with more or less 



conspicuous wing- 



like ridges on the 



sides. (Fig. 24.) 



The leaves are short 



FIG. 23. Outlines of Docmga and rather Stiff, with FIG. 24. Outlines of Besser 

 seed^ and fruit. (Natural comparat i ve ly short 22iS? "^ "*" ' .^ 



stalks and wide leaf- 

 lets. The spreading or ascending stalks of the fruit clusters are so 

 short that the small bunches are nearly hidden by the foliage. 



This is a common and highly esteemed variety in the Jerid, and is 

 said to be found also in the Nefzaoua, as well as at Biskra and in the 

 Oued Rirh, in Algeria. It is one of the kinds that is most sought by 

 the nomads of the interior, who come to the oases in the autumn to 

 exchange their grain for dates. It is a small, light-colored date, with 

 thick, comparatively firm flesh. It is very sweet and has an agree- 

 able flavor, somewhat intermediate between that of Lagoo (p. 80) and 

 that of Horra (p. 71). The natives seem to prefer it when not per- 

 fectly ripe. It matures early in October. According to information 

 obtained by M. Minangoin, it yields a good crop every year and is 

 one of the six most productive varieties of the Jerid. At Nefta the 

 amins (see p. 32) rank it among the four most salt-resistant varieties 



92 



