80 DATE VARIETIES AND DATE CULTURE IN TUNIS. 



(p. 102). Also known as Rhars (or Ghars or Gheress) 

 Mettigui. Fruit If to over 2 inches long, two-fifths to nearly one- 

 half as wide, oblong or inversely egg-shaped, bay colored when ripe, 

 the surface somewhat shining ; the flesh 2 to 4 lines thick, very soft ; 

 the slender seed about three-fifths as long as the fruit, not more than 

 one-third as wide as long, broad and rounded at both ends. (Fig. 

 26.) The ripe fruit does not keep, its shape well when preserved. 

 The stalks and branches of the fruit clusters are bright orange. The 

 trunk is stout and the foliage luxuriant, the numerous long leaves 

 being crowded with long, broad leaflets. 



This variety, so abundant and so important in the oases of eastern 

 Algeria, is rare in Tunis, its place being taken by varieties such as 

 Fteemy and Okht Fteemy. (See pp. 68 and 79.) While the latter, 

 however, are among the latest ripening kinds, Rhars is one of the 

 earliest. It is said by Masselot to begin to ripen in the Jerid as 

 early as the end of July. The fruit is large, bay colored when ripe, 

 Avi J V ii'upy, translucent flesh, very sweet and rich 



flavored. Although not one of the 

 best-keeping sorts, it is preserved by 

 natives in skins for use during the 

 winter. No offshoots of this variety 

 were imported from Tunis, as the 

 Department of Agriculture had pre- 

 viously introduced large numbers from 

 Algeria. 



FIG. 27.-Outlines of Lagoo seed and L.AGOO (p. 102). Fruit nearlv 2 



fruit. (Natural size.) . . J ., 



inches long, less than one-half as wide, 



oblong, tapering slightly to the apex, more or less curved, bay to 

 light maroon colored when ripe, the surface somewhat shining; the 

 flesh about 2 lines thick, rather tough, dark colored; the seed slen- 

 der, three-fifths to two-thirds as long as the fruit, not more than 

 one-third as wide as long, russet brown, its surface roughened with 

 fine wrinkles. (Fig. 27.) The stalks and branches of the fruit 

 clusters are orange colored. The crown of foliage is rather small, 

 the leaves short and rather stiff, with long, rather wide leaflets. The 

 short, densely crowded fruit clusters do not equal the leafstalks. 

 (PL VI, fig. 2.) 



This variety is apparently confined to the Jerid oases, where it is 

 fairly common and is highly esteemed by the natives. It is one of 

 the earliest kinds, being said to ripen by the middle of September. 

 and even (according to Masselot) in August. The fruit is of 

 medium length, narrow, and is dark colored when ripe. The flesh 

 is rather thin, but soft, very sweet, and of an agreeable, character- 

 istic flavor, somewhat resembling the Rhars variety. It keeps well 

 M 



