VARIETIES OF MINOR IMPORTANCE. 



85 



at apex, not keeping its shape well when preserved, very dark brown 



purple (almost black) when ripe; the flesh 3 to 5 lines thick, very soft 



and dark colored ; the large seed two-thirds to four-fifths as long as 



the fruit, one-half to two-thirds as wide as 



long, smooth. (Fig. 36.) The stalks and 



branches of the fruit clusters are deep orange 



colored. 



Rare in the Jerid, common in Algeria. A 



date remarkable for its round shape and very 



soft, almost black flesh. Flavor peculiar and 



characteristic, even perfectly ripe fruit re- 

 taining a certain amount of astringency. 



Number of offshoots imported (from the 



Jerid), 5. 



TOZER ZAID SAFRA (p. 100) .Fruit 1 to 1 



inches long, one-half to two-thirds as wide as 



long, oblong or oblong egg-shaped, widest near 



the middle, broad, and rounded at apex, 

 not keeping its shape well when preserved ; 

 the flesh 1J lines thick, extremely soft and 

 sirupy, nearly black; the relatively large 

 seed about one-half as long as the fruit, 

 two-fifths to one-half as wide as long, 

 light brown. (Fig. 37.) The leaves are 

 long and very numerous, with short stalks, 

 almost concealing the fruit clusters. 



Common in the Jerid. Flavor charac- 

 teristic, resembling that of Baydh Ham- 

 mam (p. 76), not attractive to the writer, 



FIG. 36. Outlines of Tanta- 

 boosht seed and fruit. 

 (Natural size.) 



FIG. 37. Outlines of Tozer Zaid 

 Saf ra seed and fruit. (Natural 

 size.) 



but much appreciated by the natives. 

 Generally eaten fresh, but sometimes 

 preserved for a short time in skins. 

 Yields heavily. Fruit ripens in the 

 latter part of October. Said at Nefta 

 to be one of the four most salt-resistant 

 varieties. Number of offshoots im- 

 ported, 9. 



TOZER ZAID KHALA 6 (p. 100). Fruit 

 1| to If inches long, three-fifths to 

 two-thirds as wide, inversely egg- 

 shaped or oblong, broad and rounded 

 at apex, not keeping its shape well 



FIG. 38. Outlines of Tozer Zaid Khalr, 

 seed and fruit. (Natural size.) 



o The very similar name " Taser Seit " is applied to a variety occurring in the 

 Mzab oasis. 



6 Said to be known as Abdul Aziz (or Abd-el-Azaz) in the Oued Souf. A 

 variety of the latter name occurs in the Oued Rirh. 

 92 



