VARIETIES OF MINOR IMPORTANCE. 



89 



FIG. 45. Outlines of Karooy seed 

 and fruit. (Natural size.) 



moderately sweet, flavor agreeable, similar to that of the dry dates. 

 Number of offshoots imported, 5. 



TENASEEN (p. 105). French orthography, Tanessin or Tenassine.) 

 Fruit If to If inches long, about one-half as wide, oblong, not keep- 

 ing its shape well when preserved, black 

 when ripe; the flesh very soft, nearly 

 black ; the seed about three-fifths as long 

 as the fruit, about one-third as wide as 

 long, rather dark brown. 



Rare in the Jerid, common in the Ouet! 

 Souf and Oued Rirh in Algeria. The 

 flavor of the very sweet, soft, dark-col- 

 ored flesh suggests Tozer'Zaid Safra (see 

 p. 85), but is more agreeable. Is said to 

 ripen in October. Crown of foliage hor- 

 izontal, umbrella-like. One offshoot imported from the Jerid. 



ITEEMA (p. 106). (French orthog- 

 raphy, Ytima.) The name means 

 "an orphan girl." Fruit slightly 

 more than 2 inches long, about one- 

 half as wide, widest at or near the 

 middle, rounded at base, somewhat 

 pointed and conspicuously not sym- 

 metrical at apex, not keeping its 

 shape well when preserved, chestnut 

 brown, with a slight purple tinge 

 when ripe, the surface shiny; the 

 flesh over 2 lines thick, extremely 

 soft ; the seed nearly one-half as long as the fruit, about two-fifths as 

 wide as long, chestnut colored. (Fig. 46.) 

 Rare in the Jerid, common in the Al- 

 gerian oases. A very handsome date, with 

 sirupy, translucent flesh, extremely sweet, 

 rather insipid in flavor. An early ripen- 

 ing sort, maturing in the Jerid at the end 

 of September (according to Masselot). 

 Eaten fresh. Number of offshoots im- 

 ported, 15 (2 only from Tunis, the rest 

 from Algeria). 



KHALT HAMEED (p. 106). Fruit 1 



inches long, about one-half as wide, elliptical in form, generally 

 slightly narrowed at both ends, keeping its shape well when preserved, 

 bright maroon when ripe ; the flesh 1 J lines thick, rather firm, not very 

 sugary; the seed smooth, more than one-half as long as the fruit, 

 about two-fifths as wide as long, widest above the middle. (Fig. 47.) 



92 



FIG. 4o. Outlines of Iteema seed 

 fruit. (Natural size.) 



and 



FIG. 47. Outlines of Khalt Hameed 

 seed and fruit. (Natural size. ) 



