DATE VARIETIES 273 



California. The small, dark brown dates ripen in 

 late September, and are of excellent flavor but do 

 not keep well. The yield is heavy. It is doubtful 

 whether this palm is correctly labeled. 



Qintar, colloquially Al Guntar, The Hundred- 

 weight, probably referring to its yield. One of the 

 attractive Persian Gulf varieties recently introduced 

 to the United States. A small date, but highly 

 prized by the Busreh Arabs. It is so full of syrup 

 that it has to be brought from the palm in a basin, 

 but if cured properly this drains away, leaving a 

 date of delicious caramel consistency, quite similar 

 to Khalaseh in flavor. The palm begins bearing at 

 the age of seven or eight years in Busreh; its fruits 

 mature late in September or early in October, and will 

 keep for seven or eight months. The variety is 

 rare. 



In form the fruit is broadly oblong to oval, widest 

 at or near center, narrowing slightly toward the 

 rounded or slightly flattened base and the rounded 

 apex. Size medium small, length one and one- 

 eighth to one and three-eighths inch, breadth at 

 widest point five-eighths to seven-eighths inch. 

 Surface slightly rough, translucent reddish brown to 

 purplish maroon in color, overspread with a thick 

 bluish bloom. Skin rather thick but not tough, 

 coarsely wrinkled and adhering to the flesh closely. 

 Flesh very firm and of caramel consistency, one- 

 fourth inch in thickness, translucent, deep reddish 

 amber colored; the fibrous lining of seed cavity almost 

 wanting. Seed oblong-obovate, blunt at base and 

 sharply pointed at apex, three-fourths inch long, 

 five-sixteenths inch wide, smooth, fawn-colored, 



