DATE VARIETIES 281 



dark color of this date is its principal drawback. It 

 has done well in America. 



Sba el Aroosa. See Asabi al Arus. 



Shukkar, Sugar, a fairly common date around 

 Baghdad, and much esteemed, selling in the market 

 for a higher price than Khustawi. In general, it is 

 only eaten fresh, although when packed in skins or 

 boxes it keeps well. This date is brown in color, 

 rather long but not otherwise large. It ripens in 

 midseason and bears well. 



Siwi, an Egyptian variety new to California. 

 Said to be perfumed, very sweet and of good quality. 



Sukkari, Sugary, probably would get more 

 votes than any other if the Arabs of the Baghdad 

 region were asked to name the best soft date. Sultan 

 'Abdul Hamid, in fact, used to have a shipment of 

 dates of this variety sent to him at Constantinople 

 every year. At Baghdad the palm is rare; it is 

 reputed to be more common at Baqubah and Mandali, 

 but never appears on the market. Most of the dates 

 are eaten fresh, but they also pack well. The palm 

 is vigorous and hardy, but a shy bearer, ripening its 

 dates from the middle of August to the first of 

 September. If cured properly they have a perfect 

 caramel consistency. 



The date is oblong-ovate to elliptical in form, 

 widest at or near center; thence narrowing slightly 

 toward the flattened base and the broadly pointed 

 apex. Size medium large, length one and three- 

 eighths to one and five-eighths inch, breadth three- 



