DATE VARIETIES 297 



would hang them up in the window just as they do 

 a bunch of bananas. 



The principal export of the date from Baghdad, 

 however, is in its third or dry state ("Zahidi Yabis"), 

 when it may be described as follows: Form same as 

 given above; size a trifle smaller. Surface hard and 

 dry, slightly rough, deep straw color with sometimes 

 a translucent, dark amber portion near apex. Skin 

 hard and dry, tough and not easily broken; smooth 

 near base and usually somewhat wrinkled and folded, 

 and separating from flesh toward apex. Flesh dry 

 but not mealy, three-sixteenths inch thick, dull white 

 in color with frequently an amber portion near tip. 

 Seed as described above. Flavor very sugary. 



The variety has not yet fruited in California, 

 but should be very successful. In the unfavorable 

 climatic conditions of Tempe the only drawback to 

 it has been a tendency, shown by most dates there, 

 to ripen unevenly. 



Zumreh Mimun, The Offshoot of Mimun (a 

 personal name*), a very rare variety of the Ziban 

 in Algeria, probably a derivative of Deglet Nur, as it 

 is said that an outsider can hardly distinguish the two 

 varieties of dates, even if he sees them side by side. 

 The date is described as of the same size and color as 

 Deglet Nur, equally translucent, ripening in October, 

 keeping well. The palm yields heavily only if it is 

 given very good care. This variety has not yet 

 fruited in the United States. 



*It is the name, in Arabic orthography, of the famous Jewish 

 scientist of the twelfth century A. D., Maimonides. To name a 

 choice variety of date after him is certainly heaping coals of fire, 

 for he denounced dates as injurious, and advised that they should be 

 eaten rarely and then only before meals. Abu Amran Mouchi b. 

 Mimoun, The Principles of Physical and Moral Health, tr. by M. 

 Carcousse, Alger, 1887, p. 23. 



