DATES OF EGYPT AND THE SUDAN. 23 



BINT AISCHA. 



(Notes taken in Gizeh Garden, Nov. 12, 1913.) 



The trees of the Bint Aischa variety are the smallest in the park collection, though 

 the leaves nearly equal those of Samany in length. TTiey are 14 to 15 feet long, with 

 rather slender rihs strongly rounded dorsally and decidedly arched ventrally. The 

 leaves have a distinctly glaueous-green color and are heavily coated with waxy bloom. 

 The spine area is from 2 to 3 feet, the slender, acute spines from one-half inch to 5 or 

 6 and up to 9 inches in length. They are followed by ribbon pinnae 2 to 3 feet long, 

 one-half inch to 1 inch broad, and so soft and flexible as to be quite pendulous. 



The normal pinnae are 24 to 28 inches long, 1 to H inches broad, diminishing evenly 

 to 14 or ] 6 inches long at the apex. The lateral faces of the ribs and attachments of the 

 pinnae are rather narrow, the pulvini light. Toward the apex of the blade many of 

 the pinnae have the proximal fold broadened into a wing. The thickness of the pinnae 

 is 0.017 to 0.01 S of an inch. 



The orange-colored friutstalks are of medium size. 



The fruits are H to 2 inches long, about 1 inch broad, oval, or broadest at two-fifths 

 of the length from the base, rounding rather abruptly to an obtuse apex. The hard 

 ripe color is near to "Bordeaux" (R. XII), with a conspicuous pale lilac bloom, 

 lighter than "mauvette" (R. XXV). As ripening advances the color deepens to 

 "burnt lake" (R. XII), and from that to nearly black. The outer flesh is then near 

 "raisin black" (R. XLI V). whitening toward the center. The skin then slips readily 

 from the flesh, which is surrounded by a thin, sirupy layer. 



The rather small seeds, 1 inch long and one-quarter of an inch broad, are smooth and 

 tapered slightly toward the base. Their color is nearest to "auburn" (R. II). The 

 germ pore is generally one-third of the seed length from the base, the ventral furrow 

 being light and shallow. 



The flavor is rich and sweet, and this is a deservedly popular little date. It is 

 quite widely disseminated from Rosetta to Merg, but is nowhere planted as a leading 

 variety. 



CORRAGIA. 



The Corragia date is a Dongola variety known only from ripe samples obtained at 

 Merowe, on September 24. 



The fruits are If to If inches long, about 1 inch broad, with square blocky base and 

 body diminishing slightly to a broadly rounded apex (PI. VIII). The rather thick skin 

 is generally closely adherent and the surface thrown in short, coarse reticulations. 



The color is rather deeper than "chestnut" (R. II) with a short basal area approach- 

 ing "mikado brown" (R. XXIX), and there is a. pale lavender bloom. 



T. e thin semidry flesh is spongy, with a good deal of tough fiber within. It is 

 "cream buff (R. XXX) in color. The flavor is sweetish, but lacking in quality, 

 The large smooth stone is 1 inch long, a little more than three-eighths of an inch broad, 

 with broadly rounded ends. The small germ pore is slightly apical, the ventral furrow 

 moderately broad and deep; color, dull "cinnamon brown" (R. XV), shading to 

 "cliarrioi.-;" HI. XXX > at the base. Thi> is a date of fine appearance, which is belie I 

 by i' - I ; in fleah and third-rate quality. 



I AUG. 



The Faligdate is a i ariety men1 ioned^y Beadnell 1 as growing in the Khargeh < >asis 

 but was seen by the writer only at Bashida village, in Dakhleh, where it was served 

 i fruit. A complete description was not obtained. 



The- fruits are large, having a lengl h of about 2.J indies, Ion- dlipiical in outline, 

 color a rich waxy yellow, fleah very rich and sweet, but so soft and sirupy as to !><• 

 difficult to eal It i- »id to keep but a borl time. 



i Beadnell, H. J. L. An Egyptian Oa to ... p. 212-2:;:'., 2 pi, London, L900. 



