28 BULLETIN 271, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



in error. How he should have overlooked the real Hayany, the most numerous and 

 popular date in the Egyptian delta, is difficult to understand. 



The essential points of the discussion are that there is no such date variety as 

 " Birket el Haggi " and that the trees received from Mr. Zervudachi under that name 

 and planted in the Tempe Garden under S. P. I. No. 7635 are Hayany, identical with 

 those of the earlier importation by Mr. Fairchild under S. P. I. No. 6438. 



JAOW ISWOD. 



A Dongola variety known only from samples of the fruits, which were procured 

 from near Merowe in a ripe condition on September 24. 



The fruit is oblique and unsymmetrical, 2\ to 2J inches long, seven-eighths of an 

 inch to 1 inch broad, the broadest portion being slightly above the base, from which it 

 tapers granually to a rather blunt apex (PI. X). The thick skin is closely adherent, 

 coarsely wrinkled longitudinally, with some smaller cross reticulations. The basal 

 portion is colored "carob brown" (R. XIV), with the apical portions more nearly 

 "chestnut" (R. II). 



The semidry flesh is about one-fourth of an inch thick in the thickest portions and is 

 "cream buff" (R. XXX) in color. The sweetish flavor is suggestive of dried sweet 

 apples. In keeping qualities this variety seems about perfect. The oblong seed is 

 about seven-eighths of an inch long, five-sixteenths of an inch broad, somewhat flat- 

 tened, broadly rounded at either end, the germ pore rather nearer the apex, the ventral 

 furrow narrow and deep; color near to "tawny olive" (R. XXIX), shading to "clay 

 -color" (R. XXIX). 



JAOW OBIAD. 



A Dongola variety of the dry type known only from samples of the ripe fruit, which 

 were procured at Merowe on September 24. 



Fruits broadly ovate, somewhat oblique and unsymmetrical, 1\ to 1J inches long, 

 three-fourths to seven-eighths of an inch broad, the shining surface being broken by 

 well-marked but rather fine reticulations, the basal portion sometimes smooth (PI. 

 XI). The color is difficult to place, owing to a translucence, but may be described as 

 between "chestnut" and "burnt sienna" (R. II), or sometimes more nearly "amber 

 brown" (R. Ill), with the basal one-third often close to "honey yellow" or "chamois" 

 (R. XXX). Many of the fruits show a faint lavender bloom. 



The firm flesh, one-eighth of an inch thick, is "cream buff" (R. XXX) in color, with 

 an agreeable flavor of honey wafers and no suggestion of astringency. 



The oblong seeds are three-fourths of an inch long, three-eighths of an inch broad, 

 nearly smooth, the ends broadly rounded, the apex often apiculate. The germ pore 

 is placed slightly apically and the ventral furrow is narrow and rather deep. The color 

 may be called a dull "snuff brown" (R. XXIX), with the basal portion "chamois" 

 or "cream buff" (R. XXX). 



Examined June 1, or more than 8 months from ripening, these fruits were found in 

 perfect condition. 



KOBI. 



One of the latest dates to come to the Cairo market from Edku and Rashid is the 

 Kobi variety. The trees are not grown in large numbers and the fruits are shipped 

 hard ripe in date-leaf crates to be consumed fresh. They were seen in Cairo from 

 December 16 to 20. The fruits are about \\ inches long and seven-eighths of an inch 

 broad, the greatest diameter at a little above the middle, from which they contract 

 abruptly to a broadly rounded apex. The color is close to "amaranth purple." 

 ripening to a "blackish red-purple" or "burnt lake" (all R. XII). The rather brittle 

 flesh is sweetish, but without character, and it ferments readily during ripening. 



The oblong seed is about seven-eighths of an inch long, three-eighths of an inch 

 broad, slightly rough, with broadly rounded ends. The apical portion is colored from 



