DATES OP EGYPT AND THE SUDAN". 



33 



by the Egyptian people, apparently in much the same way as they like a stalk of sugar 

 cane. In a ripe state this date is a disappointment, both as to appearance and as to 

 quality. 



It ripens to an unattractive, nondescript color, as near "purple-drab " as to anything, 

 and mottled with "dark purple-drab" (both R. XLV). The very thin skin wrinkles 

 slightly, slipping with some difficulty from the flesh, from which it is parted by a 

 thin layer of sirupy sap. 



The color of the flesh is a pale "honey yellow" (R. XXX), nearly white at the 

 center, and with some "rag" surrounding the seed. The flavor is insipid, and it ranks 

 very low in keeping quality, not containing sugar enough to prevent quick souring. 

 The seed is coarse and rough, in the partially ripe fruit completely filling the cavity. 

 Its germ pore is placed slightly nearest the base, and the furrow is broad and shallow. 



This variety is a good deal planted in private grounds about Alexandria and Ramleh, 

 but the only regions of its culture on a 

 commercial scale are about Edku and 

 Rashid, the native name for Rosetta. 

 "While some of these plantations are 

 within reach of irrigation water, more 

 frequently they are grown in dune slopes 

 of pure sand, where the roots readily 

 reach a brackish ground water (PL II, 

 fig. 2). The cool, humid climate of the 

 coastal region seems especially favorable 

 to this succulent variety, which is one 

 of the latest to mature. 



In some of the Cairo fruit stores glaced 

 dates were on sale in fancy cartons, pre- 

 pared by a Greek firm in Alexandria, 

 which, from the peculiar form of the fruit, 

 could have been no other than this variety. 



The offshoots of the Samany command 

 the highest prices of any variety in Egypt 

 for the reason that they are in great de- 

 mand for planting in the gardens of new country and suburban places which are being 

 built up around Alexandria. But few of this variety have been planted around 

 Cairo. The only ones observed are in the Gizeh Garden, next to the Zoological 

 Gardens and formerly a part of the palace grounds of Ismail Pasha, where they are 

 planted along avenues with Zagloul, Bint Aischa, and several other varieties. 



SIWAH (SIWI). 



(Notes made near Hauamdiyeh, November 5 and 17, 1913.) 



'I "•■ of ili<- Biwah date have large heavy hunks with coarse scales from the leaf 

 bases am] heavy, stiffly spreading lops. The loaves are 14 to 15£ feet long, with very 

 '"••'■ J base strongly rounded lower rib, which tapers gradually but still remains stiff 

 and heavy a) the apex. The spine unm is from 2f, l.o A feel,, the spines very strong and 

 heavy, bluntly acute, from 2 to 8 or 9 inches long. The stiff, coarse pinnse following 

 these are 24 to 29 inches long and I to 1 1 inches broad. They diminish regularly in 

 length toward the apes and increase in breadth up to 10 or even 1 1 feet from the base, 

 being usually L7 to 20 inches long and If to 2 inches broad at8 to L0 feet from the base 

 and ii to 14 inche long and 1 1 to IJ inches broad al the apex. Many of the upper 

 pinnse have the proximal fold broadened into a wing and are decurrent, The pulvini 

 on the spines are unusually heavy and (lark cream colored, being somewhat lighter 

 on the I" - expo ed pinnae. For the first 6 feet oi the blade the pinna? comprise only 



Fig. 8. — Outlines of the Samany date in "rutab" 

 (fresh) condition, on the Cairo market, Novem- 

 ber 16, 1913; shipped from Edku, on the Mediter- 

 ranean coast . ( Natural size . ) 



