230 DATEGROWING 



date, and is so marketed, particularly in the oasis of 

 El Kantara where, the summer being too short to 

 mature it properly, the fruit has a crisp texture and 

 a little astringeney. In this condition it is little 

 relished by Europeans, although the Kantarans, 

 with a loyal desire to conceal the deficiencies of 

 their climate, declare they would not eat the mushy 

 Deglet Niirs which the people of other oases enjoy. 



The variety matures in October or early in 

 November. In Coachella Valley it tends to dry 

 up or mummify on the palm at the very time it should 

 be filling with syrup; this may be prevented by daily 

 irrigations at the ripening period. The palm demands 

 plenty of care, in the shape of irrigation, fertilization 

 and cultivation, but, given this, shows less tendency 

 than most varieties to rest every other year. The 

 yield averages 100 pounds or more in California. 

 Offshoots are hardy, easily shipped and rooted. 

 The Arabs have the idea that the wood of this variety 

 is more resistant to rot, when placed in the ground, 

 than any other. 



The tree, like those of most particularly choice 

 dates, is notably graceful with its slender trunk, 

 light and delicate foliage, which is of a yellowish 

 green, and its bright yellow fruit stalks, which hang 

 down far below the crown of foliage. Its spines are 

 slender and weak. 



The fruit is one and one-third to two inches long 

 and about one-half as wide, widest near middle, 

 sloping slightly to flattened or depressed base and 

 more abruptly to bluntly pointed apex. Color 



*Students of environment will be interested in the statement 

 that in the Tuat oases of the remote Sahara, Deglet Niir is " degener- 

 ate and despised." Martin, A. G. P. Oasis Sahariemies, p. 290 f. 

 Paris, 1908. 



