252 DATEGROWING 



slightly smaller than Kasbeh, and is said to be less 

 affected by rain at the time of ripening than any other 

 variety of the region. 



Khadhrawi, Khadrawi, Khudrawee, The 

 Verdant.* Next to Halawi, the most important 

 of the Busreh dates, and the staple diet of wealthy 

 Arabs, who rarely offer any other kind to visitors. 

 It has proved itself better adapted to conditions in 

 California and Arizona than any other Persian 

 Gulf variety yet tested, and this fact and its excel- 

 lent qualities insure it a permanent place in plantations 

 here. It has the advantage of bearing fruit earlier 

 than any other offshoot at Busreh; sometimes in the 

 second year after planting and usually in the third, 

 if given good care. It ripens its dates only a few 

 days later than Halawi (say September 15), and 

 bears a heavy crop. Its mild, satisfying flavor, 

 which never cloys the palate, and its "coldness," 

 cause its use in great quantities even at Baghdad, 

 where it brings as high a price as Khustawi and many 

 other dessert dates. It is grown only to slight extent 

 at Baghdad, but is rather more common at Mandali 

 and Diyala, where the growers consider it is a little 

 larger in size than the Busreh product. The palm 

 is vigorous and healthy; conspicuous for the length of 

 its spines (sometimes six inches), which make a wide 

 angle with the petiole. 



As seen at Busreh, the fruit is oblong to oblong- 

 elliptical, widest at or near center, thence tapering 

 slightly to the broad, somewhat flattened base, and 



*The root means simply green, and doubtless refers to the foliage 

 of the palm. Classical lexicographers pretend the variety was so 

 named because the fruit falls while still green, but as that is not the 

 fact, their etymology must be considered fanciful. 



