282 DATEGROWING 



fourths inch. Surface somewhat rough, translucent 

 orange brown to light brown in color, overlaid with 

 a thick, blue-gray bloom. Skin thin and tender, 

 deeply wrinkled in all directions but adhering to the 

 flesh closely. Flesh soft and very delicate in texture, 

 three-eighths inch thick, clear, translucent, golden 

 brown in color, with no fibre around seed. Seed 

 oblong-elliptical, almost blunt at base and broadly 

 pointed at apex, three-fourths inch long, five-sixteenths 

 inch broad, smooth, russet, the ventral channel open. 

 Flavor mild and delicate, agreeably rich but not cloying. 



Sultani, The Sultan's Date, a name widely 

 applied in Egypt and possibly covering more than one 

 variety. The best known is a dry date grown in 

 sandy soil in many of the western oases (as far west 

 as Siwah) and also in Nubia. Ripens in September. 

 It is said that this date used to be exported to Con- 

 stantinople, where it was eaten by the Sultan, hence 

 its name; this is probably a fable. The variety is 

 short in proportion to its breadth; red at apex and 

 lighter colored at base; flesh thin, dry and rather 

 brittle; seed large. Said to be aromatic. 



Said to be also called Kilma, in Nubia. 

 Delchevalerie mentions a variety of the same name 

 in Lower Egypt (province of Sharqia), which he 

 describes as orange yellow, when fresh, (in which 

 condition it is generally eaten) , chestnut when cured ; 

 large and perfumed. He says it is also called Safar 

 al Dunya, Voyage in the World — possibly because 

 it was an object of export. It may be the Nubian 

 date, changed by climate. 



The variety has not yet fruited in the United 

 States. 



