296 DATE GROWING 



months and is called Zahidi Kursi, the latter word 

 being Sukkari ("sugary") with the letters transposed. 

 In this state it may be described as follows: Form 

 oblong-obovate, broadest point about two-thirds 

 distant from base to apex, after which it narrows 

 slightly to the rounded apex and to the rather broad, 

 flattened base; size medium, length one and one- 

 quarter inch, breadth seven-eighths inch. Surface 

 smooth, glossy, a beautiful, translucent, golden yellow 

 in color, sometimes light golden brown; bloom 

 unnoticeable. Skin rather thick and not easily 

 broken, rarely wrinkled, and adhering closely to the 

 flesh, which is translucent golden yellow near skin, 

 becoming whitish toward seed; soft, meaty and full 

 of syrup; one-quarter inch thick. Seed oblong, 

 smooth, rounded at base, slightly tapering at apex, 

 three-quarters to seven-eighths inch long, five- 

 sixteenths inch wide, smooth, russet in color, ventral 

 channel open. Flavor sweet, extremely sugary but 

 not at all cloying, and possessing a remarkably 

 fresh or rutab taste. 



If the dates are allowed to remain on the palm 

 a week or two longer, the whole cluster can be cut 

 and hung up in a shop, the dates showing no tendency 

 to become detached, even after four or five months. 

 In this stage, which the Baghdadls call Zahidi Qass, 

 (cut), the fruit is still soft and tender, but not sticky. 

 The flavor is perhaps a trifle less rich than when the 

 fruit is packed in skins, but it still has a unique 

 freshness, so that one could eat such dates in February 

 or March and almost persuade himself that they are 

 fresh from the tree. I believe this date offers great 

 commercial possibilities to California growers, since 

 entire bunches could be furnished to grocers, who 



