60 



3198 to 3203. Phoenix dactylifera. Date palm. 



From Algeria. Received through Mr. W. T. Swingle, 1899. 



' ' This collection of elate palms was obtained from Mr. Yahia Ben Kassem, of Orleans- 

 ville, Algeria. Orleansville is north of the coast region, not far from the coast 

 of the Mediterranean, and only a slight elevation above the sea. It is outside of the 

 region where the date palm usually matures its fruit, but Mr. Yahia has succeeded 

 in finding a very early species wdiieh has ripened in his garden. These plants were 

 dug up, placed in tubs, and shipped to America in March, 1899. They were for- 

 warded upon receipt to the experiment station of Arizona, to be planted in the palm 

 garden at Tempe, where they are now growing. 



3198. Tadala (also called Teddala). This very early sort, brought into gen- 



eral notice by Mr. Yahia, was originally introduced into Orleans- 

 ville from the M'Zab region in North Sahara, where it is one of the 

 most highly esteemed varieties. The dates are very long and slen- 

 der, sometimes reaching 3 inches in length, and said to be of good 

 flavor and to keep very well. The palm is of very vigorous growth 

 and has very long leaves and thick stem. This plant is a sucker 

 brought from the M'Zab in the spring of 1898. It was then planted 

 in Mr. Yahia' s garden at Orleansville, where it grew for a year, 

 being dug up and put in a tub for shipment to America in March, 

 1899. 



3199. Tim djouhert. This is another variety introduced from the M' Zab coun- 



try by Mr. Yahia. It is a short, thick date of good flavor. This 

 plant was also brought from the M' Zab as a sucker in the spring of 

 1898 and was grown a year in Mr. Yahia' s garden. 



3200. Tadala. The same variety as No. 3198. This plant was a large 



sucker cut from a bearing tree in Mr. Yahia' s garden in Orleans- 

 ville. It was removed from a tree early in March, 1899. 



3201. Deglet nour. This is a famous "light date" from the Algerian 



Sahara. It is the best-known African date, being sold in great 

 quantity in the Paris and London markets. It is of medium size, 

 amber colored, of exceedingly good quality. This plant was 

 brought from Biskra and planted in Mr. Yahia' s garden in 1897, 

 where it remained two years, being dug up for shipment early in 

 March, 1899. This plant produced a few flowers early in 1898. 



3202. Deglet el beida. This is one of the so-called dry dates, unlike the 



ordinary "soft dates," which remain attached to the fruit stalk. 

 These fall to the ground when ripe. They are very firm in texture 

 and are perfectly dry; they keep. indefinitely and are consumed in 

 enormous quantities by the Arabs, who prefer them to the soft 

 dates for a regular diet. This is one of the best varieties of dry 

 dates all through the northern Sahara. This plant is from Mr. 

 Yahia' s garden at Orleansville. Its origin was not learned. 



3203. llhars or G'hqrs, sometimes spelled R'ars. This is a standard variety 



of early soft dates in all parts of the northern Sahara. It is much 

 preferred by the Arabs on account of its keeping qualities. It is 

 commonly offered for sale in tight sheepskins. It is of good flavor 

 but has a very large pit. The plant shipped under this number 

 was brought from the M'Zab country in the spring of 1898 and was 

 grown one year in Mr. Yahia' s garden at Orleansville; was dug up 

 and shipped early in March, 1899." (Swingle.). 



3204. Machilus tomentosa? 



Anis -wood. 



From Algeria. Received through Mr. W. T. Swingle, 1899, from the Jardin 

 d'Essai, Mustapha. 



It should be tried as a stock for the Avocado pear. This species, received as 

 M. tomentosa (a name that could not be traced), was introduced into the Jardin d'Essai 

 at Algiers in 1875. It is now a fine pyramidal tree, 40 or 50 feet high. It beats 

 violet-colored fruits the size of a hen's egg, which have the flavor of the Avocado 

 pear, to which this plant is closely allied. The tree is said to be more hardy than the 

 Avocado pear, and it fruits even in Italy. It has been suggested as a stock on which 

 to graft Avocado pear. It furnishes the Anis wood of cabinetmakers. This maybe 

 the Machilus macrantha of the East Indies. Dr. Trabut thinks it may be a species of 

 Persea from western South America. 



