222 SEEDS AND PLANTS IMPORTED. 



8746 to 8752 — Continued. 



8749. 



Gunnami. A male variety. "Considered by Hadji Abdulla Negem as the 

 best pollen-producing male in this region. It holds its pollen best, and the 

 latter is found to be 'stronger' than that of any other sort. One male tree 

 suffices for 100 female trees. ' ' {Fairchild. ) (No. 898. ) 



8750. 



Halawi. "One of the standard sorts grown on the Shat-el-Arab River, of 

 Arabia, and it is one of the principal dates shipped to the American market. 

 There must be millions of trees of this variety along the river. A fairly light- 

 colored date, short and thick, with a good-sized stone, and very little fiber 

 about the seed. Grown under the same conditions as No. 8747, and ripens in 

 September." {Fairchild.) (No. 899.) 



8751. 



Khadraivi. "A darker colored, longer date than the Halawi, and inferior to 

 it. It is one of the standard sorts for shipment to America, but is not a deli- 

 cate skinned variety; therefore an excellent packing date. It is a sticky date, 

 and ripens in September or the first of October." (Fairchild. ) (No. 900. ) 



8752. 



Unnamed variety. ' ' Sent without label from Abu Kassib, by Hadji Abdulla 

 Negem, with Nos. 8746 to 8752, for all of which I am indebted to the kind 

 assistance of Mr. H. P. Chalk, agent of Hills Bro. & Co., of New York." 

 (Fairchild.) (No. 901.) 



8753. Phoenix dactylifera. Date palm. 



From Hassa, Arabia. Received through Messrs. Lathrop and Fairchild (No. 

 905, March 17, 1902), June 7, 1902. 



Khalasa or Khalasi. ' ' This date is known all over the Persian Gulf as one of the 

 three best dates. It certainly has few equals, and its only rivals are the Maktum, 

 Taberzal, and Berhi, and probably also, though I have not tasted it, the Mirhage. 

 Palgrave, author of 'Travels in Eastern Arabia,' 1863, says the literal translation of 

 the name Khalasi is 'quintessence,' and that it 'is easily first of its kind.' The 

 country in which it is grown is, according to Zwemer, a sandy one, with under- 

 grountl springs or water courses, water being reached only a few feet below the sur- 

 face of the soil. This country of Hassa or El Hassa lies 60 miles or so inland from 

 Bahrein Island, and these palms were brought by camels from that region. The cli- 

 mate in winter is hot in daytime, but cold at night, and in summer it is excessively 

 hot. This variety matures its fruit, I presume, sometime in August or September, 

 though I can not state this positively. It is a variety worthy the serious considera- 

 tion of our date growers, as it will probably be better suited to our conditions than 

 the Bassorah dates, which will require more water to bring them to full development. 

 We are indebted to H. B. M. Vice-Consul J. C. Gaskin, of Bahrein, for securing these 

 sets and tor many other favors, and also to Mr. H. M. Zwemer for information about 

 Hassa dates. ' ' ( Fairchild. ) 



8754 to 8761. Phoenix dactylifera. Date palm. 



From Maskat, Arabia. Received through Messrs. Lathrop and Fairchild (Nos. 

 906 to 913, March 21, 1903), June 7, 1903. 



8754. 



Fard. "A long, large-sized, late date, of dark color but good flavor. About 

 1,000 tons of this date are exported from Maskat to America every year, it 

 being the principal export date of the region of Maskat. These young palms 

 were brought from Semail, 50 miles in the interior, where there are extensive 

 plantations of this and other sorts. There are estimated by Vice-Consul Mac- 

 kirdy, who very kindly secured these for the Department, to be half a million 

 date trees in the Semail Valley. This date ripens in August and sells for $40 

 Mexican per L,800 pounds. It is the best flavored soft packing date in the 

 region. It is adapted to the hottest regions in America." ( Fairchild. ) (No. 

 906.) 



