SEPTEMBER, 1900, TO DECEMBER, 1903. 225 



8786 to 8793— Continued. 



8789. 



Kustawi. From Bagdad market. (No. "866.) (See No. 8738. ) A very fine 

 date, though somewhat stringy. 



8790. 



Berhi. Dates as packed in paper cartons for European market. (No. 895. ) 

 (See No. 8746.) 



8791. 



Halawi. Dates as packed in paper cartons for export to all parts of the 

 world. (No. 899.) (See No. 8750.) 



8792. 



Busser. From Bassorah, Arabia. An inferior variety. 



8793. 



Zehedi. ' ' From Bagdad market. ' ' ( Fairchild. ) ( No. 871. ) ( See No. 8743. ) 



8794. Phoenix dactylifera. Date. 



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

 885, March 10, 1903) , June 7, 1902. 



Taberzal. " Sample of dried dates. This is a rare date even at Bagdad, and I did 

 not find it on the markets. Agha Mohammed, British consular agent at Kasimain, 

 very kindly donated these to the Department. It is a small date 1\ to If inches 

 long by about seven-eighths inch in diameter. When dry it is of an amber color. 

 The skin is a lighter shade than the flesh, is loose, rather papery in texture, and can 

 be removed with the fingers from the dried flesh. The flesh is never dry in the 

 sense of being hard, but has the consistency of a chocolate caramel and is sweet and 

 of characteristic date flavor. The seed is of medium size and fits loosely in the dry 

 flesh. There is scarcely any fiber about the seed. The stem has a trifle too large 

 disk (involucre), but is easily removed with the fingers. When fresh it is consid- 

 ered one of the most delicate dates in Bagdad, though not so fine or so large as the 

 Berhi (No. 8746), which it resembles. I have not seen the Berhi, but take this as 

 the opinion of a date shipper. These dates, if not pressed into skins or cases, are 

 dry enough to be handled with the fingers. This is a point of great importance. 

 The Deglet Noor of Algiers would probably be quite as unappetizing if pressed into 

 baskets or boxes. I secured these samples too late to make it possible to secure 

 plants, but they can be had through Vice-Consul Hurner, of Bagdad, from Agha 

 Mohammed, who donated these." (Fairchild.) 



8795. Phoenix dactylifera. Date. 



From Bagdad, Arabia. Received through Messrs. Lathrop and Fairchild, June 

 7, 1902. 



Ascherasi. Samples of dates. (See No. 8739, L. & F. No. 867.) 



8796 and 8797. Vitis vinifera. G-rape. 



From Kandahar, India. Received through Messrs. Lathrop and Fairchild, 

 June 7, 1902. 



Samples of raisins bought in the Kurrachee market. 



8796. 



Seedless. Very sweet and thoroughly candied. 



8797. 



A large, light-colored raisin with seeds. 



