184 SEEDS AND PLANTS IMPORTED. 



15000 to 15210 — Continued. 



15003. Baydh Hammam. 



A second-class "soft" variety; fruit If to 1| inches long, three-eighths to five- 

 eighths as wide, egg-shaped, broadest near the middle, rather conspicuously 

 blunt-pointed at apex, not keeping-its shape well, dark chestnut brown with 

 a tinge of maroon when ripe; the flesh very soft and dark colored, about 2 

 lines thick; the seed one-half to five-eighths as long as the fruit, one-third to 

 two-fifths as wide as long; dark brown. The stalks and branches of the fruit 

 clusters are orange colored. The foliage is of a rather delicate aspect and the 

 leaves numerous. 



This is a handsome, dark-brown date with very soft, dark-colored flesh. It 

 is always eaten fresh, not being conservable. ll is exceedingly sweet. The 

 flavor of the perfectly ripe fruit is agreeable and very characteristic. It ripens 

 rather late, hardly before November. 



15004. Bayjoo, or Badjou. 



A third-class "dry" date; fruit 11 inches long, about two-thirds as wide, 

 ovoid, purplish maroon or bay colored when ripe; the flesh Ik lines thick; the 

 seed nearly two-thirds as long as the fruit, one-half as wide as long; light 

 brown. The stalks and l)ranches of the fruit clusters are pale orange colored. 

 The small, dense bunches of fruit hang down on long curved stalks. 



Flavor nutty, agreeable but not very characteristic, typical of the "dry" 

 date class. Matures in October. 



15005. Bent Segny. 



A third-class "soft" variety; fruit If to 1| inches long, about one-half as 

 wide, obovoid, square at base, rounded at apex, keeping its shape poorl}^ when 

 preserved, very dark purplish brown (almost black ) when ripe; the flesh 1 J lines 

 thick, very dark colored and very soft; the seed about one-half as long as the 

 fruit, two-fifths to one-half as wide as long, rounded at both ends. The stalks 

 and branches of the fruit clusters are deep orange colored. 



A very soft, sirupy date, with a pleasant but not remarkable flavor. Kipens 

 about the end of October. 



15006. Besser Ilaloo, or Bisra Haloua. 



A second-class "soft" variety; fruit 1;^ to IJ inches long, about two-thirds 

 as wide, broadest at or above the middle, rounded at the apex, keeping its 

 shape well when ripe, bright bay colored; the liesh 2 lines thick, compara- 

 tively dry when the fruit is ripe, light brown; the seed two-thirds to three- 

 fourths as long as the fruit, generally two-fifths as wide as long, with more or 

 less conspicuous winglike ritiges on the sides. The spreading or ascending 

 stalks of the fruit clusters are so short that the small bunches are nearly hid- 

 den by the foliage. The leaves are short and rather stiff, with comparatively 

 short stalks and wide leaflets. 



A small, light-colored date, with thick, comparatively firm flesh. It is very 

 sweet and has an agreeable flavor, somewhat intermediate between that of 

 Lagoo and that of Horra. The natives seem to prefer it when not perfectly 

 ripe. It matures early in October. One of the six most productive varieties. 

 Among the four most salt-resistant varieties. 



15007. Boo Afar. 



A first-class "soft" date; fruit about 2 inches long and five-ninths to three- 

 fifths as wide, conspicuously wider above than below the middle, but narrowed 

 to the blunt apex, l)right purplish maroon when ripe; the flesh 3 to oh lines 

 thick, tender yet firm; the seeds a little more than one-half as long as the 

 fruit, cinnamon brown. The stalks and branches of the fruit clusters are deep 

 orange. The foliage is said to be heavy and the leaves wide and very green. 



The fruit is remarkable not only for its large size, thick flesh, and delicious 

 flavor, but for its beautiful coloring; ripens rather late. The flesh is tender, 

 yet rather firm, and is very sweet and full of sugar. The skin, even of the ripe 

 fruit, is fairly clean and dry. 



15008. Boo Fagoos; also spelled Bou Fagous, or Feggouss. 



A first-class date of the "soft" type; fruit If to li inches long, considerably 

 more than one-half as wide, constricted near the middle and widest toward 

 the apex, maroon to prune purple when ripe; the flesh 2^ lines thick; the seed 



97 



