DECEMBEE, 1903, TO DECEMBER, 1905. 185 



15000 to 15210— Continued. 



five-ninths to five-eighths as long as the fruit, rather slender. The orange- 

 colored stalks of the fruit clusters are sharply curved, and so short that the 

 rather small bunches hardly extend beyond the leafstalks. 



The foliage of this, as of several other of the finest varieties, is of a light and 

 delicate aspect, due in this case to the relatively few leaves and the narrow- 

 ness of the leaflets. The leaves themselves are large and wide, curving down- 

 waid very noticeably. 



The large fruit is remarkable for its unusual shape, somewhat like that of a 

 fiddle or of some of the varieties of gherkins, to which it doubtless owes its 

 Arabic name. The flesh is thick and rather firm, yet tender. It is very sweet 

 and has a very distinctive and highly attractive flavor. It ripens late in 

 October. 



15009. Deglet Barca. 



Fruit said to be "soft," round, and nearly black. It is described as a soft 

 date that preserves very well. 



15010. Deglei Caid. 



.Fruit coral red before maturity, and black when ripe; said to be conserva- 

 ble only for a short time. Eeported to be a fine variety and to ripen early in 

 September. 



15011 and 15012. Deglet Xoor. 



A first-class "soft" date; fruit IJ to a little over 2 inches long and about 

 one-half as wide, ovoid oblong in shape, generally widest at or near the middle 

 and blunt pointed at the apex, often narrowed also at the base, maroon col- 

 ored when ripe; the flesh 2 to 3 lines thick, translucent; the seed about five- 

 ninths as long as the fruit, conspicuously pointed, and dark chestnut brown in 

 color. The stalks and branches of the fruit clusters are bright yellow (not 

 orange), with stalks long and slender, sharply curved near the base, so that 

 the bunches hang down far below the crown of foliage. 



The Deglet jS^oor presents a combination of characteristics — fine flavor, sweet- 

 ness, attractive appearance, cleanliness, good keeping qualities — that can be 

 rivaled by no other variety that is widely grown. It requires a high sum total 

 of temperature to bring it to perfect maturity; begins to ripen in quantity 

 toward the end of October, slower in coming into full bearing than most varie- 

 ties, the palms generally not giving a good crop until they are 10 years old, 

 producing largely only every second or third year. 



15013. Beglet Sennaga. 



A "soft" date; fruit 37.5 to 40 mm, long, 17.5 mm. wide, oblong, somewhat 

 pointed at the apex', bright chestnut brown when ripe, surface shining, skin 

 much loosened and folded; flesh soft, dark colored; seed large, dark brown; 

 very sweet; flavor distinctive (suggesting burnt sugar) and rather agreeable, 

 but not very pronounced. It is said to keep well. 



15014. Dokar. (Early, male.) 



15015. Dolrir. (Medium, male.) 



15016. DoJcar. (Late, male.) 



15017. Doonga, or Dencwga. 



A second-class "soft" date; fruit a little over 1^ inches long, six-tenths to 

 seven-tenths as wide, egg-shaped, broadest near the base, dull dark purplish 

 maroon when ripe; the'flesh 1^- to 2 lines thick, firm white, central portion 

 nearly as thick as the dark outer zone; seeds small and thick (only about one- 

 half as long as the fruit and about one-half as wide as long), narrowed at both 

 ends. The stalks and branches of the fruit clusters are light orange. 



A dark-colored, rather small date, with moderately soft, dark-colored flesh 

 and with a clean, dry skin. It is very sweet and of a fine flavor, suggesting 

 that of Deglet Noor. 



15018. Fteemy, or Ftimi. 



A flrst-class "soft" date; fruit If to 2 inches long, about one-half as wide, 

 oblong, slightly narrowed at both ends, dark purplish maroon when ripe, the 

 surface shining, the flesh soft and sirupy, about 2 lines thick, the seed about 



