SEPTEMBER, 1900, TO DECEMBER, 1903. 219 



those he considers the finest of his whole collection, which is one of the largest in 

 the world. These include, doubtless, some of the most valuable sorts of mangoes of 

 all India. 



8729. 8732. 



Noivshirwani. Totafari. 



8730. 8733. 



Paheri. Hafu or Alphonse. 



8731. 8734. 



Ameeri. Jamshedi. 



8735. Curcuma longa. Turmeric. 



From Bombay, India. Received through Dr. S. A. Knapp, June 7, 1902. 



8736. Zingiber officinale. G-inger. 



From Bombay, India. Received through Dr. S. A. Knapp, June 7, 1902. 



8737. Triticum durum. Wheat. 



From Bombay, India. Received through Dr. S. A. Knapp, June 7, 1902. 

 Hansoli. Grown at Surat, in Gujarat. 



8738 to 8745. Phoenix dactylifera. Date palm. 



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

 866 to 873, March 10, 1902), June 7, 1902. 



8738. 



Kustawi. i ' Considered one of the two best dates in the region of Bagdad. It 

 is a variety which, though acknowledged to be far superior to the sorts which 

 are sent to America, is not exported because of its poor shipping quality. If 

 this date succeeds in America it can, without doubt, be easily shipped by rail, 

 as I have eaten here in Bagdad good specimens over five months old. It is a 

 sticky sort, as packed by the Arabs, although I believe its skin is thick enough 

 to allow of its being packed as the Deglet Noor of Algiers is packed. The 

 fruit is not over 11 inches long, as judged by dry specimens, and has a seed 

 about seven-eighths inch in length by five-sixteenths inch in diameter. The 

 flesh is not very thick, but exceedingly sweet and, like the other good dates 

 of this region, of a decidedly gummy consistency. It is placed by the Arabs 

 second in rank to the Mahum, which is richer in sugar and somewhat fleshier. 

 I have only tasted the Maktum once, but I believe it superior in flavor to the 

 Kustawi, owing to the fact that the region of Bagdad is much drier than that 

 of Bassorah. This date is probably better suited to conditions prevailing in Cal- 

 ifornia and Arizona than the sorts grown in Bassorah. It is considered, how- 

 ever, one of the most delicate dates to cultivate, requiring much more care than 

 such sorts as the Zehedy, Ascherasi, and Bedraiht. Not being a date for export 

 the price is low, as is the case with the Berhi of Bassorah. It sells for about 

 $2.60 to $3 per 210 pounds, while the Bedraihe brings about $4 to $4.40. This 

 variety begins to ripen about the 1st of August in this exceedingly hot climate. 

 It should be planted with the growing bud 2 inches above the soil. The best 

 ground will be an adobe, like the silt of the Colorado River, or such as occurs 

 in certain places on the experimental farm at Phoenix. This sort is said to 

 be a good bearer, but I do not know just how heavy the yields are. There is 

 verv little fiber to the date, and it is altogether an exceptionally fine sort." 

 (Fairchild.) (No. 866.) 



8739. 



Ascherasi. " One of the highest-priced dates on the market in Bagdad. It 

 is, as I have seen it, always a more or less dry sort, never pressed into a con- 

 glomerate mass in the way the other sorts are. It is the sort preferred by 



