Pomona College Journal of Economic Botany 461 



packing season is virtually over. The extremely early dates of Babylonia 

 are Ibrahimi, Halawi Makkawi, Balaban, Makkawi Ashqar, Barban, Badinjani 

 and Sultani, while Zahidi and the Busreh Halawi will have to be put on the 

 edge of the list. 



The later dates, on the other hand, continue to ripen well up to Decem- 

 ber first. Khasab, Hilali, Shatwi, Liilui and 'Amamet al Qadhi can be had 

 fresh in any quantity up to the middle of November at least. 



The dates of the region average well in size, and the dry varieties, in 

 particular, are conspicuously larger than the similar dates of Algeria; they 

 are also of better quality, on the average, while the best of them reach a 

 perfection that was never dreamed of in the Sahara. Babylonia's largest 

 dates, I should say, are 'Awaydi, Bu Saba 'a al Dra'a, Madanl, Sayyid 

 Ibrahim and Ism 'ail Qadri, — all of them rare. 



Arab scientists classify the principal varieties as hot or cold, according 

 as a long-continued and exclusive diet of them "burns" the stomach or not. 

 The distinction is important in a country where people eat little except dates, 

 but it will not be worth considering in the States, where a handful a day is 

 a heavy ration. Khustawi is universally considered the coldest date known : 

 one can eat five pounds daily for a year and never feel them. Barban, at 

 Baghdad, is considered the hottest, but is valued, nevertheless, on account of 

 its earliness. As a matter of fact, not only most of the varieties, but most 

 of the choice varieties, are considered hot. Among the cold ones are 

 Khadhrawl, Sukkari, Shukkar, Amir Hajj, Sukkar Nabat, while Maktum 

 and Badrahi are placed in an intermediate class, neither hot nor cold, but 

 satisfactory. Asharasi, Tabirzal, Halawi, Zahidi, and Barhl, most of the other 

 dates of sufficient importance to receive classification, are on the hot side of 

 the ledger. 



As to the best date of the region, Arabs agree in awarding the palm to 

 the Khalaseh of Hasa* which, however, is little grown outside its original 

 home. I think this judgment is correct. My own second choice is Maktum 

 or Tabirzal, but many of the Baghdadis swear by Sukkari — in fact, that 

 would probably have more votes than any other at the City of the Caliphs. 

 Khustawi has many admirers. The originator of the variety Khiyara 

 declares that none can equal it. Those partial to dry dates affirm that nothing 

 surpasses Asharasi. At Busreh, 'Awaydi and Barhl are tied for first place. 

 Sultani is the choice of the Hilleh growers. Amir Hajj is esteemed, but the 

 rare Jamal al Din, Baqlah and Gul Husalnl from the same region are con- 

 sidered quite as good, if not better. Those who have tasted Khasawl al Baghal 

 call it excellent. Brim is considered one of the finest known dates at Baghdad, 

 while at Busreh it is held to be fit only for boiling. In short, it is all a matter 

 of taste, but if one took Barhl, 'Awaydi, Khustawi, Maktiim, Tabirzal and 

 Sukkari as the best of the region, he would not be far wrong; leaving the 



* Cf. Palgrave, W. G. Narrative of a Year's Journey through Central and Eastern 

 Arabia, vol. II, p. 172, London, 1865. 



