Pomona College Journal op Economic Botany 



463 



Maktum, originally Makdum, ' ' The Bitten. ' ' 



Maktum Ahmar, "Red", a variety of the preceding. 



Shukkar, "Sugar." 



Sukkari, "Sugary." 



Sukkar Nabat, "Refined Sugar." 



Snltdni, "The Sultan's Date." 



Tabirzal, originally Tdbirzdd, "Sugar Candy." 



ZdUM, "Nobility." 



The varieties in the foregoing list are all to be found now in the United 

 States. The following list comprises all the other varieties of which I could 

 learn in Babylonia ; they are not growing in the United States, unless so 

 described, but many of them should be given a thorough trial as soon as 

 possible. 



Other Babylonian Varieties 



'Ahadli, "The Date of Abdullah" (a man's name), a large, soft date, 

 light reddish-brown in color, grown principally in the oasis of Baqubah, near 

 Baghdad. Usually eaten fresh, but keeps well if packed tightly. Ripens about 

 the middle of September. Quality good. Yield fairly heavy. 



'Antdmet al Qadhi, "The Kadi's Turban," a large, yellow, dry date, 

 very thick in proportion to its length ; ripens late in season and is of mediocre 

 quality. Mostly eaten fresh, but not a common date. Seed large. It is 

 occasionally picked when still soft and packed in skins. 



Amtr Hajj, "Leader of the Pilgrimage," a date practically confined to 

 the oasis of Mandali on the Persian frontier. It is ranked among the best 

 dates of Babylonia, partly because of its quality and partly because of its 

 attractive appearance and its scarcity. Nowadays it seems to be exported 

 only in the form of presents. The few trees are in the gardens of wealthy 

 men who refuse to sell offshoots from them, consequently the variety is not 

 disseminated. 



The palm is tall and graceful, but very delicate, requiring a great deal 

 of cultivation and water; a shy bearer. It matures its fruit in midseason. 



Many seeds of this variety have been planted in California, all efforts to 

 secure offshoots having failed. 



In form, the date is broadly oblong-oval to oblong-ovate, flattened at 

 base, widest at or near center; apex rounded to broadly pointed, base flat- 

 tened. Size medium large, one and one-quarter to one and three-eighths 

 inches long, seven-eighths to one inch wide. Surface dry or nearly so, roughly 

 undulating, slightly glossy where the thick bluish-gray bloom has been rubbed 

 off ; deep, rich orange brown in color, unusually translucent. Skin firm but 

 rather thin, not easily broken, though tender; loosely folded, the folds rather 

 prominent but only occasionally separating from the flesh ; no blisters. Flesh 

 three-eighths inch thick, of caramel consistency, translucent, light golden brown 

 in color; fibrous lining of seed cavity yellowish cream colored, fibre tender 



