Pomona College Journal of Economic Botany 



465 



Azraq, "Brilliant," a good soft date principally grown at Mandali and 

 Badra. Form oblong-ovate, rounded at base, broadly pointed at apex. Size 

 medium, length one and one-fourth to one and one-half inches, breadth at 

 widest point, at or near center of fruit, five-eighths to three-fourths inch. 

 Surface rather rough, light brown in color, glossy, bloom unnoticeable. Skin 

 firm but thin, rather tough, loosely wrinkled indiscriminately, occasionally 

 blistered, but otherwise adheres closely. Flesh very firm and of caramel 

 consistency, good texture, three-sixteenths inch thick, translucent, light red- 

 dish brown in color, slightly fibrous near seed. Seed oblong, slightly pointed at 

 both ends, three-fourths to seven-eighths inch long, five-sixteenths inch broad, 

 smooth, grayish brown in color, ventral channel open but narrow. Flavor 

 sweet but the taste of syrup rather more prominent than that of dates. 



Banaf shall* "Violet Blossoms," a dry date of attractive appearance but 

 ordinary quality, grown around Baghdad but more at Mandali. Form oblong, 

 slightly swollen toward the apical end, the base bluntly flattened, the apex 

 rounded or very broadly pointed. Size medium large, one and one-fourth to 

 one and one-half inches long, five-eighths to three-fourths inch wide. Surface 

 smooth or coarsely wrinkled longitudinally, dry, hard, dull purplish maroon 

 in color with slight bluish bloom. Skin thin, dry, moderately tough, adhering 

 closely except for an occasional fold, usually somewhat wrinkled toward apex 

 and smooth near base. Flesh dry, solid, mealy, one-eighth inch thick, dull 

 white in color, sometimes slightly soft near apex. No fibre. Seed very large, 

 oblong, blunt at base and rounded at apex, one inch long, five-sixteenths inch 

 broad, smooth, fawn colored, ventral channel open, deep, germ pore slightly 

 nearer apex. Flavor sweet but lacking in character. 



Baqlah, "The Pot Herb Date" (?), a large, yellowish brown date with 

 small seed, which ripens about the middle of September and is known as a 

 heavy bearer. Considered best when fresh, but, also, packs well. It is rare, 

 if known at all, in Baghdad, and seems to have originated somewhere on the 

 Persian frontier. Those who have eaten it call it delicious. I ordered some 

 offshoots of this variety from Badra and received four specimens labeled 

 "Daklieh, " so I do not know whether I introduced it to California or not. 

 Sayyid Salman Abatshi who is considered an authority on dates at Baghdad, 

 declares it is the best variety in Babylonia. 



Baclami, "Almond-like" (Persian), a rare Baghdad soft date which is 

 highly esteemed. Medium large, light brown in color; ripens early in Sep- 

 tember. Eaten as rutab (fresh dates) or packed in skins or boxes. 



Badrdht, from the oasis of Badra, although those of Mandali are con- 

 sidered better. The palm flourishes in a sandy soil and is rarely found at 

 Baghdad, in fact, I was unable to secure any offshoots of it. The date is 

 much liked by the Baghdadis, but the whole supply is shipped in. The palm 



* This is the Persian word, but is usually heard at Baghdad, as are many other Persian 

 words, because of the large Persian population there. The classical Arab form Banafsaj 

 is, also, heard; it is merely a corruption of the Persian; by the time the word reaches 

 Algeria it has degenerated to Balasfanj. 



