466 Pomona College Journal of Economic Botany 



is eas}' to cultivate, but bears moderately; it has been a decided success in 

 California. Season, late September. 



Form broadly oblong, tending to oblong-oval and o])long-obovate, broadest 

 between center and apex. Base slightly flattened, apex broadly pointed. Size 

 medium to medium large, one and one-fourth to one and three-fourths inches 

 long, seven-eighths to one and one-eighth inches wide. Surface hard and dry, 

 smooth to roughly undulating, rarely wrinkled ; brownish straw colored, some- 

 times darker toward apex and lighter toward base. Skin hard, dry and brittle, 

 adhering closely to flesh and rarely wrinkled or folded. Flesh three-eighths 

 inch thick, light straw colored, very hard and solid, not mealy, free from fibre. 

 Seed oblong-elliptical, slightly tapering at l)ase and pointed at apex, tliree- 

 fourths inch long, five-sixteenths inch wide, fairly smooth, deep brown 

 in color, ventral channel open, narrow; germ pore slightly nearer apex. Flavor 

 remarkably sweet and delicate, almost honey-like, with very little of the nutty 

 flavor that characterizes Asharasi. 



Bayt al Sabah, "Breakfast Food," a scarce Busreh variety of slight 

 value. The fruit is large, short and thick, light brown in color, and ripens 

 about October first. Principally eaten as rutab; the dried date keeps fairly 

 well but is inferior. Heavy bearer. 



Balabdu, perhaps "The Date of Ban," a region in Arabia always famed 

 for its dates. A small, short, brown, soft date which seems to be confined to 

 one garden at Baghdad and is said by its possessor to ripen almost a month 

 before any other. The palm is of rank growth, resembling a male in appear- 

 ance, and bears well. The dates are eaten fresh, packed in skins, or cured 

 to a caramel consistency. 



Biirni, "The Sweetmeat Jar"* (Persian). An Oman variety, very rare 

 at Baghdad. I met men who had heard of it there but never one who had 

 actually seen it. 



Bu Saba'a al Ura'a,] "Father of Seven to the Cubit." describing its 

 length. This is the name at Busreh and Abu'l Khasib; at Baghdad it is 

 called merely Saba 'a al Dra'a. A long and slender variety of mediocre quality, 

 very rare and grown more as a curiosity than anything else. Dark brown 

 in color. The fresh fruit is not good, nor is it much better when fully mature. 



Busrdwi, "From Busreh," a variety grown at Baghdad, but not common, 

 although esteemed because it bears early (August). A large, soft date, of 

 which two sub-varieties are distinguished, "Asfar" or yellow and "Ahmar, " 

 red. 



Chaydn, "Tea-flavored" (Persian), a variety of which I heard the name 



only. 



* This derivation was given me in Masqat, and is quite legitimate. Birnf is one of 

 the most famous classical varieties, and all ancient authorities mention it in Babylonia; 

 I can not prove, however, that the present Burnf is identical with it. There seem to be 

 two or more varieties confused under the latter name at present. The etymology of Birni 

 is certainly not that given above. 



t Properly the word should be transliterated Dhira'a. There are three cubits in use at 

 Busreh, of 18, 25 and 27 in., respectively. 



