Pomona College Journal of Economic Botany 473 



Qaranfali, "Like a Pink (the flower)," possibly in odor. A large, yellow, 

 dry date of good quality at Baghdad, which ripens early in September, and 

 can be eaten either fresh or dry. Bears well. Scarce. 



Qurret Asharasi, "The Coolness (i. e., delightful freshness) of Asharasi," 

 a Baghdad variety which is distinguished from Asharasi only by its slightly 

 inferior size; they are sold indiscriminately together. Scarce. According to 

 native idea, this variety is particularly sensitive to the odor of melons, and 

 if one eats such a fruit under the palm, while the dates are unripe, they will 

 all drop. 



Rihmvt, "The Fragrant," a Baghdad dry date, also eaten in its soft state. 

 Sorrel colored, of medium size and good quality; ripens early in September; 

 bears well; not common. 



Sa'ada Aswdd, "Black Happiness," a common Baghdad dry date of 

 poor qualitj^ but as it bears heavily it is considerably sold as food for avSses. 

 Form oblong-elliptical, flattened at base, widest near center, broadly pointed 

 at apex. Size medium, length one and three-eighths to one and five-eighths 

 inches, breadth three-fourths inch. Surface almost smooth, dry, slightly 

 glossy, maroon purple in color, bloom unnoticeable. Skin moderately thick, 

 tough, usually not wrinkled, but with a few folds and undulations; adheres 

 closely to the flesh, which is firm, solid, one-eighth to three-sixteenths inch 

 thick, light brownish amber in color, translucent. Seed oblong, rounded at 

 base, rounded or broadly pointed at apex, seven-eighths inch long and five- 

 sixteenths broad, quite smooth, russet in color, ventral channel almost closed. 

 Flavor rather strong. This description was made from good specimens; 

 much of the fruit in the bazar is smaller, drier and in every way inferior. 



A sub-variety called Sa'ada Harara (red) is distinguished, but it differs 

 only in being lighter in color, and is not common. 



Sdyir, "The Fibrous" (?), one of the most widely grown dates in 

 Babylonia, although of inferior quality. It is also called Usta'amran, and 

 by that name is usually known at Baghdad ; some experts profess to see a 

 slight difference between the two, but their efforts are hardly successful. At 

 Muhammarah this name is usually corrupted to Sa'amran; Sta'amran and 

 Sambran are other vulgar pronunciations sometimes heard. The date is ex- 

 ported to America to a limited extent ; plays an important part in native trade 

 in the Persian gulf, and is the principal date grown on the Euphrates and the 

 middle Tigris. It bears heavily, shortly before the first of October at Busreh, 

 and will keep for a year or more. Said to do best in a sandy soil. 



Form broadly oblong to oblong-elliptical, widest at center or slightly 

 nearer apical end, whence it narrows almost imperceptibly toward the flat- 

 tened base and broadly pointed apex. Size medium to medium large, length 

 one and one-fourth to one and five-eighths inches, width three-fourths to seven- 

 eighths inch ; surface almost smooth, translucent, glossy, dark, orange brown in 

 color, bloom almost unnoticeable; skin rather thick and tough, smooth except 

 for occasional wrinkles or longitudinal folds in which it separates from the 



