DATES OF EGYPT AND THE SUDAN. De 
BINT AISCHA. 
(Notes taken in Gizeh Garden, Nov. 12, 1913.) 
The trees of the Bint Aischa variety are the smallest in the park collection, though 
the leaves nearly equal those of Samany in length. They are 14 to 15 feet long, with 
rather slender ribs strongly rounded dorsally and decidedly arched ventrally. The 
leaves have a distinctly glaucous-green color and are heavily coated with waxy bloom. 
The spine area is from 2 to 3 feet, the slender, acute spines from one-half inch to 5 or 
6 and up to 9 inches in length. They are elllosed by ribbon pinneze 2 to 3 feet long, 
one-half inch to 1 inch broad, and so soft and flexible as to be quite pendulous. 
The normal pinne are 24 to 28 inches long, 1 to 14 inches broad, diminishing evenly 
to 14 or 16 inches long at the apex. The lateral faces of the ribs and attachments of the 
pinne are rather narrow, the pulvini light. Toward the apex of the blade many of 
the pinne have the proximal fold broadened into a wing. The thickness of the pinnze 
is 0.017 to 0.018 of an inch. 
The orange-colored fruitstalks are of medium size. 
The fruits are 14 to 2 inches long, about 1 inch broad, oval, or broadest at two-fifths 
of the length from the base, rounding rather abruptly to an obtuse apex. The hard 
ripe color is near to ‘‘Bordeaux” (R. XII), with a conspicuous pale lilac bloom, 
lighter than ‘‘mauvette” (R. XXV). As ripening advances the color deepens to 
“burnt lake” (R. XI), and from that to nearly black. The outer flesh is then near 
“raisin black” (R. XLIV), whitening toward the center. The skin then slips readily 
from the flesh, which is surrounded by a thin, sirupy layer. 
The rather small seeds, 1 inch long and one-quarter of an inch broad, are smooth and 
tapered slightly toward the base. Their color is nearest to ‘‘auburn” (R. II). The 
germ pore is generally one-third of the seed length from the base, the ventral furrow 
being lieht and shallow. 
The flavor is rich and sweet, and this is a deservedly popular little date. It is 
quite widely disseminated from Rosetta to Merg, but is nowhere planted as a leading 
variety. 
CORRAGIA. 
The Corragia date is a Dongola variety known only from ripe samples obtained at 
Merowe, on September 24. 
The ‘cauts are 13 to 14 inches long, about 1 inch broad, with square blocky base and 
body qm slightly to a broadly rounded apex (Pl. VIII). Therather thick skin 
is generally closely adherent and the surface thrown in short, coarse reticulations. 
The color is rather deeper than “chestnut” (R. II) with a short basal area approach- 
ing “mikado brown” (R. X XIX), and there is a pale lavender bloom. 
The thin semidry flesh is spongy, with a good deal of tough fiber within. It is 
“cream buff” (R. XXX) in color. The flavor is sweetish, but lacking in quality, 
The large smooth stone is | inch long, a little more than three-eighths of an inch broad, 
with broadly rounded ends. The small germ pore is slightly apical, the ventral furrow 
moderately broad and deep; color, dull ‘‘cinnamon brown’’ (R. XV), shading to 
“chamois” (R. XXX) at the base. This is a date of fine appearance, which is belied 
_by its thin flesh and third-rate quality. 
FALIG. 
The Falig date is a variety mentioned by Beadnell! as growing in the Khargeh Oasis 
but was seen by the writer only at Rashida village, in Dakhleh, where it was served 
as a dessert fruit. A complete description was Bot obtained. 
The fruits are large, having a length of about 24 inches, long elliptical in, outline, 
color a rich waxy yellow, flesh very rich and rest but so soft and sirupy as to be 
difficult to eat. It is said to keep but a short time. 
1 Beadnell, H. J. L. An Egyptian Oasis . . . p. 212-223, 2 pl. London, 1909. 
