636 
American missionaries, "toying with typhoid fever," but 
that he is in fine shape now. "With my brother Wilson's 
help I was able to work up the Bushire date varieties 
pretty thoroughly. As you state, commercialism has kept 
the growers pretty well confined to a few kinds. I dis- 
covered only 30 or 35, half of them insignificant. 
Khadrawi appeals to me most strongly, in view of its per- 
formances in the United States, but I am importing ten or 
a dozen kinds, some of which will be certain to interest 
you. I do not know if your importation of Berki was suc- 
cessful, but I am getting 100 offshoots (they are scarce) 
for both Wilson and I agree with you that it is the best 
date of the region, and we think that as far . as flavor 
alone is concerned there are few better in the world. 
Mr. Chalk puts 'Aweydi' ahead of it, and probably there is 
not much to choose, except that offshoots of the latter 
variety cost $2 up apiece. You may have seen this date, 
although you do not mention it. It is very similar to 
Hwezi (Hevezi). I fancy some of my Oman discoveries will 
Interest you as much as anything, I have five varieties 
for instance that mature before June 15, and a new Fard 
that ripens one month sooner than the regular article but 
otherwise can not be distinguished from it. Through a 
friend at Bahrein I was able to get 1000 Khlasa offshoots 
and unless something unforeseen occurs, I believe it will 
be a memorable day for California date culture when they 
are unloaded at Indlo. Wilson and I think that as a com- 
mercial date this is fully equal to the Deglet . Noor 
^although perhaps not as a simple confectionery) and that 
"its lighter color and attractive appearance will make it 
compete successfully with that date when the two are 
placed side by side in the open market." 
(Issued: March 15, 1913.) 
