Notes on Agriculture in Cyprus and Its Products   By: William Bevan

by

W. BEVAN

Director of Agriculture, Cyprus

1919

All Rights Reserved

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION 1

I. GENERAL 3

Geographical Features, 3; Climate and Rainfall, 4; Administration, 5; Weights, Measures and Currency, 5

II. AGRICULTURAL CONDITIONS 6

General, 6; Land Tenure and Labour, 6; Tithes and Taxation, 7; Credit and Agricultural Societies, 8; Irrigation, 8; Agricultural Implements, 10; The Agricultural Department, 12; Fungoid Diseases and Insect Pests, 14

III. LIVE STOCK 16

Cattle, 16; Sheep, 17; Goats, 18; Pigs, 19; Camels, 20; Horses, 20; Donkeys, 20; Jennets and Mules, 21; Poultry, 22; Preserved Meats, etc., 23

IV. DAIRY PRODUCE 23

Milk, 23; Cheese, 24; Butter, 27; Xynogala or Yaourti, 27; Trachanas, 28; Kaimaki or Tsippa, 28

V. CROPS AND OTHER PRODUCE OF THE LAND 28

CEREALS 28

Wheat, 31; Barley, 32; Oats, 34; Rye, 35; Maize (Indian Corn), 35; Dari or Millet (Sorghum vulgare), 35

FRUITS 35

Vines and Wines, 36; Citrus fruits, 43; Fig ( Ficus Carica ), 44; Cherries, 45; Banana, 46; Azarol Hawthorn, 46; Melons, 47; Date Palm, 47

NUTS 48

Hazelnuts and Cobnuts or Filberts, 48; Walnuts, 49; Almonds, 49; Spanish Chestnut, 50; Pistacia spp., 50

VEGETABLES 52

Beans and Peas, 53; Potatoes, 55; Kolakas ( Colocasia antiquorum ), 56; Onions, 56

FODDERS AND FEEDING STUFFS 57

Carob Tree, 57; Lucerne ( Medicago sativa ), 61; Vetch ( Vicia Ervilia ), 62; Chickling Vetch ( Lathyrus sativus ), 62; Vetch ( Vicia sativa ), 62; Tares ( Vicia tenuifolia var. stenophylla ), 63; Milk Vetch ( Astragalus ), 63; Moha, Sulla ( Hedysarum ), 63; Teosinte ( Reana luxurians ), 64; Sudan grass, 64; Teff grass ( Eragrostis abyssinica ), 64; Mangold Wurzel, 64; Prickly Pear ( Opuntia ), 65

SPICES 65

Coriander Seed, 65; Aniseed, 66; White Cumin Seed, 66; Black Cumin Seed, 67

ESSENTIAL OILS AND PERFUMES 67

Origanum Oil, 67; Marjoram Oil, 69; Laurel Oil, 69; Otto of Roses, 69; Acacia Farnesiana , 70

OILS AND OIL SEEDS 71

Olives, 71; Sesame Seed, 74; Ground Nut, Peanut or Monkey Nut ( Arachis hypogæa ), 75,; Castor oil Seed, 76

FIBRES 77

Cotton, 77; Flax and Linseed, 82; Wool, 83; Hemp, 84; Silk, 85; Mulberry, 91; Agaves and Aloes, 91; Broom Corn, 92

TOBACCO 92

TANNING MATERIALS AND DYE STUFFS 96

Sumach, 97; Valonea, 98; Acacia Barks, 98; Madder, 99

DRUGS AND OTHER PRODUCTS 99

Liquorice Root, 99; Pyrethrum, 100; Squill, 101; Colocynth, 101; Asphodel, 102

VI. MINOR AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRIES 102

Bee keeping, 102; Basket making, 104; Fruit and Vegetable Preserving, 104

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

PAGE

SKETCH MAP OF CYPRUS, SHOWING DISTRIBUTION OF CROPS AND FORESTS 2

PLATE

I. FIG. 1. PLOUGHING ON A MOUNTAIN SIDE WITH NATIVE PLOUGH 10

I. FIG. 2. NEWLY PREPARED BEDS IN EXPERIMENTAL GARDENS 10

II. AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS 12

III. FIG. 1. NATIVE BULL 16

III. " 2. NATIVE RAM 16

IV. " 1. CYPRUS PONY 20

IV. " 2. CYPRUS DONKEYS 20

V. " 1. CARTING CORN 29

V. " 2. THRESHING CORN WITH NATIVE THRESHING BOARD 29

VI. PRUNED OLIVE TREES AT METOCHI OF KYKOS 72

VII. FIG. 1. CYPRIOT EARTHENWARE BEEHIVES 103

VII. " 2. SHIPPING FRUIT AT LARNACA 103

NOTES ON AGRICULTURE IN CYPRUS AND ITS PRODUCTS[1]

BY W. BEVAN

Director of Agriculture, Cyprus