Sept. 2, 1908.] A(/ri(mUural Gazette of N.S.W. 759 



Progress Report from Mr. W. W. Froggatt. 



'Mr. FrO(;gatt was tnivelliui;- on hi'half oi the Goveniineiits of Queensland, 

 New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia, in ([uest of means of 

 combating the fruit-fly and codling moth pests, and other fi-uit and plant 

 diseases. He has now returned to Sydney, and his complete report will l)e 

 published in a Special Bulletin as soon as possiV)le.] 



R.M.S. - China," lied Sea, 



Sir, 1'3 May, 1908. 



T have the honour to furnish you with a brief summary of my 

 investigations since I posted my last at Constantinople. 



I left that town on the evening of the 30th of April, hound to Cyprus, via 

 Smyrna and Beyrout, reaching the former town on the following day, when 

 T went ashore and went through the markets, where everything under the 

 sun can be purchased — from old weapons to fruit and vegetables. All the 

 latter were of the same kind and quality as those in. the Stambul markets, to 

 which Smyrna sends a large amount of produce. 



At Beyrout the cultivation of the mulberry is the chief industry, and the 

 whole Vcdley of the Dog River, and for some miles beyond the town, is 

 nothing but mulberry plantations, while there were scores of silk-reeling 

 machines and primitive hand-looms for weaving in the houses T passed 

 through. 



A large quantity of fruit and vegetables is grown in tlie neighbourhood, 

 and the whole valley was dotted with wells and pumps for irrigating the 

 land. 



Lai-ge quantities of hxpiats were exposed for sale in the markets (some of 

 rather fine quality), and all the trees in the gardens of the town were covered 

 with nets to protect them from the birds. Green cherry plums were also 

 sold in large baskets. Very small cucumbers and immature young squashes, 

 with quantities of slender French beans, were the chief vegetables. The 

 large, oblong .Jaffa oranges were i)lentiful, with several small and poor 

 varieties. 



Early on the morning of the Sth May we anchored ofl' Larnica, and 1 

 joined forces with Mr. Clement Reid, of the British Geological Survey, who 

 was visiting the Island of Cyprus to iv))ort upon its water supply, and 

 travelled to Nicosia in his carriage, a distance of 2G mil^s, over a most barren 

 strip of white, chalk\ mud and limestone hills and valleys. Wherever there 

 was a bit of land it was planted with barley : but until we came within a 

 mile of the capital there was absolutely no shade oi' trees except a few 

 Austi-alian Wattles planted round the re.st-houses and police stations. 

 E 



