360 



hracteatus, Harv<, but the leaves are not scabrid and tbe 

 peduncles only sliglitly bracteate. The flowers are rose-lilac 

 and borne on tall, slender stems. 



* 

 \ 



r 



Forestry in Cyprus.* — A report has been published dealing 

 -with forestry mutters in Cyprus between the years 1879 

 and 1914. From this report a g^ood idea can be formed of 

 the adverse conditions under Avhich the forestry officials work, 

 for, in addition *to the heavy handicap of an adverse climate, 

 they have almost throughout been hampered by lack of funds. 

 Notwithstanding these drawbacks, however, they have succeeded 

 in establishing plantations in several districts which appear to 

 be successful in two of the main objects — the production of fuel 

 and the amelioration of the climate. Plantation work was 

 begun in Cyprus in 1881 under the direction of M. Madon, and 

 the sum of £5000 was voted for forming plantations with a 

 further sum of £882 for upkeep. In 1883 the vote for upkeep 

 was reduced to £410, with no provision for new plantations. 

 By 1889 the vote was reduced to £78, and remained at that sum 

 until 1892. From that time it was gradually increased until the 

 1913-14 vote, was £2000, with an extra sum of £2132 from 

 surplus balances. The climate, more especially in the summer 

 months, is very hot and dry, therefore the forest officials have 

 had to plant to suit the conditions rather than their own inclina- 

 tions. The most satisfactory tree for effecting cover on bare hills 

 is Acacia cyanophyUa, one of the least useful of Acacias^ but 

 suitable for firewood. Once the ground is covered with this 

 acacia, however, the shade afforded enables seedlings of Finns 

 Pinea, P. Jtalepensis and other trees to obtain roothold. In some 

 instances, where considerable areas have been covered by trees, a 

 heavier rainfall has been recorded since 1011. Thus on p. 15, with 

 reference to Salamis plantation which covers an area of three 

 fiquare miles, the total mean rainfall for the seven years 1904-5 

 to 1910-11 was 14-72 ins., and the total mean rainfall for the 

 two years 1911-12 to 1912-13 was 24-53 ins., the records, how- 

 ever, need to be taken over a longer period to prove whether 

 the increase is really due to tree growth. Swampy land has also 

 been reclaimed by judicious planting. For firewood, Acacia 

 cyanophyUa is grown on a six-years' rotation, and the restilt of 

 the 1913 cutting in the Salamis plantation was a iiot revenue of 

 £1 9s 5cp. per acre, equivalent to 4s. S^cp. per acre per annum 

 from land which, previous to planting, was worthless. In 

 iVicosia the price of firewood i^ 22s. a ton. Numerous photo- 

 graphs give an idea of the countrv before and after planting, 

 whilst lists of trees indicate failures and successes. w.D. 



A K ^o.?n^p'- '''• ^>*i,^^*^tiori Work in Cyprus from 1879 to WuThy 

 A. K. Bonn, Principal Forest Officer. 



