APPENDIX. 



PROJECTS FOR THE PROMOTION OF SYRIAN AGRICULTURE. 



Up to now the government has erred in not seeking the co- 

 operation of Syrian farmers in its projects, not of the poor fellah, 

 but rather of the rich landed proprietor, and especially of the Euro- 

 pean colonists in Palestine. We believe that all efforts to promote 

 agriculture should be made by a single agency, similar to the 

 Societe Khediviale d' Agriculture in Cairo. A Syrian agricultural 

 society might engage in the following activities: 



(1.) To destroy locusts and insects, and combat diseases in- 

 jurious to crops; 



(2.) To make artificial fertilizers, seeds, etc., accessible to the 

 farmer ; 



(3.) To maintain model farms; 



(4.) To experiment with, and introduce, new forms of agri- 

 culture and new agricultural industries. Under this heading the 

 following branches of agriculture and agricultural industry may be 

 mentioned : 



(a) Cotton in central and southern Syria (and the pro- 

 duction of cottonseed oil) ; 



(b) Sugar beets and sugar cane; 



(c) Carob trees (the carob is used in England for the 

 production of alcohol) ; 



(d) Bananas; 



(e) Castor oil bushes; 



(f) Fruit and vegetable preserving; 



(g) Oil production. 



A society of this kind should publish a periodical containing 

 instructions and suggestions for the Syrian farmer. So far there 

 is only one agricultural monthly, the Hebrew Hahaklai published 

 in Jaffa. Besides, it should hold agricultural expositions from 

 time to time to promote competition. 



The promotion of animal husbandry can be brought about by 

 improving the quality of the breeds and by combating the frequent 

 epidemics. In order to prevent the spread and fatal consequences 



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