AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT 13 



after the termination of their school course, and of these 

 again a few have been given minor appointments in the 

 Department. A scheme for training young Cypriots 

 abroad, which was in abeyance during the war, makes it 

 possible to give the more capable of these some further 

 training in Europe in the higher branches of agriculture. 

 It is hoped, by this means, to form a group of native 

 experts from among whom the technical staff of the 

 Department can be recruited. 



The Government Farm, Athalassa, though somewhat 

 ill-placed for purposes of education and demonstration, 

 has done good work in improving the live stock of the 

 country, as evidenced at the Animal Shows held every 

 year. Periodical auction sales of Athalassa stock take 

 place in the different districts. 



During the three years 1915-18, there were reared at 

 the Farm and distributed 41 cattle, 264 sheep, 8 donkeys, 

 332 pigs and 2 mules, besides a considerable head of 

 poultry. 



The total value of the live and dead stock was estimated 

 on March 31, 1918, at 3,128. 



For breeding purposes there were 6 stallion horses, 8 

 jack donkeys, 8 bulls and 7 boars in 1917-18 stationed 

 either at Athalassa or at the stud stables which have been 

 established in the districts. Some 30 cast army mares 

 have been obtained free of cost from the Remount Depart- 

 ment, Egypt, and have been lent out on contract to farmers 

 for mule breeding. 



During 1917-18 the Farm produced 169 cheeses and 

 1,036^ Ib. of butter. In the winter of 1917-18 some 314 

 donums of land were under cultivation, the chief crops 

 being barley, oats, wheat and gavetta (Lathy rus sativus). 



The Veterinary Establishment provides for i Veterinary 

 Surgeon, 2 Stock Inspectors and i Veterinary Compounder. 

 There is a good deal of endemic contagious disease among 

 the flocks and herds of the Island, mainly anthrax and 

 goat- and sheep-pox, and the Veterinary staff is kept 

 busy. Cattle plague is unknown in the Island. 



Cattle breeding should become a paying industry 

 when once the lesson of proper feeding and management 

 has been learnt (hitherto sadly neglected by the Cypriot 



