14 NOTES ON AGRICULTURE IN CYPRUS 



farmer), since Egypt provides a ready and remunerative 

 market. 



Perhaps no work is of more importance than that of 

 combating the numerous insect and other pests which 

 every year cause heavy loss to the agricultural com- 

 munity. The addition of an Entomological Laboratory 

 and the appointment of an Entomologist have enabled 

 the Department to afford relief to many cultivators, and 

 a small but active entomological staff are constantly 

 engaged on various pest campaigns. 



The Department possesses a small but well-equipped 

 Chemical Laboratory under the charge of an Agricultural 

 Chemist. In the absence of any law, the Department 

 has, in the interests of importers and agriculturists alike, 

 offered its services for analysing and reporting upon 

 samples, sealing bags and giving advice as to the use of the 

 different types, and this action has been readily availed of. 

 This in itself, however, is not enough to check malpractices 

 or safeguard the cultivators. 



For the last four years the Department has had trial 

 plots in which new varieties of cereals and fodder plants 

 have been experimentally grown (see Plate I, fig. 2). 

 The seed has been obtained from England, South Africa, 

 India and Australia, but so far none of the varieties have 

 been found in any marked degree superior to the native 

 kinds. One or two varieties introduced two years ago are 

 promising, and when fully acclimatised may be worth the 

 attention of farmers. Experimental sowings are often 

 made in the villages when it is desired to bring any 

 particular crop to the notice of the agricultural classes. 



The Cyprus Agricultural Journal, published quarterly 

 in English, Greek and Turkish, is the official organ of the 

 Agricultural Department. 



Fungoid Diseases and Insect Pests 



The Cypriot agriculturist has to contend against the 

 attacks of many species of insects and a number of fungoid 

 pests. Little could be done to bring these under control 

 until, in 1914, an Entomological Branch of the Agricultural 

 Department was established. Much valuable research 



