PISTACIAS 51 



Male trees do not usually flower at the same time as- 

 female ; consequently there has been difficulty in getting^ 

 fruit with seeds, and recourse must in that case be had to* 

 artificial fertilisation. 



The Palestine or turpentine tree (P. palcestina), local 

 name " tremithos," grows in certain parts of the Island, 

 but is seen at its best in the Paphos district, especially in 

 and around the town of Ktima. The fruit is eaten fresh 

 or salted and dried. It yields 10 to 15 per cent, of edible 

 oil which has a certain local demand. A medium-sized 

 tree may produce up to 60 to 80 okes of fruit. After 

 crushing and expression, the residue together with the 

 seed is found to be a good food for pigs. A small consign- 

 ment of both the dried and salted fruit and of the residue 

 was sold in Egypt in 1916 and realised 5 to 6 cp. per oke 

 for the former, and 35. to 45. per Idle for the latter. 



By making incisions in the trunks of both the male 

 and the female trees a gum or turpentine known as 

 " Paphos tar " is obtained, which fetches as much as 8s. 

 to 105. per oke. It is used locally for chewing. 



This is one of the largest trees in the Island and is of 

 handsome shape. It is deciduous and some fine specimens 

 are met with. 



Pistacia Lentiscus, locally known as shinia, or shinia 

 bush, abounds all along the coasts of the Island. From 

 the seeds of this shrub an oil is expressed which is used 

 for culinary purposes, particularly for frying fish. The 

 oil is also in good local demand for soap making, and a 

 very fair soap is produced, especially at Akanthou, in 

 which the oil is the chief ingredient. 



The leaves of this shrub are largely used for tanning 

 purposes and were at one time regularly exported to 

 England, though in small quantities. The principal 

 market for shinia leaves is Palermo. They are employed 

 to no small extent for the adulteration of sumach, for which 

 Palermo is also the leading market. Shinia leaves were 

 also in demand at Lyons as a dyeing material for silk stuffs. 



There are also a few specimens of a variety of P. 

 Lentiscus (mastic tree) from which in the Island of Chios 



