54 NOTES ON AGRICULTURE IN CYPRUS 



Vigna Cat jang var. sinensis), being a good drought- 

 resister, is grown more or less throughout the Island. It is 

 frequently sown in mixed crop with cotton, sesame, 

 Indian corn, etc. 



Two kinds are cultivated the larger, " lubia melisso- 

 matia " (having the eye like a bee), and the smaller, " lubia 

 mavromatoudhia " (dark-eyed). 



The dried pods of Phaseolus and Dolichos are fed to 

 animals and are also used for stuffing mattresses. 



The broad bean ( Vicia Fabd) has been grown for some 

 years on irrigated land in the plains, where it takes a 

 recognised place in the rotation. Its cultivation is now 

 spreading to the higher parts. 



The soy bean was introduced a few years ago by the 

 Agricultural Department, but has failed hitherto to attract 

 attention. Villagers find it requires different cooking from 

 what they are accustomed to, and local dealers are not 

 yet prepared to deal in it. It has been found resistant to 

 disease, and further efforts are being made to bring it into 

 popular favour. 



The Ochrus vetch (Lathyrus Ochrus), locally known as 

 " louvana," is a fairly common spring crop, being grown 

 for the sake of the seed which provides a favourite Cypriot 

 dish. The leaves are also used as a salad. This crop is 

 sown in the plains in January, but in the Karpas and 

 some other parts it is sown in the autumn. 



Chick-peas (Cicer arietinum), locally called " revithia," 

 grow well and are cultivated to a moderate extent. Samples 

 examined at the Imperial Institute proved to be of normal 

 composition. Two firms of produce brokers in London 

 stated that if quantities of about 5 tons at a time could be 

 delivered in England in as good a condition as the sample 

 they could be sold for human consumption and would be 

 worth (1917) 20 to 24 per ton c.i.f., United Kingdom 

 ports. If of inferior quality to the sample they would be 

 fit only for cattle food and fetch considerably less (see 

 BULLETIN OF THE IMPERIAL INSTITUTE, vol. xv. i9i7>P-37)- 



Chick-peas when roasted are locally called " kou- 

 dames " and are eaten in the same way as ground-nuts, 

 which they much resemble in flavour. They are little, 

 if at all, used in Cyprus as a cattle food. 



