62 NOTES ON AGRICULTURE IN CYPRUS 



attention is being given to dairy cattle, lucerne would 

 seem to have an assured future. 



Vetch (Vicia Ervilia) 



This plant, known locally as " rovi," is undoubtedly 

 the most widely grown of the fodder crops. Being a 

 leguminous plant, it has a restorative action on the soil, 

 although the average Cypriot farmer still considers it to 

 be exhaustive. 



In the plains sowing begins in January, whereas in the 

 Pitsillia, and even in the Morphou, Solea and Tylliria 

 districts which are only at the foothills, it is sown in 

 October November, i.e. before the cereals. 



Rovi is almost the only food in the form of seed given 

 to ploughing oxen throughout the East. It is regarded as 

 heat-giving and strengthening, and is therefore fed specially 

 in winter. It is sometimes given unthreshed with the 

 straw. It is harvested in May, when it is uprooted, made 

 into little bundles, which are stacked together in small heaps 

 in the field, until they turn yellow, when they are removed 

 to the native threshing-floor and threshed in the customary 

 manner. The dry stems, etc., are eagerly eaten by cattle 

 jand sheep. The average yield is very little, from 2 to 4 or 

 kiles per donum. It is subject to tithe. 



Chickling Vetch (Lathy r us sativus) 

 The chickling vetch, known locally as " favetta " or 

 " chavetta," has come rather more into prominence of late 

 years, displacing the vetch (Vicia Ervilia) to some extent, 

 as it gives a heavier yield. It is subject to tithe. 



Vetch (Vicia saliva) 



This crop, called locally " vicos," was introduced from 

 Crete in 1913 and has been found excellently suited to this 

 country. It is most useful in any rotation, and has to 

 some extent supplanted rovi (Vicia Ervilia) as it gives a 

 larger yield. It is a most nutritious cattle food, for which 

 purpose it is grown. When crushed and mixed with 

 chopped straw it is readily eaten by cattle and sheep. The 

 plant seeds itself very freely. It is sown about November- 

 December and is ready for harvesting in about April. 



