64 NOTES ON AGRICULTURE IN CYPRUS 



Teosinte (Reana luxurians) 



This grass is one of the most valuable fodder plants 

 with which the New World has enriched the Old. It is a 

 native of Guatemala and is also largely grown in Australia. 



Seed was first imported into Cyprus by the Agricultural 

 Department in 1897, and since then the plant has been 

 continuously grown in the Government gardens with 

 marked success. It is sown in March-April in the same 

 manner as Indian corn, to which it is allied. 



If irrigated, three or four cuttings may be obtained 

 during the summer, yielding 25 to 30 tons of green food 

 per scala. It is greedily eaten by cattle. Some plants 

 grown by the Department attained a height of 1 1 ft. 3 in. 

 and of others which were left to ripen their seed, one had 

 93 stems and weighed 26 okes, though the leaves had 

 begun to shrivel and had lost weight. 



This plant is gradually becoming known and may be 

 found growing on some of the more progressive farms. 



Sudan-grass 



Seed of this fodder grass was imported in 1915 and 

 very satisfactory crops have been obtained each year since 

 then from the experimental plots. The grass seems well 

 suited to Cyprus and gives a useful yield even when un- 

 irrigated. Occasional irrigation produces a valuable crop. 

 Trial sowings are now being made on a few private farms. 



Teff- grass (Eragrostis abyssinicd) 



This has also been tried experimentally with good 

 results and it is hoped that its cultivation will extend as it 

 becomes more known. 



Mangold Wurzel 



This crop has been grown for several years at the 

 Government Farm, Athalassa, where it has done well 

 and forms an important part of the cows' rations. It has 

 been grown successfully on a small scale in some of the 

 Nursery Gardens. 



As irrigation, deep ploughing, thorough cultivation of 

 the soil and special cultural operations are needed, this 



