OLIVES GROUND NUTS 75 



one of the recognised summer crops in the plains, and is. 

 frequently sown together in the same field with cotton, 

 maize, etc., and in the vine villages it is sown in the newly 

 planted vineyards, where it does well. In such cases the 

 preparation of the soil is done on the same lines as for 

 cotton, maize, vines, etc. 



The seed is used mainly for the extraction of the oil, 

 which is largely employed in cooking, and it is also used 

 in the preparation of sweetmeats ; it is added sometimes 

 as a condiment in bread-making. There is a small export,. 

 principally through Egypt. 



The percentage of oil extracted varies according to the 

 locality where the seed has been produced. Of the local 

 product, that from Paphos gives the highest yield, viz^ 

 30 to 35 per cent. ; but this is inferior to the Egyptian pro- 

 duct, which is to some extent imported and yields 40 to- 

 45 per cent, of oil, this being probably due to the thinner 

 skin. The crop is uncertain. The plant is readily 

 affected by the hot west wind (XtySa?) which not in- 

 frequently blows during its period of growth. The develop- 

 ment of the seed is thereby checked and it remains thin 

 and small (^aXio?), and naturally the oil yield is diminished. 



Ground Nut, Peanut or Monkey Nut (Arachis hypogcea) 



This nut is fairly popular among all classes and is 

 imported through Egypt in moderate quantities. There 

 is no reason why in certain localities this plant should not 

 be grown successfully, more especially in the light sandy 

 soils around Varosha and at Syrianochori. Efforts have 

 been made to induce cultivators to grow this crop, but so- 

 far it has not commended itself. It calls for something a 

 little out of the ordinary in the way of cultivation, as the 

 plants mature their fruits under the soil ; the profit 

 to be derived from the crop is uncertain, and is thought,, 

 though without sufficient proof, to compare unfavourably 

 with rival crops. Growers have been somewhat deterred 

 by the ease with which the fruit can be stolen. As this. 

 is hidden under the soil, a theft is not at once detected. 

 These drawbacks probably explain its restricted cultivation.. 



Should oil-extracting machinery be introduced, these 

 nuts might well be grown for their oil, both for culinary- 



