90 NOTES ON AGRICULTURE IN CYPRUS 



incurred. It is hoped that the industry is now again on 

 the upward grade. One indication of this is that whereas 

 a few years ago 1,000 to 1,800 cocoons went to an oke, 

 now the figure may be put at 500 to 1,000. Again, the 

 -waste due to excess of floss is much less than formerly, 

 ;and if only reeling by machinery can be introduced a 

 -very much better return will result to the cocoon 

 producer. 



In the Karpas and in and around Nicosia a bi-voltine 

 race is reared. The results are poor, but the two rearings 

 ;are made because in these localities there is an ample supply 

 -of leaves. From this race are produced small cocoons 

 locally called " Confetti." They are only used for local 

 silk manufacture. 



An inferior silk called " Koukoularika " is made from 

 the cocoons of the ordinary or univoltine race, both those 

 which have been stoved and those which have been badly 

 rstained when the moths emerged. 



These cocoons, which, during the process of boiling in 

 lye, have been bleached, are turned inside-out and the 

 .excrement of the larva removed. The silk is then spun 

 by hand with the " atrachtos." These cocoons are mostly 

 from laggard worms and of inferior quality. 



The silk industry has suffered greatly from unscrupu- 

 lous dealing on the part of the dealers in eggs. It is a 

 ^common custom for these persons to sell imported seed at 

 2s. and even less per ounce, although the law requires all 

 such seed to be accompanied by a Consular certificate and 

 affidavit showing that the price paid was not less than 

 43. per ounce, exclusive of freight, carriage or insurance. 

 Secret discounts, presumably, render this practice possible. 

 The dealer does not ask for payment in cash, but requires it 

 in kind at the rate of i oke in every 4 okes of cocoons raised. 

 If 28 okes of cocoons are obtained from i ounce of seed 

 the dealer would get 7 okes, valued at say 2s. 6d. per oke 

 = 1 75. 6d. for each ounce of seed. The dealer mostly gives 

 j& cash advance of 105. or i with the seed, stipulating 

 that the crop is to be sold exclusively to him, the price 

 being left open. The unfortunate producer is therefore 

 in his toils. 



The establishment of small Sericultural Societies would 



