ioo NOTES ON AGRICULTURE IN CYPRUS 



roots are collected and exported from time to time Two 

 samples were reported upon in 1917 by the Imperial Insti- 

 tute (see BULLETIN OF THE IMPERIAL INSTITUTE, vol. xv. 

 I 9 I 7> P- 3 12 ) an d the following opinions of two London 

 firms of brokers were elicited. 



(a) One firm described the Lapithos (Kyrenia district) 

 roots as medium to bold unpeeled roots of good flavour, 

 fairly well cleaned and very well dried ; and valued them 

 at from $os. to 555. per cwt. ex wharf, London (February 

 1917). The firm described the Famagusta roots as thinner 

 than the Lapithos sample and not so well freed from 

 smooth valueless pieces, but mentioned that they had 

 apparently been washed. They valued these roots at 505. 

 per cwt. ex wharf, London (February 1917). The firm 

 added that both samples were exceptionally dry, and that 

 it seemed doubtful if the material in the bulk would be as 

 dry. 



(b) A second firm considered the roots to be rather 

 mixed, inferior quality, and worth at that time about 455. 

 per cwt. in London (February 1917). 



Pyrethrum 



Pyrethrum (Chrysanthemum) cineraricefolium grows well 

 from seed and is an attractive garden plant with pretty, 

 marguerite-like flowers. These yield the pyrethrum of 

 commerce so largely used as an insecticide, and which is 

 said to form the chief ingredients in various flea powders. 

 These flowers, when dried and ground to dust, are em- 

 ployed for this purpose by the natives. The original 

 pyrethrum powder came from plants growing in Dalmatia. 



The plant was introduced into the Cyprus Government 

 Gardens some twenty years ago and has since spread 

 more or less throughout the Island. It is perennial and 

 drought-resistant, and will also stand several degrees of 

 frost and seems indifferent to soil, provided it is not too 

 damp. The seed is sown in September and the seedlings 

 are transplanted in April or May, but it multiplies itself 

 readily by suckers. The flowers, which are about three 

 times the size of the Chamomile (Matricaria Chamomilla), 

 which they closely resemble, are gathered as soon as they 

 are fully open, and are then dried in a well-ventilated 



