28 



I was informed that the mountains were free from burs and the seeds of 

 weeds that spoil the fleeces. The shears are very primitive, like a large 

 pair of tailor's scissors. The estimate of shearing records varies very con- 

 siderably. One shepherd informed me that an average shearer could shear 

 about 35 sheep a day ; an expert one about 40 ; whilst another stated that 

 in eight hours a good man could shear 120 to 130 sheep ; three minutes to 

 the sheep, he said, was sufficient. The wool is rather long but exceedingly 

 coarse, more like hair than wool, and the fleece is open and loose. A good 

 ewe will average about 5Jlbs. of wool, whilst a good ram will cut from Tibs. 

 to 8 Jibs., The local value of this wool is about 6d. a pound, although 

 occasionally as much as 9d. a pound is realised. 



The value of lambs varies very considerably with seasons and opportunities. 

 Instances were quoted me of lambs (tw r o and a half months old) having fetched 

 more than 1 a head ; others again state the average value to be 7s. 6d., 

 and others 12s. 6d. One shepherd assured me that his lambing was always 

 100 per cent. ; when pushed he admitted that it might be as low as 95 per 

 cent., but never below. Another frankly admitted that he reckoned 80 per 

 cent, a good lambing. From the above figures I am able to work out the 

 revenue of an average flock as handled in Greece : Lamb, per ewe, 7s. 6d. 

 to 12s. 6d. ; milk, per ewe, 8s. 6d. to 12s. 9d. ; wool, per ewe, 2s. 3d. to 

 3s. 4d. ; revenue per ewe, 18s. 3d. to 28s. 7d. The relative unimportance of 

 the fleece value will be noted. I am informed that it is reckoned that the milk 

 pays all expenses of the flock. I am told that with help at milking times 

 one man can manage 500 sheep in summer, and in winter at lambing time 

 not more than 100 sheep. 



Dips appear to be unknown and the sheep fairly healthy. Fluke and foot- 

 rot are naturally unknown in the mountains. Sheep suffering from scab 

 are painted over with hot oil and sulphur. Hot oil applied locally kills tick. 

 Flyblown sheep are sprinkled over with black pepper and then smeared 

 over with tar. 



TURKEY IN ASIA. 



My visit to Turkey in Asia was confined to the neighborhood of Smyrna, 

 Boudjah, Boumabat, Boumabashi, and, subsequently, Scutari and Brusa, in 

 the neighborhood of Constantinople. 



Smyrna is the centre of the dried fig and sultana raisin industries. Had 

 time permitted I had intended making thorough inquiries into these two 

 industries. As things turned out, this, unfortunately, was not possible. I 

 gathered that the dry fig industry was in a fairly flourishing condition, which 



