Eemarks on the most Imp(jrtaiit Plant-Societies of the Island. 221 



1. Plant Societies in Cultivated Ground. 



To give a survey uf the cultivated plants of Cyprus docs not come within the Frame of this work. 

 Readers wishing to acquaint themselves with tiiis subject ought to consult P. Gknnadius'') book— a 

 work of great merit and giving a valuable account of the subject— or the chapters dealing with the "Frucht- 

 barkeit" and "Weinbau" in E. Oberhummer's-) large book. 



Instead of this we shall examine somewhat more closely the societies of wild plants -and also 

 of plants that have originally run wild— which are the constant attendants of cultivated plants. It is of 

 peculiar interest to study the weeds in an Oriental country like Cyprus; it is obvious that a considei- 

 able part of the synanthropc vegetation of Europe has originally come from the Orient along with 

 cultivated plants. In most of descriptions of the vegetation of the ditf'erent countries ot Europe synan- 

 thrope societies are described as something especial and as such they are opposed to the original wild 

 vegetation of the different countries. As far as Cyprus is concerned — and probably if we speak of the 

 neighbouring countries also — such a definite distinction cannot possibly be made. Two circumstances especi- 

 ally contribute to efface the limits between the I'eally spontaneous vegetation and that which must be 

 ascribed to the presence of man: In the first place we find that a great number of species characteristic 

 of the cultivated ground also occur as surely wild plants, or they are represented by closely related 

 plants in the wild flora. In the next place we find that the ground is but very incompletely cultivated 

 —manuring being very rare; so there is comparatively but a small difference between the conditions of 

 plants growing in the cultivated ground and plants growing in uncultivated ground altogether. 



In giving a survey of the vegetation of Cyprus it will therefore be natural to intercalate what 

 is to be said on the vegetable life in the cultivated fields of the island into the description of the other 

 vegetation. 



a. Vegetation of Cultivated Fields. The greater part of the inhabitants aic occupied with agri- 

 culture; in the lower parts of the island the greater part of arable ground has been cultivated. The great 

 difficulty of the agriculture is the fatal drought. The ground therefore can only be tilled if the situation 

 is so as to allow artificial waterspouts and pipes to procure the water which is necessary. I have men- 

 tioned above, page 45, the ditt'erent kinds of irrigators of old as well as of new construction, bearing 

 witness of the incessant toil of many generations in their struggle for life. 



In those places where sufficient water is to be had, the soil of Cyprus is generally very fertile. 

 Messaria, the large plain occupying the whole middle of the island from the West to the East, has been 

 designated by Alb. Gaudey^) as one of the richest corn districts of the world. The white calciferous 

 soil of the Southern slope of the Troodos-Mountains might also be transformed into an excellent arable 

 land if treated in a proper way; as it is, it is generally used by the inhabitants without any admixture. 



Here we have to face one of the most serious faults of Oriental agriculture— viz. the incomplete 

 preparation of the ground. The plough is the only implement the use of which is more widely known; 

 and the plough used here is very simple. It consists of a bent stick, generally taken from the bushy 

 j.Xaraa" (Quevcus (ilni folia), being known for its hard w^ood; the very point only is furnished with a thin 

 iron work. By way of team the poor peasant uses the animal he happens to have. The funniest com- 

 binations may be seen; an old raggy donkey and a lean cow for instance are very commonly seen together. 

 It is easily understood that the ground can not be properly ploughed with such instruments as the above 

 mentioned. 



The plough makes furrows which are only a few inches deep, taking ott' the worst of the roots 

 only. The Cyprian peasants don't even think of turning the surface. If there is a bush or a stone in 



') P. Ctennadius, Report on the Agriculture of (Jyprus I- -111, Mc(,.sia IHH.o — HH. 



-) E. Oberhummer, Insel Cypern 1. p. 270 — .329. 



^) Alb. Gaudei', Recherehes scieutif. en ( )rient, p. 9.5. 



