ON THE PRODUCTIVE RESOURCES OF CYPRUS. 159 



frequently fire them. Tnere is no kind of provision for the preserva- 

 tion of the forests, a circumstance which is much to be regretted, 

 owing to the great scarcity of trees generally in the island. Cyprus is 

 known to have been well wooded in ancient times, when it was pro- 

 bably more healthy and more productive than at present. The want 

 of trees is very much felt, aud the dryness and aridity of the soil is 

 doubtless owing to the great lack of trees, whose presence woidd be in- 

 valuable as a means of attracting rains to the earth. 



It has been calculated that not more than 100,000 acres of land are 

 annually placed under cultivation. This represents only one seven- 

 teenth part of the island ; but as land is left to lie fallow every alter- 

 nate year, we may consider that the quantity of land under cultivation 

 is 300,000 acres, or between one-eighth and one-ninth of the island. 

 The greater part of the cultivated land is held by peasants, or small 

 proprietors ; there are, however, exceptions, and we find sometimes as 

 many as 3,000 echelles, or upwards of 2,000 acres held by single 

 proprietors. Land in general is cheap, but its price varies ac- 

 cording to its adaptation for certain crops, its means of irrigation, and 

 its greater or less distance from any town or village. In the Messaoria 

 land averages from 21. to 31. 10s. the acre. Good cotton land in a 

 favourable position is worth about 91. the acre ; but madder root land 

 at Famagusta commands a very high price, as much as 901. per acre 

 having been paid for it. 



The chief products are wheat, barley, sesame, vetches, cotton, silk, 

 madder-root, wine, olives, raisins, carobs, tobacco, and colocynth. The 

 wheat of Cyprus is hard and small-grained. That grown in the district 

 of Baffo is considered the best. The seed time for wheat commences 

 in October, and the sowing is continued, as the weather permits, until 

 the beginning of January. The harvest commences at the end of May 

 or beginning of June. The average yearly produce of wheat is about 

 80,000 quarters ; last year's harvest was unusually good ; it is supposed 

 to have yielded as much as 120,000 quarters. 



The barley of Cyprus is of a good description, and superior to the 

 ordinary Egyptian barley ; it is sown during September, and the two 

 following months, and is reaped at the close of April and beginning of 

 May, thus preceding the wheat harvest by about six weeks. The average 

 yearly produce of barley is 120,000 quarters. The harvest of the past 

 year, which, as stated above, was very abundant, yielded 180,000 quarters. 

 The average yearly value of wheat and barley exported, from 1857 to 

 1860, was 33,000?. 



The cotton of Cyprus is of an inferior quality ; it is of the short- 

 stapled variety ; American cotton-seed has, however, latterly been intro- 

 duced, and its cultivation having proved very successful, its merits are 

 becoming thoroughly appreciated by the growers. We may therefore 

 look forward to seeing it largely introduced, and gradually supplanting 

 the native cotton. The quantity of cotton produced is small, con- 



