June 18, 1886.] 



SCIENCE. 



577 



mismanagement and neglect of the soil, inasmuch 

 as it is only on rocky waste ground that the female 

 insect will lay her eggs. The locust-plague is 

 therefore the result of inadequate cultivation of 

 the soil, consequent upon a deficiency of popula- 

 tion, coupled with an insufficiency of trees ; 

 though their increase may be largely attributed 

 to the Mussulman theory of resignation, which 

 would not, in former times, permit their destruc- 

 tion on account of the belief that they were sent 

 by the Almighty. For some years prior to 1862 

 the destruction of crops from this cause was very 

 large, and the plan of egg-collection was then 

 tried, without success, by the Turkish govern- 

 ment. This led Mr. Richard Mattei, a land-owner 

 of Cyprus, to commence a series of experiments, 

 which resulted in the invention of his system of 

 traps and screens. Mr. Mattei had the good for- 

 tune to secure the assistance of the Turkish gov- 

 ernor, Said Pacha, a man of exceptional intelli- 

 gence and energy ; and in 1870, after long effort, 

 the locusts were by this means almost extermi- 

 nated. Not wholly, however ; for in 1875 they re- 

 appeared, and, another governor being in power, 

 they were allowed to increase until the time of 

 the British occupation. Early in 1879, measures 

 were adopted by the English government, both 

 by the employment of Mr. Mattei's trap and screen 

 system and by encouraging the collection of locust- 

 eggs, for which they offered a considerable price. 

 These measures have been completely successful, 

 as the locusts that appeared last year were com- 

 paratively few in number, and did no appreciable 

 damage, and any future visit may be looked for- 

 ward to with complacency. 



But the forests of the island also demanded 

 and received the attention of the new authorities. 

 The forests were placed under control, and the 

 destruction of wood prohibited, moderate sup- 

 plies being permitted for native wants. The in- 

 discriminate pasturage of goats has been stopped, 

 and a large number of trees have been planted, 

 the chief species being Aleppo pine, cypress, carob, 

 ailantus, oak, mimosa, eucalyptus, and Pinus 

 pinea. The effect of these measures has been 

 favorable ; but the restoration of the forests must 

 necessarily be a work of time. 



Again, it was necessary to reform the adminis- 

 tration of justice throughout the island. This 

 was effected by a complete re- organization of the 

 department of justice under the direction of the 

 home government. The most salient features of 

 the scheme were the formation of a court of ap- 

 peal, composed of two qualified English judges, 

 the appointment of an English judge to preside 

 in every district, and the establishment of a num- 

 ber of village judges to deal with petty civil 



cases. It included also the adequate payment of 

 the native judges, although their number was 

 gradually reduced to a considerable extent, and 

 likewise established a system of jail deliveries by 

 judges on circuit, similar to that which prevails in 

 England. 



The effect of these and other less important 

 reforms on the commerce of the island has been 

 highly beneficial. The abolition of the tithe-farm- 

 ing system, and the adoption of the more gener- 

 ous as well as more politic measure, whereby 

 the agriculturist was permitted to deal with his 

 crop as he pleased, the collection of the tax being 

 delayed till a later season, when he should have 

 had ample time for the conversion into money of 

 the produce of his holding, had a most favor- 

 able influence on the particular industries affected, 

 and consequently on the trade of the island gen- 

 erally. The volume of foreign trade, which in 

 Turkish times was estimated at £1 10s. per head 

 of the population, amounted, in 1879, to £2 ; in 

 1880, to £2 10s. ; and in 1881, to £3 per head, 

 since which time steady increases have been re- 

 corded. The net result of British occupation to 

 Cypriot commerce may be fairly estimated by a' 

 comparison of the respective imports and exports 

 for 1878, the last year of Ottoman rule, with those 

 of 1884-85. The imports for 1878 were £177,651 ; 

 for 1884-85, £304,375. The exports in 1878 were 

 £157,328 ; last year they amounted to £287,521 ; 

 and the figures were still higher the year before, 

 especially as regards the imports. 



Mr. Hake concluded his paper with a few re- 

 marks on the further improvements which he 

 deems necessary for the prosperity of the island. 

 Leaving out of account all minor measures, such 

 as developing certain crops, he thinks there are 

 three things which remain for the English to do. 

 The first is to become the purchasers of the fee 

 simple of the island, instead of being tenants at 

 will, as they are at present ; the second is to 

 spend money, even to the extent of getting into 

 debt, in order to plant the moutain-ranges, and 

 especially the northern one that runs down the 

 Mesaorian plain ; and the third is (again getting 

 into debt, if necessary) the establishment of a rail- 

 way from Morphou to Famagusta, leaving its after- 

 development to time, and to put the harbor of 

 Famagusta into proper repair for mercantile use. 



JEVONS'S LETTERS AND JOURNAL. 



Mrs. Jevons has done well to collect these 

 letters .and journals of her late husband. The 

 world is always interested in the personal history 



Letters and journal of W. Stanley Jevons. Ed. by his 

 wife. London, Macniillan, 1886. 8°. 



