'Handbook of Mesopotamia. Vol. I. 1918' [‎174] (183/568)

174 AGEICULTUEE AND LAND TENUKE
forms which are not readily available, but cultivation would be likely
to alter this. Potash is present in more than average quantity, and
averages 04-0-6 per cent. ; this is more than enough to meet the
requirements of any ordinary crop. Phosphoric acid is found also in
sufficient quantity (0-2 per cent.) to permit the growth of all ordinary
crops without the application of special manures. Possibly cotton
might be benefited by the addition of phosphate, but this can be
determined only by experiment, and depends to a great extent on
local conditions.
Information as to the soils of Arabistan and upper Mesopotamia
is very slight and vague. The soil of the alluvial lands of Arabistan,
especially along the lower Karun and in the Dizful plain, is believed
to be of great fertility.
In upper Mesopotamia a large part of the northern Jezlreh has
a good soil, e.g. in the Seruj district (a heavy red earth), in the
Urfeh—Harran plain (a red loam), and in the Khabur basin round
Nisibin (a red-brown loam and humus). In the plains east of the
middle Tigris (between Mosul and the Great Zab, between the Great
and the Lesser Zab, and in a strip of country along the foot of the hills
from Altun Kopru to the Diyaleh) there is a fertile argillaceous loam.
Strips of alluvial soil occur along the troughs of the Tigris, Khabur
Belikh, and other rivers.
Methods op Cultivation
Methods of cultivation have so far been primitive, and have in
many ways tended to keep down production. No trouble has been
taken to clean and select seed. The preparation of the land for
wheat and barley has been very slight; in Irak one light ploughing
has been thought enough. The ploughs in use have been wooden.
Manuring has not been practised, the dung being used for fuel.
Threshing has been done generally by cattle or buffaloes which tread
out the corn, but near the towns a native threshing machine of
Mosul manufacture has sometimes been used. Arrangements for
storing crops have been inadequate. Grain has been put on the
maiket in a very dirty state. There has been no method in use
of preserving fodder crops such as hay.
The introduction of machinery for ploughing, reaping, and thresh
ing is an urgent need of the country. Fuel might be supplied by oil
from Arabistan or perhaps eventually from Turkish Mesopotamia.
Keaping machines have already been procured for Irak.
It has already been noticed (p. 169) that agriculture is more closely
dependent on irrigation in Irak than in upper Mesopotamia. The