'Handbook of Mesopotamia. Vol. I. 1918' [‎179] (188/568)

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AGRICULTURE AND LAND TENURE 179
Maize is grown both in upper and in lower Mesopotamia and in
Nli, Arabistan. In Irak it is sown in March and harvested in September.
Millet is^ an important crop both in upper and in lower Mesopo-
ttntttj. ^ ami ' a an d is raised in some parts of Arabistan. In Irak it may be
fe, ||! grown on the intermediate levels between the winter cereals and
rice, or on lower ground, in the marshes, left dry when the floods
iajld, c o n ti' ac t, or again by the banks of the rivers where the floods reach
. . high enough to soak the earth and recede early enough to admit of
sowing. It is used as food for cattle and poultry and is mixed with
■. wheat to make bread.
Lentils. —In Irak the variety of lentil known as is raised in
^ . , the better-watered districts; it appears that a damp, sandy soil is
,, preferred for this crop. There are two varieties—a green and a black.
. .vij Doth sorts are sown at the end of June ; the green ripens at the end
.. ■ of September, the black at the beginning of November. The Arabs
mix mash with rice to make soup. A certain amount is exported to
India. The lentil proper {adas) of Irak is said to be inferior. Lentils
; are also grown in upper Mesopotamia.
Kidney peas {lubiyeh) are sown in June and harvested in October,
or sold green in June and July. There are two varieties of dry
I f.. luUyeh—Si red and a white—of which the red is the cheaper.
sow
lk.1
Fruits and
r 1 , Bates have hitherto formed the most valuable item among the
"Vj, exports of Mesopotamia. The banks of the Shatt el-Arab are one
' " of the principal date-producing areas of the world. Among date-
: growing districts of secondary importance in Irak are the following :
*P along the lower Euphrates from Kurna to El-Medineh, and in the
■ neighbourhood of Suq esh-Shuyukh ; in western Irak, round Hilla,
Kufeh, Kerbela, and Shifatheh; on the Tigris about Daghdad. In
• 5 - : ; southern Arabistan dates are grown chiefly on the Persian bank
^ of the lower Shatt el-Arab and in the Eellahiyeh district. In
northern Arabistan dates are mentioned among the products of the
: 1 Ramuz plain, but are said not to flourish in the neighbourhood of
Dizful. In the southern part of upper_Mesopotamia there are date
gardens at a few places, notably at Anah ; but the date-palm is
found only sporadically in the northern plains of the Jezlreh and is
cliiii' 11 -' absent from the hills.
The date-palm needs irrigation, and one of the advantages of the
the second is peculiarly scented and in favour with Indians and Persians-
ushimhah, the commonest kind; and huwaisawi, a cheap reddish rice consumed bv
^"" •^the poorer classes.
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