'A handbook of Syria (including Palestine). London: Naval Staff Intelligence Department, June 1919' [‎133r] (270/738)

AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS
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Leguminous Plants
Of these chickpeas (Arab, hummus) specially suit a dry climate
and give excellent returns. There are several distinct species,
each appropriate to the soil and climate of particular districts.
Some are adapted to a relatively heavy rainfall. The seed
is sown in February and the harvest is gathered in June
(or July). The leaves and stem of the Palestine chickpea
are covered with corrosive crystals which seem to collect
moisture from the atmosphere (Aaronsohn). These crystals
attack the hands of the women who gather the peas. There
is a considerable export of chickpeas to France and Egypt.
Lentils, beans, vetches and lupines are all cultivated in Syria.
The carob tree (kharrub) is not much planted although it
grows well and yields very nutritive pods. It is said to give
a good yield with little labour. The lentils grown in the
Hauran are the red kind which is more esteemed than the
white variety of the Homs-Hama district. 'Adas is the
name of lentils fit for human food, kersenneh of those that
are used as fodder. Vetches supply most of the fodder of
the country, hay being little made.
Vines
Grape growing is universal in Syria. At least one half
of the annual crop is eaten as fresh fruit. Large quantities are
also made into raisins and into dibs (grape syrup). Only
a small part of the crop is made into wine or spirits. The
chief producers of wine are the Jewish colonists in southern
Palestine. Next to them are the Jesuit communities, whose
vineyards are in the Biqa‘, and the German colonies beside
Jaffa and Haifa. In the vilayets of Damascus and Aleppo
more arack than wine is manufactured.
From the data given by Ruppin it would seem that
the most extensive vineyards are in the vilayet of Aleppo,
although their yield in 1913 was far behind the standard of
other parts. Ruppin estimates the annual vintage of Syria
at 270,000,000 oqqahs (340,000 tons) or in terms of money,
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