"كتيّب سوريا (بما في ذلك فلسطين). لندن: إدارة استخبارات الأركان البحرية، يونيو ١٩١٩" [و‎‎١‎٤‎٠] (٧٣٨/٢٨٤)

AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS
27S
colonies. Previous to the war only a small part of these
new plantations (area 4,000 acres in 1912) was productive.
they begin to bear in the fifth or sixth year and are fully
productive in the seventh or eighth. When fully productive
they give a yield of 40 kilos per dunam (50 trees) and are
very profitable. The Palestine almonds are of two varieties,
both sweet. One is thin shelled (‘ Princess ’) the other thick
(‘Victoria’). The former is more subject to disease and
does not give so good a return as the latter.
In Syria sheep and goats and cattle and other domestic
animals are reared chiefly on the borders by the Bedouin.
The principal cattle markets are in the extreme north. The
animals sold there come mostly from countries beyond Syria,
sand for tie from the north and north-east and east (Armenia, Meso-
re ahidaiit potamia, &c). So do the droves which pasture for a few
tatoesareol months in El-‘Amq (beside Antioch) before exportation.
Syrian cattle are usually small sized and produce only small
quantities of milk. This is due principally to the climatic
conditions and to the scarcity of pasture during most of the
year. From June to November pasture is very scanty, in
most parts, and even during April and May it is insufficient.
The plains of Damascus provide good pasture and so do the
Orontes valley and the valley of the Kuwaik (near Aleppo).
! inhabit®' In these districts the cows are of a superior breed and give
tytaehio ul a good yield of milk (3,000-4,000 litres annually). In Lebanon
ipoli, Beirut are therefore also of a better breed. Elsewhere cattle
iveareven* are bred mostly to supply oxen for ploughing. Dairy farming
till the most and the formation of good herds have also been hindered by
re prodocei the prevalence of cattle disease. The Turkish Government
n other rf never took proper measures to stamp it out.
,in Palestine Milk and, to a small extent, meat are generally obtained
t^ Jeffish from sheep and goats. Sheep’s milk is used for the making of
The trees are planted in rows which are about 12 ft. apart,
i a kit for
.e neighbour-
1 melon. It
Live-Stock
total), B® mulberry leaves supply excellent fodder for the cattle which
STRIA
S