"كتيّب سوريا (بما في ذلك فلسطين). لندن: إدارة استخبارات الأركان البحرية، يونيو ١٩١٩" [ظ‎‎٢‎٤‎٨] (٧٣٨/٥٠١)

490 SAMARIA (INCLUDING CARMEL)
where the crop yielded from 4-5 qantars per feddan ; at Haifa
results were disappointing, the yield per feddan being only
qantar, but in the latter case the failure is attributed to want
of experience in the proper methods of cultivation. The
soil in the Plain of Beisan and in certain other parts of the
Jordan valley is reported, by Egyptian experts who have
been in the country, to be admirably suited for the cultivation
of cotton ; but it is thought that the questions of irrigation
and labour are obstacles which will have to be overcome
before cultivation can be undertaken on a large scale. Con
sular Report, 1911, says : ‘ Should cotton growing be taken
up by a competent company, the cotton yield would probably
not be inferior to that of Egypt in quality.’ Up to 1911
there was no ginning plant in Syria, except one machine
at Haifa, and the bulk of the yield was sent to Mansurah in
Egypt to be treated and sold.
Sugar-cane was once largely grown in certain parts of the
Ghdr and there seems to be no reason why it should not again
become a profitable crop.
Stock-rearing .—^According to Cuinet (1898), the approxi
mate number of head of stock in the Samaria district was
210,000, comprising : oxen and cows, 5,100 ; buffaloes, 500 ;
horses, 2,300 ; donkeys and mules, 3,700 ; sheep, 30,750 ;
goats, 168,000 ; and camels, 740. There were at this period
more horses in Samaria than in Judaea. In proportion to
the area, the number of oxen and cows appears to have been
much less in Samaria than in Judaea ; on the other hand,
sheep were relatively much more numerous and goats slightly
more so. On the whole, there is in Samaria a larger area of suit
able pasturage for sheep and goats than in Judaea. Buffaloes
graze in the swamps of the N. ez-Zerqa. Fowls are largely
kept in the villages.
Turning to more recent information, an authority says :
‘ In this area (Samaria), there is very little stock. Very
few sheep in the hilly country and oxen are not numerous.
Four years ago there was a serious epidemic among sheep
and cattle, and the stock was very much reduced. Now