British Mandate: A Survey of Palestine: Volume I - Page 344

CHAPTER IX.

strains falls to the general agricultural and horticultural services of the Department, there is a plant protection service specifically engaged on preventive work. A special staff in the plant protection service is wholly engaged in teaching farmers how to control pests and diseases. Government also maintains a fruit inspection service, which has important functions in relation to the maintenance of the citrus export trade.

76. Among other branches of activity by the Department of Agriculture, in addition to providing farmers with advice and assistance on a wide range of subjects relating to agricultural development, the following are worthy of mention :-

(a) Improvement of wheat and barley seed.

The wheat and barley seed used on Jewish farms is good, an admirable system of seed improvement has been developed and through the years there has been a steady improvement in the quality. Much time has been devoted b:y the Department of Agriculture to trying to bring about an improvement in the quality of the seed used on Arab lands, but there has been little or no general improvement. The quantities of seed which are distributed to them are very soon dissipated and become mixed with inferior seed on the threshing floors. Seventy-four tons of grain seed of improved varieties were distributed by the Department in 1944.

( b) Extension of vegetable growing.

Particular attention has been given to the extension of the areas of vegetable production and to improved methods; success has attended these efforts. Potatoes may be quoted as an example : before the war only negligible quantities were grown but in 1944 some 50 ,000 tons were produced. Some ten million vegetable seedlings were distributed from Government stations annually during the war.

(c) Pastures and grazing.

Much effort has been spent in the endeavour to bring the Arab agricultural community to improve pastures and grazing and to grow fodder crops intensively, but little progress has been made. Large areas of fodder crops are grown by Jewish farmers to provide food for the steadily expanding dairy industry, and a number of settlements have followed the advice of the Department of Agriculture and established irrigated artificial pastures.

(d) Olives and fruits.

Advice is given regarding the planting and cultivation of olives, summer fruits, citrus, sub-tropical and tropical fruits and vines.

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