British Mandate: A Survey of Palestine: Volume I - Page 371

CHAPTER IX.

dam across one of the main wadis but this proved a failure since the soil was found to be too porous and practically the whole supply was lost. A hydrograpbic survey of the area was therefore put in hand in 1938 in order to ascertain whether sub-soil water was available. Unfortunately, the survey bad to be abandoned before its completion owing to the disturbances, but the results, so far as they went, are summarized below.

155. Of eighteen wells sunk at sites which, as the result of prolonged geophysical and geological investigations, appeared to be exceptionally favourable, only two proved successful and these two were situated in the coastal sand dune area where success could reasonably be anticipated from the outset. Of the sixteen wells further in the interior, some of which were driven to a depth of 1,000 feet, fourteen were complete failures and the water in the other two was so saline that the possibility of making any use of it is doubtful.

156. Progress in dry-farming experiments and the conservation of surface water was interrupted by the needs of the war. Since the beginning of 1945, however, the District Administration have started experiments in two areas in regard to :-

(i) preliminary measures for the fixation of sand by vegetation, and

(ii) improvement of the soil cover by controlled grazing.

More extensive investigations in regard both to soil cover and pasturage and to the conservation of surface water are contemplated by the appropriate departments of Government.

157. Mention should be made of a small Jewish settlement named Gevulot, recently established in the southern part of zone (c). Here experiments are being made with various varieties of barley and wheat; and fruit trees, vines, sisal and some forage crops are being tried. The Department of Forests has assisted with advice on the treatment of eroded lands and the issue of some thousands of trees for experimental and other uses. Further experiments with grasses are contemplated by the Department. It is as yet too early to form conclusions on these experiments. Another interesting experiment is being conducted at the Jewish settlement of Tel Tsofim, a short distance north-west of Asluj. Here flood water from the Wadi Asluj is led off by channel into a large earth reservoir with sluices leading out of it for irrigation by gravity. The potentialities of this experiment also cannot be assessed as yet.

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