British Mandate: A Survey of Palestine: Volume II - Page 725

CHAPTER XVI.

urban markets. Whereas in 1021 the winter crops, the source of basic foods and fodder, represented some 71 per cent of Arab agricultural production, the proportion of summer crops - the main cash crops other than citrus and valuable also in varying diet - thereafter increased. During the first ten years the increase in the summer crops was gradual, the most notable beinz in the production of vegetables, and it was not until 1935 that the bulk of the summer crops exceeded that of the winter crops. The following figures illustrate these points :

Table 26.

C'ror~

1921

1028

IU35

ioea

H'12

- - ' '
Tons Tons Toas Tons Tons
Wheat 72,885 65,288 104,353 44,485 104,392
Radey 61,328 46,697 68,905 66,736 114,518
Other cereals
and legumes 19,452 6,993 13,261 12,130 15,764
1--- 123.3011234,~
Total winter crops 153,665 118,978 186,519
I ______ I ___ -------
Dura (millet) 14.8181 32,732 46,135 63,253 57,965
Sesame 2,976. 1,978 6,914 6,441 6,214
Olives 3,375 2,635 45,092 88,572 62,708
Grapes 6,756 4,117 28,818 46,784 52,771
Figs 6,189 7,060 10,945 22,753 22,828
Other fruits 21,502 22,061 75,696 140,464 91,740
Vegetables 7.742 13.305 56,399 109,088 194,226
i 63,358 ___ I ___
Total summer crops 83,8881269,999 427,355 488,452 These figures relate to total production and continuing figures showing the division as between Arabs and Jews are not available. The most recent estimates of the relative proportions of the main summer crops are, however, sufficiently indicative of the change which has been occurring in Arab rural economy :

Arab production

Olives Grapes Figs Vegetables

99% 73% almost 100% 77%

In respect of the "other fruits" shown in table 26 the percentages of the production attributable to areas in Arab ownership are given. It should, however, be noted that the greater part of the tonnage shown under "other fruits" represents the melon crop, an old staple crop of which 95% is grown by Arabs. The tonnages in respect of melons in each of the years shown in the table are :-

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