Report to the ... Zionist Congress and to the Council of the Jewish Agency in ... · 1935-08-01 · 8.1935 · p. Seite 365

potatoes on light soil proved successful. Two to three tons, and in some cases 3^ tons per dunam, are produced, while on heavy soils, the yield is about half of this. In some cases a dunam of potatoes produced an income of £P. 25-35. The rate of development of potato growing in the Jewish settlements can be judged from the report of the Tenuva : In 5690, 21 tons were sold fetching iP.178.974 „ 5691, 30 „ „ „ „ £P.335.090 „ 5692, 57 „ „ „ „ £P.464.557 „ 5693, 123 „ „ „ „ £P.879.989 „ 5694, 100 „ „ „ in Tel-Aviv alone fetching £P. 1,000 In 1932, 7,780 tons of potatoes were imported from abroad, involving an expenditure of £P. 44,857; in 1933, 9,753 tons were imported at a cost of £P. 45,257; and in 1934, 12,349 tons were imported at a cost of £P. 63,150. 4. The consumption of vegetables by the Jewish population. There are no exact figures available for estimating exactly the consumption of vegetables by the Jewish population. Eight per cent, of the total expenditure on food is spent on vegetables. Hence it may be assumed that a rural family spends between £P. 3 and £P. 4 per annum on vegetables, while an urban family spends from £P. 8-10. It is safe to assume that the Jewish population in Palestine as a whole spends £P. 500,000 per annum on vegetables. The Jewish agricultural settlements supply only 10 per cent, of the Jewish consumption, and this shows that there is considerable room for vegetable growing in Palestine to provide the country's, needs. 5. Vegetable Preserves. For purposes of seasonal regulation of production and consumption, especially in the months of large vegetable yields when the prices fall, it is essential to develop the industry of preserved foods and juices. Almost all kinds of vegetables are suitable for pickling, both for the home and foreign markets. D. Plantations. 1.. The old colonies cultivated citrus fruit, almonds and vines. Attempts were made by individual farmers to introduce other fruit trees, but they were not successful for various reasons. In the Arab farms and in most of the convents, mainly on the mountain zones, fruit trees and table grapes were highly developed. Since the War the number of almond plantations and vineyards have decreased, and orange groves were planted in their stead. The number of fruit trees has fallen also in the Arab gardens, especially in Judea. On the other hand, the new Zionist settlements, thanks mainly to Mr. J. Ettinger, an agronomist who is a first-class expert in this branch, have begun cultivating other fruit trees on their land. The first of these plantations were cultivated in the farms of Kiryath Anavim and Ataroth in the Jerusalem district. 365