The Washington herald., 1909-02-21
FARMING IN TURKEY
How American Implements
Would Improve Ii.
CONDITIONS ABOUT SMYRNA
Land Owners and Farmers Change
Attitude Toward Modern InYen-
tiOns-They slowly Learn Advan-
tHEeS-BuFaI Life in Asia Minor
Retains Many Primitive Elements.

Ihe Bureau % Manufactures in Wash
ington is certain that in the development
Of agricultural pursuits in Asia Minor in
the vicinity Of Smyrna American manu-
factUTers have an excellent field for the
sale of implements. Consul General z
l. Harris in a recent letter 70 the bureau
describes general agricultural conditions
in the vilayer OF Smyrna and tells many
interesting things about the primitive
methods Of tilling the soil which might
be improved al small outlay for ma
chiHe-y- A portion Of the letter follows:
Generally speaking. the methods Of
ulling the land in this section OF. Asia
Minor are still very primitive In many
respects but few changes have been made
since ancient times. It is only in recent
years that the Turkish farmers and large
landowners. for example. have begun 10
relax somewhat IN their attitude toward
modern innovations Formerly they were
satisfied with small returns sufficient for
their own use OF wheat and rye bread.
olive oil, vegetables. and halva, favor
ite dish with the natives. which consists
Of a mixture OF crushed sesame seed
with the oil meal. and sugar. To-day.
however. the demand for farm products
for export 20 European countries is in
creasing 10 such an extent that the peas
ant class are beginning TO learn that the
improved methods introduced by a
neighbOr here and there bring more sub
stantal returns than do the old WAYS.
which so long have been the vogue
throughout the country.
Division of NOmadx and Farmers.
The number OF those busiIy engaged
in agricultural pursuits in the vilayet
OF Smyrna may be placed al half a mil
lion. Of which two-thirds are Turks and
one-third Greeks The Mohammedan
peasants are partly domiciled and partly
nomads and shepherds ~he domiciled
Turks are honest and ir5Gstrious, devot-
ing their attention 10 tilling the soil. The
nomads and shepherds. on the contrary.
wander from place 10 place with their
herds.
The Greek peasants are also indus
trious and intelligent. AZ the mountain
ranges and districts along the seacoast
inhabited by them. together with the ISL
ands OF the Turkish Archipelago. are toe
dry. on the whole. FOR the planting OF
cereals on an extensive scale. the Greeks
have mostly turned to raising goats and
Cultivating vineyards. The Greek peas
ants in this vilayet usually have a COM
Portable little home in some one Of the
country villages, and on national and re-
ligious holidays they all. especially the
women. take special pride in being neatly
dressed.
The farms in The vilayet OF Smyrna
consist OF large estates GSchiftlicks) and
small peasant holdings. The tschiftlicks
as a rule. are worked in common be
tween the landowner and peasant: that
is, the landowner furnishes the ground
seed. and in some parts Of the country
even the labor IN connection with har-
vesting, while on the other hand the
peasant gives only the price of his labor
in return.
After deducting taxes which consist
OF certain percentage of the crop. the
total yield is then divided between land
owner and peasant. Should Il happen
that the peasant furnishes a span OF
oxen. IL Is reckoBed as the work Of one
man. Small patches OF ground through
out the country are usually owned and
personally farmed by peasants. and this
Is especially the case in the vicinity ei
the villages.
When one compares the general coudi-
tons existing il the villages with those