The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-03-26
Virginian Page for Each Member of the Family


Consul Thomas II. Wallace. Of Jeru-
ca lem has received American Inquiries
relative to present agricultural meth
eds in Palestine and the prospects for
introducing American farm impie-
rnents for filling the fields OF that his
toric land, TO which he replies,
The larger part of Palestine is
mountainous and much OF 1t barren
waste The land farrsed 10 thick with
stones. and the soil very shallow in
places 80 that the bedrock protrudes.
making IL difficult, IL not impossible,
to use agricultural implements COM
mon in the United States. Such inn
plcments have been tried here W
Americans and given up az unsuitable
for the land. TIE grain crown on ,ne
hiiiy lands is usually quite snort, ana
because Of the stony condition of the
land II would be dificult to harvest
by machinery.
There is another tract, or district,
distinct from the hill country border
ing on the sea and extending to the
foothills OF Judea, most OF which IL
rich and fertile, and seems to be. well
adapted to the use or all kinds III
Agricultural Implements and machin-
cry. Efforts haze been made TO I'M
duee the peasants of the district to
tiee such implements, but 30 far with
cut success. The failure may be
asciibed to the lack of proper In
structions. or to tnexperience, and in
some cares also to the lack or care
and fndfngrenrs he TO the implements
used.
Cioeaing of Pfows---ffarvesting Ma
Plows may be seen with large
part of the moldboard rough, partly
covered with rust, and In condition
rendering 1t impossible to do good
work No effort is made by the farmer
to turn over the land in smooth fur
rcws: therefore. the surface OF the
plow not being kept clean. dirt adj
here's to the Tnoldboard 50 that the
work thus done by q steel pillow would
be no better than that OF the native
implements, and would be much
harder on the team. II may be that
the character OF the soil has much
to do with these conditions cut
ting grit or adhestrs sutf, AZ hart-
pan dobe, may require a pillow adopted
TO IL. which could only be determined
By the practical knowledge and ex-
perience Of one competent to Judge
after an examination OF the conditions
as presented.
harvesting machines. as we'll an
many other kinda Of farm implements,
could be operated In the plains without
diffcuity. The obstacles at present In
tie way OF sales Qf ali C1dEBES III iuA HI
implements and machinery are the
cheap ness of labor and the community
system of farming az conducted on the
plains The country Inhabitants have
no other industry than the labor Of the
farm and garden to employ their time,
and SO their work can be accomplished
without difficulty or loss by the prini-
, tive methods in use. From this II
would appear that labor saving devices
are not needed, AZ the supply OF labor
always exceeds the demand.
The poverty of the people ID another
serious obstacle in the way of sales OF
all classes OF commodities. This IN true
OF most of these engaged in farming
as a business. A few land owners
| might be interested. especially those
who are farmers themselves. but there
are very few In this district SO engaged.
Farming at Primitive Stage.
The land IL rented and yarmed in
primitive way, which Is Improbable
TO both landlord and tenant alike. as
compared with what might be accom-
plished under more advanced sys-
tenn The lands are rented for one
third OF the crop produced. After the
harvest the grain Is Immediately
tf,rashed. The tithes or government
tax Ia taken first. which Is ene-tenth
of the whole crop, and then the re-
mainder Ia divided, the landlord re-
cetvinx his one third share. The farm
er has generally pledged good por-
ton OF the expected crop, virtually
selling it at greatly reduced price
for the purpose of securing money in
advance for his necessities. II grain is
81 q bushel, on an advance to him of
800 he witt agree to deliver to the
party who advances the money 1870 or
140 bushels Of grain after the harvest.
Should the crop fall. 1t Is carried over
., tta newt YEAR hi1t under a new con-