El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-03-11

ing a great deal Of silk, which is sent
to France and shipped from there to
the United States. The American resi-
dents tell me that there is no reason
that we should not buy this raw silk
direct, and thus save the Frenchman's
profits and the double transportation
charges. I saw mulberry orchards ev-
erywhere during my travels in Syria.
The plains about Reirut are covered
with them. and they are to be found on
both sides Of the Lebanon mountains
The trees grow to the height of a
mans head. and are then cut back
Their branches are cut off every year
and the green leaves from the new
sprouts form the food for millions Of
silk worms. In coming from Damas-
Gus l saw women and children picking
the leaves to feed the worms, carrying
them to sheds erected for the purpose
Rearing the silk worms is largely in
the hands Of the women. They take
care Of the trees and sell the cocoons,
this forming. the chief source of their
pin money.
Money In Olives.
He who plants an olive tree lays
up riches for his children's children"
This saying is a current belief through
out the Levant. The olive crop is the
money crop OF a great part of Pales-
tine, Syria and Asia Minor. Many Of
the trees are hundreds of years old,
and some Of them were planted before
Columbus discovered America. Mr..
Ravndal tells of an orchard near Tri-
poll. in Syria, which the papers show
was established about 500 years ago,
and he says the trees are still bearing
All the way from Jerusalem to the sea
Of Galflee I saw olive trees which
looked old enough TO have been planted
by Jacob, and some Of gigantic size
which were hollow and had been filled
with stones to aid - their support
Many OF the German colonies of the
Holy Land have set out new orchards.
and the Americans who live at Haffa
by careful cultivation have brought
their trees into bearing fruit every
year am told that the crop is very
profitable, and that under the new
government and reduced taxation many
more trees viii be planted. The fruit
is raised for the OIL Of which a ton Of
olives yields about 20 gallons worth
s136. Asiatie Turkey already leads the
world in the production Of olive OIL
having about two or three hundred
thousand more barrels per annum than
either Spain or Italy.
Smyrna Figs.
Another important crop Of the region
about Smyrna is the fig. which grows
better here than in almost any other
part Of the world. In some years over
500 900 camel loads are raised and they
are shipped all over the world. The
trees begin to bear IN their sixth year
and are at their best ten years after
planting. The figs ripen about the
first of August and when fully ma.
tured fall to the ground. They are
dried in the sun, and then packed in
bags for the market
A great many Of these figs go 70
America. and you will find them in all
our grocery stores. Our part of the |
crop is carefully packed. there being !
several American firms here who do /
nothing else The figs are first sorted i
according to the thickness Of the skin 1
and size of the fruit The poorest are
thrown away or used for disti1ling pur-
poses and the best are put up for ex- /
port in boxes and jars The price here |
is from to cents pound the very /
finest Of the figs bringing the latter.
A great deal of the packing is done /
in the city OF Smyrna. the fruit being i
brought in from all parts Of the coun-
try. Some of it comes on the railways, /
on cars especially built for the traffic, /
and some is carried on camels- It is !