From the category archives:

Palestine and Trans-Jordania

Agricultural opportunities may be less limited

September 16, 2009

It was very strange on Friday to read Vavilov’s views on the limited scope for agriculture in Palestine and then, on Sunday, an article by the excellent Joanna Blythman recounting a trip she recently made to the area; the foods she enjoyed, the efforts of Palestinian farmers, the obstacles they face and their growing successes. [...]

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Agricultural opportunities are limited

September 11, 2009

1926 November The agricultural opportunities for Palestine are limited. Most of its area is occupied by highlands, suitable only for cultivation of olives. The area for fields is limited and to a great extent already used up. A number of major irrigation projects have been worked out, offering rich possibilities for spending considerable amounts of [...]

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The Jaffa orange

September 9, 2009

Vavilov said of Jaffa oranges: The well-known brand ‘Shamudi’ arose apparently as a vegetative mutation as was demonstrated by a Dutch research worker, Oppenheimer. Jaffa oranges are distinguished by their smooth and thick skin and the large size of the juicy fruits and have therefore, in essence, no competitors. The market for them is absolutely [...]

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Jaffa, and oranges

August 31, 2009

1926 November Plantations of the famous Jaffa oranges (Citrus sinensis) are concentrated on the red soils around Jaffa. This is one of the most important products of the Palestinian agriculture, outstanding with respect to the technology of irrigation, care, application of fertilizers and the fight against diseases and pests. Here a rigid selection of the [...]

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Jericho

August 28, 2009

1926 November Ancient Jericho is situated on the western shore of the Dead Sea, surrounded by irrigated gardens and palm trees. To the south the beautiful Gilboa mountains with slopes of different colours, mainly dark brown and gloomy, can be seen. All around is a lifeless desert. Only occasionally are there a few plants, e.g. [...]

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Lake Genesareth

August 26, 2009

1926 November I also went to the lake of Genesareth. There fishing is conducted just as it was in the distant past. No doubt the population of ancient Palestine was much larger than the present one: hundreds of structures, long ago fallen into ruins, and thinly populated areas provide a picture of the present. Everything [...]

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The valley of Esdraelon

August 24, 2009

1926 November After working out a plan for an expedition in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, I went together with the agronomist Eittingen to the valley of Esdralon where at present the Jewish colonization is concentrated and where Aaronsohn had made the main finds of wild wheat. The vegetation was mainly arboreal. Only during early spring [...]

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