Page 251 - Bahrain Gov Annual Reports (II)_Neat

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The following vegetables, all from English seed, have been grown
Artichokes Asparagus Broad Beans
Beetroot Sugar Beet Beet Kale
Beet Spinach Cabbage Cauliflower
Lettuce Leek Onion
Parsley Peas Spinach
Turnip Swede Mixed Herbs
Dwarf and Kidney Beans.
These crops have been sown at fortnightly intervals. The majority failed
at the first two sowings, but successive sowings have produced good results, with
the exception of all varieties of beans which apparently cannot withstand the cold
north winds.
The soil appears to bo suitable for growing most garden vegetables but needs
to be enriched as propagation of 6eeds and maturing of plants is at present slow.
The sugar cane crop was transplanted around the garden to assist in the
establishment of wind breaks. This crop is doing well and should be profitable.
The grain crops are doing well under irrigation.
In addition to the 91 date trees already growing in the garden 524 have
been planted this year, of which 440 have survived.

A few young citrus trees are growing and some guava, fig and miscellaneous
fruit trees and shrubs have been planted.
Farm buildings are being erected to house a small herd of pedigree cattle
which is expected to arrive from India in the near furture.
The Government obtained a quantity of vegetable seeds and tried to sell them
to the public. A small amount was bought but the response of the public was
disappointing. Several Arab landownere and one Indian grew successfully crops
of European vegetables in gardens near the town.
The agricultural report by Khan Bahadur M. Fateh-Ud-Din, who visited
Bahrain in the spring of 1938, arrived during the year. It has not been of very
great help to the Government arid unfortunately the reports on soil were less
valuable than they should have been as many of the samples which were sent to
India for analysis were mixed or mislaid.
During the year His Highness agreed to a restriction of well drilling. This
has caused some discontent but it is a very necessary measure as numbers of
artesian wells have shown an alarming decrease in pressure and in His Highness’s
own gardens at Sadad many artesian wells have dried completely.
From experience in the Experimental Garden it appears that the most
profitable crop is lucerne. European vegetables have an uncertain sale and as
many of them ripen simultaneously there is sometimes no sale for vegetables which
are ready for picking.
Report on Food Control.

(by Captain A. C. Byard, m.b.e)
By the beginning of August conditions in the local markets were already
causing grave concern to Government. Prices were unsteady, food and clothing
commodities wero being withheld from sale, and import trade was being threatened
by the uncertain conditions.
In the last week of August conditions became 60 abnormal that the Govern­
ment had to take aotion. It was decided to build up and ensure the maintenance oj
a six months’ supply of necessary food stuffs, keep prioes as low as possible, and
prevent hoarding.