Page 383 - Bahrain Gov Annual Reports (IV)_Neat

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The light tractor obtained from the U.K. early in Shawal was soon made available (on hire and
with trained personnel) for ploughing and cultivating and has proved popular, indeed it is in continual
demand. While on hire, two-thirds of the daily operating costs arc paid by the Government. Com­
plete crop spraying equipment for use with the tractor was in use at Budeya Experimental Centre
towards the end of the year, and now, power spraying of crops against the principal pests can be under­
taken. This will be done on any agricultural land without charge to the grower, and other insecticidal-
control treatments c.g. poison bait, paradichlorobcnzcnc, etc., are available on the same terms. The
tractor services represent an annual subsidy by the Government of Ks. 2,850.
A surveyof crop pests and diseases was begun towards the middle of the year, and so far it shows
that a comparatively wide range exists. Of these the most notable arc caterpillar, mealy bug, red
weevil, aphid, white grub, mole cricket, downy mildew, and leaf spot.
The Department's import of seeds and seedling trees, and resale to local growers at cost price,
has been, apart from the obvious advantage of an assured supply of cheap seed, a useful way of en­
couraging some growers to cultivate a wider range of crops, and it is inlcntcd to continue, and to
extend this service.
I
Four samples of soil, each taken from cultivated lands of different agricultural potential, were
despatched to the U.K. for expert chemical analysis. One of the samples was also mechanically
analysed and this presents a reasonably typical classification of Bahrain’s soil, although in some areas
the clay content might be somewhat higher—
Coarse Sand 50-5
Fine Sand 22*0
Silt i-3
Clay ..................................................................................... i-8
Calcium Carbonate 20-2
Other Matters lost by solution in hydrochloric acid (Mg.,
Fe. Oxides, etc.) .............................................................. i-6
Moisture .. o-5
Difference (Organic Matter and errors) 2*1
100-o

Average chemical analysis figures arc as follows :—
Highest Lowest Average
Total Nitrogen........................... 0-066 0-024 0-046
" Available ” Phosphoric Acidf. 0-2 0-026 0113
*' Available ” Potashf 0-023 0-015 0-018
PH 7-7 75 7-6
Carbon Dioxide...................................... 12-2 9’3 io-8
Equivalent of Calcium Carbonate 27-7 20-2 24-4

t Soluble in 1 per cent citric acid solution.
The simple conclusions to be drawn from the above tables is that Bahrain's soil is a fine sandy
limestone soil, with very low natural fertility, high * total salts ’ content, and slight alkalinity.

The uncommonly warm summer of 1370, reputed to be the warmest for seventeen years, made
effective irrigation difficult in some of tho cultivated areas and subsequently some crops suffered.
The tendency was to irrigate the melon, cucumber, marrow and pumpkin crops more than lucerne
and so, in consequence it has been a poor year for this crop.
The melon crop suffered damage firstly from red weevil and latterly from root rot, the cause
of which has not yet been determined. The date crop has not been heavy, certainly not as heavy as
last year, an outstanding year, but perhaps not below average. In the spring the white grub took