'Military Report on Russian Turkistan or Central Asia' [‎34av] (75/168)

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the shortage of grain. This deficiency, however, is partly
made up for by the use of vegetables and fruit for food.*
Wheat and rice are now grown of better quality than
formerly was the case.
Perhaps the most characteristic feature of Turkistan
agriculture is the variety of crops grown other than
cereals and fodder plants. Kunjut (for oil), lucerne,
madder, tobacco, rice, melons, water-melons, cucumbers,
onions, and various kinds of haricots and oleaginous
seeds, as well as fruit trees—chiefly the apricot, plum,
pistachio, mulberry, nut, and pomegranate—are all widely
cultivated ; and fruit and vegetables eaten with bread
form a substantial part of the food of the population.
Successful attempts have also been made to introduce
beetroot for the making of sugar. Sericulture is begin
ning to revive, after the production of silk had almost
been put a stop to by silkworm disease about 1885.
It is estimated that some 30,000 cwt. of raw cocoons arc
obtained annually. The vine, which was formerly
* The above figures and remarks are taken from a Russian
source, and are interesting as being unlikely to exaggerate the
unfavourable symptoms noticed. The following figures are given
in Mr. Drage’s “ Russian Affairs” (London, 1P04).
Approximate total average yield of grain in Turkistan :—
Wheat
Rice
Barley
Other grain
Total
634,475 tons.
‘236,475
191,050
132,000
1,194,000
As will be seen, the total arrived at is even smaller than that
quoted above, and the author arrives at. the same conclusion, i.e.,
“ the total output is not sufficient for the wants of tbe people.”
According to recent statements in the Russian press, the
Council of the Governor-General of Turkistan has decided that
it is necessary to establish depots of cereals, partly for the use
of the native population and partly “for the use of the State.”
A special Commission, appointed to select the best positions for
such depots ami to decide upon the amount and description of
cereals to be stored, has indicated strife of land on either side
of the newly constructed Orenburg-Tashkend Railway, and
various points in the districts of Tashkent, Chimkenn, Ferovsk
and Kazalinsk as being the most suitable positions for such
depots. Recommendations as to the amount of corn and grain
to be thus stored, “ in case of emergency,” were also formulated.