Private Jewish settlers have made considerable progress in developing Palestine’s orange belt in recent years, according to figures published in the Palestine press.
In an article in the “Bustania.” Moses Smilansky gives a survey of the orange plantation development. Of the 60,000 dunams purchased by Jews for orange groves, 20,000 have already been planted, in which an amount of £2,000,000 was invested. The plantations require further investments of £4,000,000. At present 2,000 Jewish workers are employed in the groves and their number may eventually reach 4,000 or more.
The outlook for this year’s crop of oranges is that it will be double last year’s, since the groves are blossoming favorably. It is expected that 2,500,000 boxes will be exported this year as compared with 1,300,000 last year. Owing to the expansion in the orange plantations, there is a great shortage of seedlings and prices are soaring.
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