MAJOR AGRICULTURAL CROPS/MEDICINAL PLANTS AND INSECT SUBSTANCES/PLANT DISEASE CONTROL

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00047R000400160004-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 29, 2013
• Sequence Number: 4
• Publication Date: February 26, 1954
• Content Type: REPORT

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release a 50-Yr2013/04/29 : CIA-RDP82-00047R000400160004-5
COUNTRY Rumania
PLACE
ACQUIRED
DATE
50X1 ACQUIRED
THIN DOCUMCNT CONTA INN INIONNAtfON ANT[CT INN THE NATIONAL D[NINNt
ON TON UNIT[0 STATEN, NITNIN TNN 111"1116 1TI TL[ It, NCCTIONN 7N1
ANO 7. ~, Of TAN U, N. CODN, AN AMENDED. ITN TNA N NN I ANION ON NCYC.
LATION ON IT. CONT[NT. TO ON N[C[INT NY AN UMAUTNCNI... N.NION IN
NNONINITND NY LAN. TN[ N[TNOOUCTION CN TMIN FOOM 1N NNONI NI T[O.
V-5-5
1. Food Crops for Domestic Consumption:
a, The major food crops produced for domestic consumption in Rumania up to 1948
Y~ex
as follows:
particularly 19145 and i.946; the highways an coon ry roa s were ix P w
brothers; the Soviet military forces.
(1) Corn is tbx: primary agricultural target within the country for a number cf the
common foodstuffs are essentially corn or coin products. This crop is empha,stze=d
on all f&rme -- large and small.,, private and collective. Some of the major by-
products of corn (used domestically by the population) are farina, corn mea:. :?nd
flour. To approximate the yield per acre is rather difficult for several reasons.
First, we estimated our agricultural yield by so many kilograms per 575 s M+xree
meters of land surface. Secondly, the majority of Rumanian farmers up until
1.948 used archain and primitive methods for ioulture. Thirdly, in 194$ ':there
was a critical shortage of food in Rumania see paragraph No.,17. Finally,, the
common source of natural fertilizer, animal refuse plus chemical fertilizers, 50X1
is sadly lacking. The shortage of fertilizer from 1945 to 1948 was brought
about through the systematic depletion of Rumanian livestock by our so-called
meters on large farms~??oases,singg modern implements.
CLASSIFICATION CONFIDENTIAL
cattle and, horeee whil:h were 'being driven by Soviet soldiers. Of course, these
animals worst az into Bessarabia Vhtch, once again, bad become Soviet
territory. would hazard an estimate of yearly yield of W crr. r '
saying that the output varied from 450 kilograms per 575 square meters for the
average peasant farmer to as high as 2400 kilograms on an equal amount of l .d
farmed more scientifically.
(2) Wheat was also grown in large quantities, particularly in the area of the
Rumanian Banat. The yearly yield of wheat varied from 500 kilograms per 376
square meters on the average peasant farm to 2800 kilograms per 575 square
This rei ort is lot the use within the USA of rho intelligence eomponor s of 'she Depattmenti of A.grancits indicated gel ove. It is not to be tren'mitttd ovetscas veithottt@
tho ccalcurrencr. of the nr'I'i w ( A,fi.cr t'III Assha .( Duecu of !ho OHir.? if CAltttion and DL:ceminacioa, CIA,
Major Agricultural Crops/Y-edtri al Plants and
Insect Substances/Plant Di.s.ue Control
DATE DISTR. ato fE 8 5'
NO. OF PAGES c
NO. OF ENCLS.
(LISTED BELOW)
SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT NO.
THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATON
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr2013/04/29 : CIA-RDP82-00047R000400160004-5
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr2013/04/29 : CIA-RDP82-00047R000400160004-5
50X1
(3) Sugar beets were raised in large quantities but in only two areas that are
known to me, Oradea and in Moldavia. fs-ource is not aware of'the yearly out-
put since sugar beet growing was comparatively new to Rumania. Serious effort
was expended from 146 to 1948 to grow amounts sufficient to satisfy domestic
sugar requirements.
(4) A major food crop, I might even say that it is one of the main ones, is rye.
- This grain, up to 1948, was always grown in quantities adequate for domestic
needs. The areas most conducive to its grow% are, of course, the mountain-
ous areas. Consequently, Transylvania is the chief source of rye supply.
(~) Potatoes Mere grown in large quantities and until 1948 were always sufficient
for family needs. Practically every farmer raised this crop with primary
emphasis on family consumption and not resale.
(6) A factor of considerable interest to me was the Rumanian method of raising
beans. The farmers plant corn and beans in the same rows and hills, This
method serves two purposes: (1) The growing beans can utilize the corn stalk
as a support; thus they need not be supported by manually driven poles. (2)
Soil norms,.ly.used for growing beans separately can be devoted to the growth
of an additional food. As a matter of fact, some farmers plant pumpkin w^th
corm in the same manner. ap the afoz1emsntion,d. corn - and bean, combination.
jor. Non-Food Crops Domestically Cone ds
a.:. The major non-food crop vrae; s n 1oyer seeds.. This production v&a
3?
esieshti;lly,important to Rumania because it is the chief source of cooking oil..
The supply was not only adequate for cooking oil, but some` was-used as a lubrioant
in light industrial machia.ery6
The agricultural.,shortages of 1947 and 1948 were due tot
at The small land owners who possessed from 5 to 15 sores were not big producers in
the state economy., The essence of our country's products depended on the large
land owners who used modern. scientifio farming, methods and,equipment. Naturally
as the aos+mutist influence'grew stronger these people were ruined. They either
escaped from Rumania or were persecuted. These large agricultural units fell apart
because:,of the new a,,gt?arian, reform, paxt3,aularly collectivization, Their lands
were given O. those peasants who had insufficient equipment, knowledge and in
many,gaaes to peasants with no equipments. consequently, large areas.. of land were
not evonpcultivated.
b. The }sew: Communist State raised the prices to,exorbitant levels and controlled the
markets, thus destroying or suppressing the peasants' initiatives
e. Above all, the middle man was iridiret1y eliminated or removed by the imposition of
impossible eoonoirto regulations which oonstant],y F.oatradicted each other. Thus the
middle an disapeared from the scene which had frustrated and throttled his
possibilities to' function,
4. Rice
a. In 1946 axed' 1947 the "Peoples' Government" began to develop rice production. The
area most oonduci -e for rice growing, the.Banat was selected. Around the town of
8alonts are many small artificial lakes. In 19L7 this area alone yielded between
250 and 300 carloads oailroad cars wwith'10,thousand kilogram capacity (.11 tons 7.
as The peasant women of Rumania grow i"ln-% which they work over and make into linen.
This is the chief source of Rumanian linen. It was sufficient for domestic needs.
5. Export from 1945 to 1949
a. In summary, the stability of Rumanian domestic food requirements depended on corn,
50X1 beans potatoes and rye. no export of agricultural products from 1945
to 1949 for the previously mentioned. reasons; food shortage plus USSR acquisition
of these crops.
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr2013/04/29 : CIA-RDP82-00047R000400160004-5
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release ac 50-Yr2013/04/29 : CIA-RDP82-00047ROO0400160004-5
7.
Plant pests and diseases
a. The Colorado Bug had just reached the Rumanian border fall
50X1 1948. it had made its way across Hungary by the spring of 1949.
b. fn'lavicep Purpurea was a common disease affecting rye.
of 50X1
c. A fungus disease which attacks maize (technical name not recalled). This disease
attacked the ears of corn causing the'ends to deteriorate in the form of a dry
black powdery substance. The disease was not widespread nor did it ever reach
epidemic stages.,
d. Puatlhea menthae attacked mint leaves. This disease was primarily due to moisture
which left spots on the mint leaves,, thus' causing deterioration. Had the growerE
planted mint where prevalent winds could blow the moisture from these plants,
Puctinea menthae would not have developed.
e. . Petonos Spora and Phlox Stra attacked gr?apes, 4--ad were a,problem to most grape
50X1 f During t~ x had oreaaeion. to visit.- with cultivators and 50X1
growers throughout much of Rumania. Griot re;iall a 'single'epidemic during that
time; however, this cannot be attributed to alertness or skill upon the part of
the farmers or agricultural scientists, but perhaps to "Dame Fortune".
8. Plant disease control
a. Organization to control plant disease in B uaania is, in actuality, non-existent.
In theory, the central state organ, Phytg AJ= S Rate Agricultural OfPtcil,1
is not up to provide for the control of such d,tseaeer~ recall that there
was a branch office at Cluj. In the nine years worked in agriculture,
cannot recall .& single instance in which this organization took any positive action,
in providing the farms with tnfbrmat'ion, advice or assistance,. The major function
of this state. organization was border checking, that is, inspecting incoming and
outgoing a ricultural produce. These inspe3tors were, in most instances, corrupt.
Baksheesh Ljraf7 shippers could t ;port or import,, 'whatever they desired -- money
talked,
50X1
50X1
50X1
b. Diseases 'were rported to the' county agricultural office which in turn reporti~ed
of diseases.
c. Disinfectants or instruction in the use of disinfectants were never sent down from
50X1 the government. , in contacting several hundred growerp' in Rumania,
instructed them in the detection of plant disease and how to treat them. I1
most cases. it took over' two yeera to develop peasant and farmer interest in sv.ch
things because for centuries the primitive methods had prevailed,
d. Insecticides and fungicides were unknown to the average farmer. About the only
such item in use was copper, sulphate which was utilized by grape producers in the
various vineyards, With reference to the spraying of crops, there was none, ether
50X1 than spraying grapes.
large numbers came into Rumania, they infected almost everything with lice. Of
course, typhus took its toll, Thousands of Soviet soldiers and Rumanian civilians
died. Even in the `Face of this disaster no quarantine of any type was ever effected
for humans or for crops.
quarantine existed in any area. For example, in 1945 and 1946 when USSR forces in
visited villages and farms almost every day. I hear that
to the ; /government representative in each village who 'i;nformed central 50X1
head utters in Bucharest. Again, in the nine years worked in Rumania,.
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr2013/04/29 : CIA-RDP82-00047ROO0400160004-5
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release ac 50-Yr2013/04/29 : CIA-RDP82-00047R000400160004-5
50X1
50X1
90. Plant breeds
Area of, Growth. and. "Collection
d. Between 1946 and 1948 cotton growing and breeding was attempted near the Hungarian
Be er.. These ventures vere..unsuc.cesaful .beea:as ,the 'temperature was not conducive
to cotton growing.
10. Medicinal.plants, and insects dollected fdr 1. expert up .to mid-:1948z.
(1~)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
8)
(9)
There is a large experimental station at Cluj which was developed by .the Hur ;ar ans.
fCluj,, up to 1945, was a part of Hungary recall only one project at this 50X1
station:o Zn.1947:an experiment was under way w poppy seeds. The aim of this
experiment was to improve the opium content of poppies to approximately 20 per cent
in contr,-nt
b. At.Salaz, an individual :does not-recall the namee7:had developed a method by
which he could extract morphine from Capita Pappa Varis.
c .. One. of the. post World War II, discoveries of -Rurdanie, was a research project in which
an extract. from -Filleoes Mares was found to be use.fwl in treating certain: sheep
diseases. was unable to describe or. submit : the name of the sheep diseaej
14
15
13
12
(11,
(10)
16
38) Helleborus Niger - - - - - - - -
39) Herniaria alebra - - - - - - - -
40) Herniaria Hirsuta - - - - - - - -
(37) Bryngium Planum - - -
36) Agristuni Sracusim (sic)
35) Crataegus Oxyacantha -. -
Rosa Canina. - - - - -. - - - - Cluj and De J.
Calcicum Automnale - - - - - - - Vajdahunyad
Datura Stramonium - - - - - - - - Miholyfalva
Hyosciamus Niger - - - - - - - - Miholyfalva
Althaea Miholyfal.
Canthorides. - - - - .- Bei.u;
Tiliea _-_-_-- _ -- Oradea
Fileois. Nares - - - - - - - Ciucia
Bn a parabia
Oras.tie .
,Belladonnae - - - - - - - - - - - Ciucia and Padurea
Sal.i.x Alba.. - - - -, - - - Pad=s+ Neagra
aor tex Frangs ?la -- - - - - - - - Zala or Zalau
Agartcus Camepestris, - - - - - Alasd
Adones Vernalis - - - - - Agire,s
Agrimonis- - - - - - - _ _ _ _ - Bihor
Arnica Montana - _ - - _ _ _ - - Ciucia
Calamus . - - - - - - .,- Banat
Flores, Chamamillae
Coriandrum Sstivum
.:plgitalie 'Purpur,ea,
_4a.
bred Benediztine, Digitalisand, Belladona,
Digitalis Larraata ? _ _ - _ .
Flores Sambucus Nigea - - - - - -
Gentians Lutia - - - - - -
Canium Maaulatum - - - - - - - -
Mar,.rubium Vu1gaxe - - - - -
Jun,iper CommunIA (bacc:ee.) -. - -
origani - 4ajoransa - - - - -
Capsicum Annum - _ - - - - - -
Sinapeis Alba,
Sinapsis ,Nigro - - - - - - - -
Uvae Ursi Arctostaphylos
Achilles Millefol,iuin - - - - - -
32) Agropyrum repene
33) Cardiu Benediatini -
34) Centaurea Cyanus -
1 25)
27)
28
29
30)
31)
2,4)
22
23
18
19
20
17)
and Northern Rumania
and Northern Rumania
and -Northern Rumania
Neagra
and -;Western Rumania
Vales lui Mihail
Beius and Vales. luiMihail
Sighet
Throughout Rumania
Valee, lu.l Mihail.
8ighet Maarmatiei
Banat (cultivated)
Vales lui Mihail
Vales lui Mihail
Val.ea it Mihail
Ciucia
Bihor
Bihor
Bihar (cultivated)
Bihor (cultivated)
01.1,10 is,
Cluj primarily, but
Cluj
Cluj and Ciucia
Cluj and Ciucia
Cluj and Ciucia
Name
throughdut Rumania as well
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr2013/04/29 : CIA-RDP82-00047R000400160004-5
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr2013/04/29 : CIA-RDP82-00047R000400160004-5
I I
5 - Area of Growth 50X1
Name and Collection
(1i1) Hypericum perforatum - - - - - - - - - - Lecuseu
(42) Se calo Cornutum - - - - - - - - - _ - - - Zalau.
(1.3) Lycopodiaam Clavatum -? - - - - - - ~. Sebis
(11~) Melilotus, officinatis _s_ ,.. - Bihor
(45) Papaver rhoeos - - - - - - - - Bihor
(1.6) Polygonum - - - - - - - - - Bihor
(117) Pulmonaris - - -------- - ---
( 4 8 ) - - - EiucLe
148) Sambucus ebulus _ - - - - - - - Satu?-Mare
49) Sa'ponaria Albae radix - - - _ - -^-_-~--- Western Bihor
50) Thymus Vulgaris - -. - _ - - - - _ - - ;Be-ius
51) Thymus Serpullum - - - - - Beiue
(52) Tusselago Zarfara - - - - - - - - --- ------- Aghires and Ciucia
(53) Veratrum Album - - - - - - - - Ciueis
(54) Verbascum t'hapsiforme - - - Hunedoara
(55) ViecumAlbum ---. -- i~hx^ess.
(56) Cesataurium timbelllatum - - - - _ - - - - - - Zalau
, Y --- _.V ..- " .n.r Mi11~ L.1.G.L y7.91GL ?
LThe following numerical order in identical to paragraph 10 (above). For example,
Item (1) listed below refers to Roan.Ce.nina,,, etc,. P4 ce.r .csds.. ospre.sed below, one
carload.equals 10 thousand kilograms or 22 thousand po=de'(li ton.)J
Amount Co1jec~Sdd 7tr':arly and Cammente otwzatial' Yield
1) 26 carloads - ... _.. ?. - - - ? ?: :120. ; a+~x?lvad.
- - - - _ -.. ... - -.? _
2 700 Used to for 1000 .cien kilograms, Unknown
tifi. .
plant imyrovament
3 1 carload used for. alkaloids.. - - - * - - - - - - P. - 3 carloads
4 1 carload - used for alkaloid extracts - - - -- - - - 2 - 3 carloads
5 1500 kilogram - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2000 - 3000 kgo of leaves
6 250 kilograms ,. used for. veterinary mediom e Unknown 25: kge of flowers
7 -3000-4000 kilograms..(flower. , and. leaves) - - - - - - Unknown
8 No set.f gure.. $u ,p tt;y.unnlimi,ted.* 50X1
(9) As .needed.. Special. export. of Atrophirie '. - - -
-
10) Smallq'uantitiea- - ..__..... ______
-
11 1 aar,94,4 in combination - - 2-4 carloads
12 oar,,lgad. in combination ------
I--.- _ _ _ 1-3 carloads
13 One off'.,largest,item. exported to Rolland and Denmark 4-5 carloads
14 5,00 ki,Xogrq6m.
15 5 kilograms 16 26,00 kilogxame gown
1.7 One of Rrumsnia ?. best aropa - - _ _ _ -~- - 15-20 car oads
.,
er
ye
p
18) -- --
-_I
19) cultivated at Ore
tia, a$ needed - -
tTtt 50X1
e
20) Only one individual in Rumania could Produce it - - -
21) 3000 kilaarams - - - - ..~-- ---
22 200 1+00 :iilo i arcs - - - - - - uuxnvwn
12~? unlimited sntitiea - - _ - _ - _ _ _ . . -Unknown
._
2k 200-800 kilograms - - .,, - - _ _ _ _ ___
425 Unlimited quantities5 - - - - _ - _ _
15 carloads
(26) Ceased. to exist by 1919. Had been cultivated in the Banat by old Schwabian settler@
who were driven from the .area by the ,Co unissts in 191+9.
(27) Cultivated. In dry powder torm6 carloads could be collected. The pepper mill used
to grind Capsicum Annum was st,111 functioning in 1918 in Oradea.
(28) Very small quantities - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Cultivated as required
) Very small quantities-- - - - Cultivated as required
M) 800 kilograms - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2 carloads
CONFIDENTIAL
can be 7th7 red 50X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr2013/04/29 : CIA-RDP82-00047R000400160004-5
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr2013/04/29 : CIA-RDP82-00047R000400160004-5
50X1
6 -
Amount Collected Yearly and Comments Potential Yield
(31) Unlimited -- - - - - - _ _ _ - - _ - - Unlimited
(32) 300 kilograms - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Limited, because it was
difficult to prepare
(33) We made about 30 carloads per year - - - - - - - - - - Unlimited
(34?) 50 kilograms -?___,__--__---- -- - _ - Scarce. Hard to collect
(35) 1-2 carloads - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Abundant
(36) 3000 kilograms - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Limited
37) 25 kilograms - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Scarce
38) 2000 kilograms - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Sufficient for needs
39) 200 kilograms - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Unknown
(40) -Less than 200 kilograms - - - - - - - - - - - - - Scarce
(41) u p to 6000 kilograms ----m--- - - - - - - - - - 2 carloads
(42) 1000-3000 kilograms - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Varies with climate
(43) 2 kilograms only -- ;------m-- 1-------- Scarce
44) 700-800 kilograms - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Abundant
45) 1 kilogram (dry) 15 kilograms (wet) - - - - - - - - 250 kilograms
46) During World War II we made approximately 50 carloads for the Germans.
Used for chlorophyll.
(47) 50-60 kilograms - - - - - - - - - - - - - Liiit.ed
48) 1500 kilograms 49) 1 carload..Used for soap and textile, industry - Un owri
50) 3000.4000 kilograms - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Plentiful
51) 2 kilograms - - =-- - - - - - - - - - - - - - scarce
52) 1700 kilograms - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Plentiful
53) 00-600kilograms - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -' 6ufficient
54) 40 kilograms - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Scarce
t55) 3000 kilograms - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Sufficient
(56) 600kilogra+ms------..'------------- Sufficient
that the bulk of t. ove materials. was in storage in Rumanian warehouses 50X1
in 1948 No. earpo! rto were' being made at that time for the new
Rumanian State and' its machinery deemed that it would either,utiliee the above or export
it under the net state regulations what happened to any of the above.) 50X1
and
4/724,.14 6om
4/724;1 6om
72 9 .'6oi
72 V. I'2 60M
725.42 60M
725.41 6om
726.11 60M
722.1 ,6oM
4/724.19 6om
726,563 .6oM
632.583 60MM
432.429 60m_
2.461
6 6oM
62.480 6CM
4/71'2.1 6oM
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr2013/04/29 : CIA-RDP82-00047R000400160004-5