1966 Res 1B a The Shepherding Year

Much of the island is semi-mountainous and the soil too poor for crops, even barley. In addition, hill terraces where grain used to be grown, were now left uncultivated, as people migrated to the Athens. Shepherds were able to graze their floocks of sheep and goats on these terraces. They paid the owners a rent in an agreed amount of cheese. This was done in person on the island; migrant owners were sent their cheese rent on the weekly steamer.