GENERAL ECONOMK^ OONDITIONS. 51 



pean population is donsost, imu-h of tho labor iu vineyards, orchards, 

 and market gardens is performed by immiui-ants from southern France, 

 Spain, Italy, the Balearic Islands, and Malta. In all those countries 

 agricultural conditions resemble to a greater or less extent those prcv 

 vailing along the African shore of the Mediterranean. 



The wages paid iiatixe laborers vary according to the locality, the 

 season, and the nature of the crop grown. Wages to natives are 

 liio-hest along the coast, where a day's labor in summer commands 

 from 28 to 3S cents. Farther inland the wage varies between 24 and 

 2S cents. Harvest lal)or performed in the usual fashion, with a sickle, 

 is paid at the rate of about -io cents a day. When the scythe is used 

 from 65 to 75 cents a day is earned. Laborers are sometimes employed 

 by the month, receiving, without board, $6.50 to $7.50. If somewhat 

 more skilled than the average the}^ are paid as much as $9.50 a month, 

 oi- a smaller wage is given, together with a ration of about 2 pounds 

 of bread daily, and each month 2 quarts of olive oil and a few pounds 

 of dried tigs and semolina. For tending small flocks owned by Euro- 

 peans the native receives from $1.50 to $2.75 per month with food, or 

 $2.75 to $4.75 without food. The employer always retains half of the 

 wage agreed upon until the expiration of his contract with the shep- 

 herd, as security for the proper care of his flock. Men whose families 

 live in the neighborhood are found to be the most trustworthy laborers 

 among the natives. 



European workmen are more intelligent and consequently better paid 

 than natives. Their wages are higher in eastern Algeria and in the 

 interior, where the conditions are less attractive to Europeans than in 

 western Algeria. The heavier kinds of farm lal)or, if done bv inuni- 

 grants, fall to the share .of Spaniards and Italians. French lal)orers 

 are generally engaged in such work about the orchards and vineyards 

 as requires more intelligence, and as overseers and foremen. The 

 market gardens of the littoral zone, where large quantities of vege- 

 tables are grown not only for consumption in Algeria but for expoi't 

 to Europe, are rented and farmed for the most part by Mahonnais 

 (natives of the Balearic Islands) and by Maltese. 



Unskilled Spanish and Italian laliorers, working by the day and 

 flnding their own provisions, earn from 45 to 55 cents a day in winter 

 and as much as 75 cents a day iu sununer. The day's work in winter 

 lasts nine or ten hours, with an hour's rest at noon. In summer the 

 workday is twelve or thirteen hours, but with two hours' intermission 

 at noon and 'a quarter of an hour for rest in the middle of the morning 

 and again in the middle of the afternoon. The same kind of lal)or, 

 if employed ))y the month, commands from $5.50 to $11.50, board 

 included. The more intelligent French laborers naturally receive 

 nuich higher wages. 



