CROPS OF THE COLONY. 57 



of grain fields and A'ine^^ards, and the third of tree crops at lower ele- 

 vations, giving place to pasturage on the higher slopes and crests of 

 the mountains. But this generalization must not be carried too far. 

 The lines that separate the three zones are vague at best, and the indus- 

 tries especially characteristic of each are shared to some extent by all. 



LITTORAL ZONE. 



Along the shore of the Mediterranean is practiced the most intensive 

 agriculture of the colony, if we except the oases of the eastern Sahara. 

 The alluvial soils of the valleys, which usually expand into small deltas 

 as they approach the sea, are largel}- occupied, especially in the neigh- 

 Itorhood of the principal cities, by highly cultivated market gardens. 



The lower slopes of the hills and mountains that border the sea are 

 ()ccui)ied b}^ orchards and vineyards. At slight elevations we find a 

 great variety of fruits, every sort, in fact, that is commonly grown in 

 warm temperate countries. In addition to the great vineyards of wine 

 grapes, excellent table grapes are grown for European as well as for 

 Algerian markets. Oranges of several kinds are produced in consid- 

 erable (piantity. Lemons, apricots, nectarines, and almonds thrive. 

 The Japanese persimmon, the loquat, the pecan, and other tree crops 

 n(jt yet widely cultivated in that part of the world, promise to become 

 a source of wealth. A few peculiarly favored situations, well sheltered 

 from cold winds in winter and from the sirocco in sunmier, are adapted 

 to fruits of a distinctl}^ tropical character, such as bananas, guavas, and 

 avocados. Attempts are being made to produce some of these fruits 

 under glass in marketable quantit}'. 



It must not be supposed, however, that the littoral zone is devoted 

 wholly to growing fruits and garden vegetables. Where sufficiently 

 extensive areas of alluvial soil occur, cereals are grown, giving larger 

 yields than elsewhere because of the abundant supply of water. For 

 the same reason cultivated forage plants do better in this zone than 

 in the others. Alfalfa is the most important perennial forage crop, 

 while, for winter forage, barley, often sown with vetches, is nuich 

 used. As is also the case to some extent in the other zones of the 

 coast region, natural meadows, furnishing green pasturage all the year 

 round, occupy marshy places. Where such meadows occur, live stock 

 can be kept in good condition throughout the summer, which is seldom 

 possible in the high plateau region. 



An industry of secondarv importance, 3^et bringing a considerable 

 yearly revenue into the colony, is that of growing plants used in the 

 niaiuifacture of perfumery, notaldy the rose geranium. 



VALLEY AND PLAIN ZONE. 



The large valleys of the coast region, especially in the western part 

 of the colony, of which the Cheliti' ma^' be taken as a type, are given 



