58 AGRICULTURAL EXPLORATIONS IN ALGERIA. 



up in great part to g-rain prodiu'tion. Of the 12,500,000 acres in 

 Algeria which bear a cereal crop every one or two years, bj' far the 

 largest part is situated in this zone. Wheat, barley, and oats are 

 grown, the last in much smaller quantity than the others and solely 

 for export. The bulk of the Avheat is of the hard or durum type, 

 although soft wheats are also produced. 



Where water for iri'igation is to be had in summer — and this is the 

 case in only a small fraction of the whole area — alfalfa, sorghum, and 

 other forage plants, as well as tobacco, melons, etc., are grown. Cot- 

 ton was extensively planted in some of the valleys of western Algeria 

 during the civil war in the ITnited States, and proved very I'emunera- 

 tive for a while. Under present market conditions, however, it can 

 not be grown with'protit in the colony. 



The wild forage that springs up on the extensive areas of grain laiid 

 lying fallow every year is an important resource to the farmer, enaliling 

 him to keep his cattle in good condition during the winter. In sum- 

 mer, however, unless a forage crop is grown under irrigation, the 

 conditions for animals in this zone are unfavorable. 



MOUNTAIN ZONE. 



The oidy extensive district of high mountains in Algeria where 

 agriculture is highly developed is Kal)ylia. In discussing the agricul- 

 ture of the "mountain zone" we are therefore, as a matter of fact, 

 describing that district. 



The lower elevations and the valleys of the larger streams present 

 conditions not unlike those of the littoral zone. Even oranges can be 

 grown in sheltered situations at low altitudes. On the higher slopes 

 and the crests of the ridges, however, this is impossible. The iratun 

 of the surface is not adapted to large vineyards and grain fields; hence^ 

 aoriculture becomes reduced to horticulture. Oi'chards of tigs an( 

 olives cover the middle elevations, often on the steepest hillsides,] 

 Olive oil is produced in large quantities in the eastern part of this 

 mountain region. It is extensively used b\" the inhabitants and i.«| 

 also an important article of export from Bougie, the principal seaporl 

 of the district. Other agricultural products of the mountain regioi 

 which contribute to the export trade of the colony are dried tigs, th( 

 pods of the carob, or St. eJohn's l)read, and capers. The last are not 

 cultivated, but are gathered l)y women and children from the wil( 

 plants, the young flower buds being the part used in conuuerce. About 

 450,000 pounds of capers were export(»d in iSOil. The mountaineer! 

 raise in small gardens such cereals, yegetal)les, and forage plants as 

 they require for their own use. These gardens are generally situatedl 

 at the bottoms of valle3's and i-avines, where some alluvial soil hasj 

 collected. 



