1 



8() AGRICULTURAL EXPLORATIONS IN ALGERIA. 



The quality of the product depends largely upon the locality. Some 

 of the l)e.st Alo-crian tobaci'O is orown in the Kabyle mountain dis- 

 trict, where the soils seem to be peculiarly well adapted to thi.s crop. 

 Much of the product of western Algeria is defective in combustibility, 

 being grown in saline land, where it absorbs considerable salt. Soils 

 containing more than 1 part per 1,000 of sodium chlorid are considered 

 unsuitable for tobacco. P^xcessive irrigation also injures the quality, 

 although increasing the yield, of much of the tobacco grown in that 

 part of the colony. The finest tobacco is generall}' grown without 

 irrioation. In the oases of the Sahara, snuti' tobacco is cultivated by 

 the natives. 



The type of tobacco ordinarilj^ grown in the colon}^ has a wide, very 

 compact flower cluster and crowded narrow leaves. Plants of this 

 type are thought to sutler less from wind than Ijroader leaved forms. 

 For several j^ears the l)otanical service of the colony has been carrying 

 on experiments in crossing various high-grade foreign tobaccos with 

 this Algerian type. It has been found that while most of the uncrossed 

 foreign varieties are not well adapted to Algerian conditions, the 

 crosses seem almost as much at home as the Algerian parent, and 

 often retain the desiral)le qualities of the imported variety. 



The l)est Algerian tobacco has an agreeable, sweet aroma, suggest- 

 ing that of some Turkish varieties. It is especially suitable for cig- 

 arettes and smoking tobacco, very little being used in the manufacture 



The production of vegetable fibers on a commercial scale is now 

 limited to alfa grass and the dwarf palm, the latter yielding "vege- 

 table horse hair.'' As neither of these plants is cultivated, they are 

 discussed in this report under the head of " Forest products." 



Flax, jute, hemp, sisal hemp, manila hemp, and ramie have all been 

 tried from time to time, but the cultivation of none of these fiber plants 

 has passed the experimental stage. The scarcity of water in sunmier 

 is generally the most serious obstacle, but there are also other practical 

 difficulties. The Algerian government is now offering a bounty to 

 growers of flax and hemp. Cotton growing was an important industry 

 durinsT the American civil war. but has since been abandoned. 



PERFUME PLANTS. 



In the coast region, particularly in the littoral zone, the growing of 

 plants used in the manufacture of perfumery is one of the most impor- 

 tant of the minor agricultural industries. 



The principal perfume plant of the colony is the rose geraniuuL 

 It is propagated by cuttings, which are set out in December or Janu- 

 ary. Plantations, once established, continue to yield profitable crops 

 for from four to eight years, those in heavier soils being the morelast- 



of cigars 



FIBER PLANTS. 



