LIVE STOCK. 87 



ing. Under irrigation three crops can be obtained each j^ear, and the 

 averaofe total yield from an acre is said to be about 12 tons of leaves 

 annually. The oil produced in one year by an acre of rose geranium 

 is estimated to average about 25 pounds, but in rare cases is as high as 

 50 pounds. Some Algerian distilleries have an annual output of 2 

 tons of oil of geranium. In recent years the fall in price of this per- 

 fume has caused the acreage in rose geranium to be greatly reduced.' 

 Among plants grown for the perfume obtained from their flowers 

 are Acac/'a farnesiana and the bitter orange "(higarade). The latter 

 yields oranse-flower water and " Essence de Neroli." The leaves of 

 Eucalyptus globulus are also used to some extent in making perfumery. 



LIVE STOCK. 



The live-stock industry is -very largely in the hands of the Arabs. 

 They raise practically all the sheep, goats, camels, horses, and donkeys, 

 and much the greater number of the cattle of Algeria. The colonists 

 usually buy from the natives the beef cattle which the}^ fatten, and 

 also their work animals. The natural forage of the country is, as has 

 been previousl}^ stated, the principal resource of the raiser of live 

 stock, cultivated forage plants playing an important part only in irri- 

 gated districts of the coast region. There the business of fattening 

 cattle that have been raised on the wild forage of the hillsides and 

 steppes has attained some importance. 



The high plateau region, like many districts in the western part of 

 the United States, is for the most part a *' range," where animals are 

 driven from place ta place and pastured upon the natural herbage. 

 Sheep and goats in vast numbers — about three-fifths of the total num- 

 ber in the colony — graze on the elevated plains. Cattle, however, are 

 few. The flocks are the propert}^ of nomadic Ara))s, Europeans hay- 

 ing taken no part in the pastoral system of the steppe region, except 

 in so far as to purchase the product. The conditions as to climate and 

 food supply are often severe. In summer the herbage, except in moist 

 depressions, is parched and brown, and w^ater is very scarce, while the 

 winters are rigorous. As yet, little has been done in the way of pro- 

 yiding shelter and artificial sources of water for animals pastured on 

 the high plateau. 



Sheep and goats furnish the inhal)itants of the high plateau region 

 with almost everything they use, aflording skins for their tents and 

 vessels for holding water, wool and leather for their clothing, and meat 

 and milk for their food. Goats are raised chiefl}' to supply the neces- 

 sities of the natives, although their skins are exported in considerable 

 quantity. Sheep, on the other hand, furnish a very important export 

 trade in meat, hides, and wool. It is estimated that between (> and 

 10 million sheep and 3^ million goats are annually pastured upon the 

 elevated plains of Algeria. 



