FORESTRY. 



97 



As attempts to form artiticial plantations of alfa have not so far 

 [)rored successfur. there is dano-er of the total annihihitionof this indus- 

 try, which, after stock raising-, is the mainstay of the population of 

 the high plateau region. To prevent this consummation, a closed 

 season of four months has ])een established by law. Alfa can not V)e 

 legally harvested or purchased from gatherers in the high plateau, 

 region during the months of Marcli, April. JNlay. and June. In the 

 coast region the closed season extends from the middle of January to 

 the middle of jVIay. 



The contractor who undertakes to harvest alfa puts up a barn on 

 the tract and secures Spanish or Arab laborers, whom he provides 

 with f(X)d and watei', to gather the leaves. Alfa harvesters sometimes 

 come long distances with their families, attracted l)y the high prices 

 paid for this work. A good laborer can gather, in a day, 650 to 900 

 pounds of green leaves, for which he is paid nowadays at the rate of 

 about 18 cents per 100 pounds. 



The oathering of alfa is still done exact] v as classical writers described 

 the process in the times of the Romans. The harvester starts out early 

 in the morning and selects a spot where there is plenty of the grass. 

 Fastened to his left hand by a leather thong is a stick about 16 inches 

 long. AVith hrs right hand he seizes a cluster of the tough leaves, 

 rolls them obliquely around the stick, and gives a strong' pull with both 

 hands. This breaks ofl' most of the blades at the point where the}^ join 

 the sheaths, although some of the sheaths generally come up with the 

 blades and must be broken off by a second pull. The leaves are packed 

 as fast as they are gathered into baskets, which are then carried to the 

 barn. The green alfa sent in by each harvester is weighed and is then 

 stacked in ricks. When dry it is sorted to remove any sheaths and 

 branches that may still be attached to the leaves. It is baled under a 

 hydraulic press and the bales are secured with hoops. The pi'oduct is 

 then ready for transportation to the nearest seaport. 



Algeria now exports annually nearly 80,000 tons of alfa, which is 

 approximately 35 per cent of the entire output of alfa-producing coun- 

 tries. The total value of the export from Algeria is nearly Si, 500,000 

 a year. England is the largest purchaser, taking, indeed, nearly 90 

 per cent of the entire world's supply of alfa. France and Belgium 

 also import considerable quantities. 



INIore than 9t» per cent of the total amount of alfa produced is used 

 in the manufacture of superior grades of paper. Paper made from 

 the leaves of alfa is strong, transparent, of a silky texture, and very 

 light in proportion to its thickness. It is preferred to any other for 

 printing costly books and engravings. 



The best grades of alfa. however, are used in making basket ware, 

 hats, and matting, Ininging a price almost twice as great as is paid for 



28y;32— No. 80—05 7 



