Pepper.] ^"i [March G, 



the shallow bed of the lake, sufficiently deep and wide (so thought the 

 engineers) to carry off the stagnant waters and dry up the swamp. This 

 result, however, was not attained, but yearly thenceforth the waters of 

 the lake were emptied early enough in the spring, and before the summer 

 heats, for the spongy shores to be covered with an herbaceous vegeta- 

 tion offering here and there comparatively fair pasturage. The coincidence 

 of this partial draining with the planting of eucalypti does not permit 

 the conclusion that the improved sanitary condition of Ain-Mokra is 

 wholly due to these trees. 



At Maison Carree, Cardinal Lavigerie and the white Fathers, as well 

 as MMs. Sauliere, Cordier, Trottier and others sowed and planted, the 

 first large the last small, groves of eucalypti, with a marked improve- 

 ment on the health of the community, which, however, still remains far 

 from good. 



These enterprises were rapidly followed by many others, and now most 

 Algerian villages, especially if in malarial districts, have more or less 

 extensive groves or avenues of eucalypti, and many farms are also well 

 provided with these trees. 



in. 



General and Special Advantages Claimed for Eucalypti. Limi- 

 tations AS TO THE Uses of and Objections to Them. 



Among the advantages of trees in general, shared 

 Advantages of to a certain extent by eucalypti, is the grateful shade 

 trees hi general, procured in hot countries to dwellings, and to cattle, 

 including euca- ^^^| ^^jj^^ domestic animals. 



lypti: shelter, _, ■,.-,■,. ,. .<., , 



good effect on Trees also, mcludmg eucalypti, gratify the eye, and 



the morale and the latter have totally changed the aspect of the plain 

 on health. of the Isser river, since they have been grown around 



its villages and farms. This is not merely an festhetic 

 result. The fact has its practical importance as acting directly on 

 the morale and therefore indirectly on the physical state of the colonist. 

 For trees form in the barren regions almost the only objects on which the 

 eye rests with pleasure, recalling the triumph of man over desolate 

 nature, diminishing in the heart of the pioneer that terrible longing for 

 less stern realities and cherished scenes in the past, which, if not checked 

 in time, opens the door to disease, even in the most robust constitutions.* 

 Another general advantage of trees, particularly of 

 Forests cause eucalypti, is that forests, like mountains and other 

 the winds to barriers, as is vv^ell known, when opposed to the wind 

 ascend and pro- ^^^^^ j^ ^^ ^.jg^^ dilate and cool in the higher and more 

 duce rain. ./,-,■, ^ , , , , . 



rarified layers of the atmosphere, whence result con- 



* We remark incidentally that in Algeria and Tunisia trees are not more numerous 

 than at the time of the French conquest ; they are fewer in fact. But trees, csiiecially 

 eucalypti, have been grown judiciously, where most serviceable to health. The cultiva- 

 tion of the viae has also acccjmplished much good, more even than eucalypti, because so 

 much more extensively jilanted. 



