INFORMATION RELATING TO AGRICtn,TURAL ECONOMY IN GENERAL 85 



1913 1914 1915 1916 



Saint C^'pricn 87.149 *39>74^ 184,887 154,540 



Munchar 39.310 68,967 42,575 71,660 



Business of real estate and 



industrial business . . . 146,991 224,590 112,252 78,484 



We should mention that the profits of 1916 would have been yet more 

 considerable if the prices of barle}' and oats had not been fixed at less by 

 from 5 to 7 francs a quintal (i) than the official prices in France. The sell- 

 ing prices of wine were less by from 30 to 35 francs a hectolitre (2) than those 

 which obtained in the south of France. The prohibition on principle of 

 the export of wines, and the difficulties of sea transport and of land tran- 

 sport in France, were chief causes of this difference in value. 



Of the 22,000 hectares of the three domains comprised under the head- 

 ing " business of real estate ", about 15,000 can be brought under regular 

 cultivation within a relatively short time. These vast spaces can be utiliz- 

 ed rapidly especially for stock farming : the pasture lands supported ;by the 

 natural prairies, used either for hay or grazing, offer in Tunisia considerable 

 resources which can be improved by special arrangements. The cultiva- 

 tion of cereals or artificial forage, at the price of longer efforts and a larger 

 investment of capital, should take a second place, and new areas should be 

 ploughed only when prudence is exercieed and sufficient preparations are 

 made. Agricultural hydraulic works, notabl}^ the projected Medjerdah 

 canal, will allow water to be obtained for watering animals and irrigating 

 hundreds of hectares. 



The credit balance shown on the profit and loss account, together with 

 the sums carried over from previous years, gives a total available sum of 

 about 323, 20ofrancs, employed as follows : 'legal reserv'e 5 per cent. — 9,800 

 francs ; quotas due in virtue of by-laws and contracts — 35,000 francs ; 

 various redemption payments 30,000 francs ; dividend on shares (25 francs 

 on each title) 75,000 francs. After various allocations in accordance with 

 the by-laws the siim of 98,750 francs was carried over to the year 1917. 



To conclude : the society of the French Farms of Tunisia has 

 triumphed over difficulties determined by the general sitiiation. After 

 having made the progress of its undertakings secure it has continued to 

 improve the value of its property by works of irrigation, the formation of 

 new flocks and herds, the plantation of vines, thus taking an important 

 step towards carrying out its programme which consists essentially in 

 the development of agricultural production. 



* Defidt. 



(1) I quintal =220 lbs. 



(2) I hectolitre = 21.9 gallons. 



