1568 M. MALET 



4) observation posts for the special purpose of measuring rainfall 

 and temperature. 



Improvement of native agriculture. — It will be a work of time to 

 stud}^ the conditions under which various crops and methods of tillage, 

 which have already been proved successful in other countries under si- 

 milar conditions, can be introduced into Morocco. Organised agricul- 

 tural experiments were begun at once but several years must elapse 

 before the results are available. It was, therefore, of immediate import- 

 ance to introduce to the native population simple and practical improve- 

 ments in the methods of cultivation, most of which are in use in neigh- 

 bouring colonies. This work has dealt with the pruning of fruit trees, 

 especially the olive, in the regions of IMequinez, Fez and Rabat. The 

 native proprietors have repeatedly shown how great an interest they take 

 in our demonstrations and how much they wish for the continuation of 

 the teaching, of which thej' begin to see the utilitarian value. With such 

 good will and aptitude on the part of the scholars, associations of pru- 

 ners and grafters will soon be formed, who will in their turn spread the 

 better methods. In the same way it has been possible to begin to com- 

 bat the sooty mould of the olive, which is so widely spread in Morocco. 



Mechanical mowers, seed sorters and winnowing machines have 

 been placed at the disposal of the different Regions in order to familiarise 

 the native with the use of these implements, which are easily worked and 

 are not expensive. The spread of the practice of cutting and drying the 

 hay would bring about a great improvement in the rural economy of Mo- 

 rocco, where the grass is left to dry uncut without profiting anj^one. By 

 the use of seed sorters the natives learn the advantages of sowing large 

 uniform seeds, free from weed seeds ; they are also taught how to prevent 

 the smut or bunt of cereals by immersing the grains in copper sulphate 

 solution. 



Cattle Breeding. — The cattle breeding problems are closelj^ allied to 

 those which arise in the crop production ; consequently they have been 

 entrusted to a Board under the immediate authorit}^ of the Director of 

 Agriculture, Commerce and Colonisation, with the exception of those ques- 

 tions which concern army horses, which are dealt with b}^ the Metropo- 

 litan Board of Studs and Army Remounts. At Casablanca, under 

 the chief of the Board, a bacteriological veterinary Laboratory is pre- 

 pared to undertake scientific research on parasitic and other diseases. 



The Board of Regional Inspection has a veterinary surgeon in several 

 centres, i. e. Mechra-bel-Ksiri, Mequinez, Fez, Settat, Marakesh ; these 

 veterinary surgeons make frequent rounds for study and enquiry, which 

 give them the opportunity of coming into close relations with the agri- 

 cultural population and of encouraging better methods of stock manage- 

 ment. Epizootic diseases are also under their control, and in co-ope- 

 ration with the municipal veterinary surgeons in the urban centres, the 

 Board provides the Sanitary police for the interior of the country. The 

 inspection of animals and animal products of foreign origin is carried out 



