EXPERIMENTAL AND ANALYTICAL WORK 1581 



Tunisian, Sicilian and American varieties of the two types of plants will 

 be raised — the spineless type as a fodder plant and the spiny kind for 

 hedging. 



9) A field for cereals which at present consist of a few obscure va- 

 rieties of local barley and some native and Italian varieties of wheat. 



10) A field for fodder plants where hair^^ and common vetches, 

 vetchling {Lailyrus satiims), fenugreek, sulla or Spanish sanfoin, chloris, 

 and taff are being tried without irrigation. A small plot of mangels is 

 also under experiment. 



11) A field for irrigated crops which is principally occupied by 

 lucerne, the rest being under tobacco. Of the latter the Turkish varieties 

 Giant Herzegovina, Porsucian, Xanthi jaka, Kya. Sink and Samsoun, 

 also Virginia bright and Java have been under trial and these not only 

 at Sidis el Mesri, but also on various other estates. 



As the coastal region has proved well adapted to the growth of mul- 

 berry trees, the question of introducing the rearing of silkworms on the 

 oasis farms is full of interesting possibilities. As a start a few experi- 

 ments have been carried out with graine of the Pyrenees, Grand Sasso, 

 Polyjaune, Istria Yellow and native Yellow C and F breeds, and the 

 crosses Chinois or x Bijaune and Bijaune or x Batoum Yellow. The 

 results have been most encouraging. 



So far as irrigation problems are concerned, the Institute is at pre- 

 sent investigating wells and water lifting apparatus for use on the differ- 

 ent kinds of farms. In the immediate district of Sidi el Mesri two 

 wells have already been dug and three others have been deepened and 

 put into working order. But progress in the establishment of water rais- 

 ing plant is slower as the s}^ stems in use are numerous and varied and 

 the individual merits of each have to be determined. Those at present 

 under construction are : 



The Arab system of counterpoise or shadoof. 



The noria or endless chain with buckets, worked by horse gear. 



The windmill with force pump. 



The Archimidean screw worked by motor. 



The compressed air pump. 



Electric pumps of high and moderate power. 



The Institute also proposes to take up the difficult problem of reclain- 

 ing the sand dunes, both with a view to extending the area of prodtictive 

 land and of protecting the more inland tracts from blown sand. An ex- 

 perimental ground has already been set aside for testing the various plants 

 and trees which are known to have a binding effect on the surface and 

 which at the same time may be made to produce useful crops. 



The department dealing with live stock has not yet been created, but 

 will eventually undertake research on : the native breeds of all classes of 

 farm animals (including horses, cattle, dromadaries, camels, donkeys, 

 sheep, goats, pigs, ostriches, and poultry) and the possibility of improv- 

 ing them by selection and by crossing with suitable imported breeds ; 



