HORTlCUI,TURE 1 623 



1 184 - Cultivation and Marketing of Flowers and Early Produce on the Riviera from 



Toulon to Mentone. — Foncin M., in Annales de Geographic, Year XXV, Xo. 136, 

 pp. 241-262. Paris, July 15, 1916. 



The cultivation of flovters and early produce occupies the whole coast 

 from Marseilles to Mentone, a zone which comprises a purely agricultural 

 region. The land is undulating and the soil is very variable, including 

 the alluvium on the plain of Hyeres, the gneiss and mica-schists of Manres, 

 the recent eruptive rocks of Ksterel and finally the calcareous or marly 

 sedimentan,^ beds. It is because of the climate — a Mediterranean cli- 

 mate tempered with mild winters and dry summers - — that the whole re- 

 gion is given over to agricultural pursuits. All the rain falls in the autumn 

 and winter, and then it comes in heavy downpours. Sowing must be done 

 after the rains to ensure a harvest before the end of spring, as only wheat, 

 vines and fruit trees can stand the dr\'ness of the summer. Attempts have 

 been made to anticipate the rainy season by m^eans of summer irrigations, 

 carried out by utilising the subterranean waters or by diverting the water 

 courses. All the seeds sown are obtained from cold countries, as they 

 start into growth so much more quickly than those raised locall3^ 



In the Maures there is a fairly brisk trade in wild flowers. Among 

 cultivated plants the orange (harvested in May) and mimosa are promi- 

 nent. Roses are grown in the open air and in glasshouses, carnations un- 

 der matting (Hyeres, Maures) or under handlights (shores of the Mari- 

 time Alps, especially at Antibes), violets as undergrowth in fields planted 

 with olives or peaches. Ornamental plants are also grown. Kitchen 

 gardens are almost entirely confined to the plain of Hyeres. In frm't 

 growing the cultivation of citrus fruits is is not very important ; peaches, 

 cherries and figs are the trees which succeed best ; the grape is also a very 

 important product. 



In some cases the land is leased 'without payment in return for the 

 clearing of some of the w^aste land. Some landlords insist on the growing 

 of the old crops (vines, olives, wheat) as well as fruit and early produce. 

 Under these circumstances the family of the tenant provides sufficient la- 

 bour for the work. In other cases only flowers or early crops are grown, 

 when labourers are necessary ; the land is taken on lease, usually for long 

 periods. Finally there are big horticultural establishments devoted to 

 glasshouse work only, which specialise in the cultivation of one or two 

 plants (roses, carnations). The aim of each firm is to create a new variety 

 but unfortunately there is no law of agricultural property to safeguard 

 the rights of the creator of a new variet3^ In these great establishments 

 the amount of labour employed is considerable. The figures referring to 

 one such firm are as follows : 



Area of land cultivated 37/4 '^cres. 



80 carnation houses covering 200 000 sq. ft 



60 rose houses covering ' 60 000 sq. ft. 



Frames 14000 



Output, per annum 18000 baskets 



Working expenses £4 coo 



HORTICUI.TURE 



