I^ND TENURE AND COLONIZATION 75 



the remark that in all Er^'threa the Indian fig-tree grows well in the regions 

 having an altitude of from 900 to 1000 metres or more. This is truly pro- 

 vidential for the natives, for they can feed on the fruit for several months of 

 the year and it exists in such quantities that some years ago its utilization 

 for the manufacture of alcohol was even contemplated. The importance 

 of the trees for fodder is no less: they feed the live stock as well as the natives. 

 By the means of this tree a solution of the problem of reforesting districts 

 of Erythrea might be found or at least sought. A pohcy of forestry might 

 be placed on the basis of a well understood association of woodland and 

 pastureland and a scientific economy with regard to the mountain terri- 

 tories. 



B. — I Ave Stock Farming. 



Of the different varieties of animals kept in Erythrea animals intended 

 for meat, particularly cattle, have most interest, especially in view of their 

 importation into Italy. Erythrea is rich in cattle ; but unfortunately 

 breeding is often absolutely primitive, for methods of selection are almost 

 entirely ignored and are not applied. None of the possible improvements 

 of the primitive systems are known and they have never been adopted. It 

 should be added that no care is taken of the pastures, that there are no 

 artificial prairies, and that it is the custom to harvest prairie grass for hay- 

 making. Other and graver drawbacks exist with these. Until recently and 

 for many years, from 1887 to 1903, the live stock of Erythrea was contin- 

 ually threatened and attacked by cattle disease. During this long pe- 

 riod the matter was not even investigated ; nothing was done against the 

 scourge, except that shortly before 1903 there was an attempt at serum vac- 

 cination which however yielded neither theoretical nor practical results. 

 It was indeed made empirically rather than scientifically. In order to 

 find a remedy for the loss to which cattle farming was subject from epi- 

 zoot}^, which destroyed the live stock of whole regions when it raged, vS. E. 

 Martini, then governor, took in 1903 a wise step. He charged a special 

 mission to look into this most delicate question. The mission identified 

 and studied the plague, established the distinction between it and the pro- 

 tozoic diseases with which it was confused, and laid done what were prac- 

 tical methods of fighting and preventing it. 



The IstiUito siero-vaccinogeno of Asmara was then founded for the pre- 

 paration of the necessary sera and vaccines ; men began to rely on really 

 scientific criteria in vaccinating the beasts ; and a serious, energetic and vic- 

 torious compaign against the terrible disease was undertaken. The bene- 

 ficent influence — economic, sanitary and political — of vaccination was dis- 

 seminated everj-^where. It may be afiirmed that today the plague has 



(i) Cf. in this connection A. Omodeo, V. Peglion, G. Valenti, La Colonia Eritrea. Rome, 

 Bertero, 1913. volume I, section II, No. V. of the first part (Report of Professor Peglion), 



and in general all Professor Peglion's report which forms the second section of this volume 



(pp. 135-215). 



