428 Mr. G. Munby on the Botanical Productions 
only cultivated by Europeans, and even by them on a very small 
scale, as all the fine flour used in the colony comes from Marseilles 
or other French ports. Rye is also cultivated by the colonists, 
but principally for its straw. A field of oats is a great rarity, as 
barley is the only corn given to horses. In reaping the corn the 
ear only is cut off, and ‘the straw left for the cattle : what is left 
by them is burnt at sowing time, and the ashes afford the only 
manure supplied to the land. ‘There is no preparatory tillage of 
the ground before sowing: the grain is thrown on the sround 
and ploughed im by a very simple plough drawn by oxen or 
horses, and sometimes by a horse and a cow yoked together. 
The furrows run in all directions, and by their frequently crossing 
one another, leave sometimes small triangular spaces unploughed. 
Maize or Indian corn is only cultivated in small quantities, as 
it requires to be watered. The heads of maize are generally eaten 
before they are ripe, by being roasted on hot cinders. Broad 
beans are commonly cultivated in the open country. Peas and 
potatoes are cultivated in inclosed gardens. Potatoes are planted 
in September and are gathered in December; a second crop is 
put in in March and taken up in June; and in gardens which 
are easily watered, a third crop 1s planted i in June and gathered 
in September. The European colonists sow large quantities of 
haricots or French beans, which are eaten either green or ripe, 
but only in the latter state by the natives: chick peas or gar- 
bancos are principally cultivated by the Spanish colonists, but 
the Moors and Arabs eat great quantities of them; they cook 
them by roasting im an oven. Artichokes are very common in 
the gardens, and are much used by the Moors both raw and 
cooked: the Arabs, who have no fixed gardens (except in some 
localities near springs of water), employ as a substitute for arti- 
chokes the heads of Cynara Cardunculus, which is very abundant 
in certain clayey soils of the Mitidja. Onions and carrots are 
much used, and different kinds of lettuce. 
Asparagus is abundant in autumn and spring; it is found in 
the hedges, and is the produce of Asparagus albus and A. acuti- 
olius : the former species produces larger turions, but they are 
rather bitter to the taste; whilst those of A. acutifolius are as 
sweet as the cultivated A. officinalis: this last-named species I 
have discovered in the marshes of the plain of Mitidja, but I 
never observed the turions. 
Melons are not very abundant ; they are brought from Spain at 
so low a price that no encouragement is afforded for their cultiva- 
tion. Water melons are more common, and are a valuable fruit 
in the warm summer months. Gourds of various kinds are cul- 
tivated in great quantities by the Arabs in those gardens which 
are situated near springs of watey. Cucumbers are also common : 
