1911-12.] BOTANICAL SOCIETY OF EDINBURGH 89 



cipations. Xo nation builds cantonments for its soldiers, 

 and erects great walled caravanseries outside the gates of 

 the coast cities to protect the merchants, their merchandise. 

 camels, mules, and donkeys, from brigands, unles- it 

 anticipates being able to occupy the country permanently. 



It is in Southern Morocco that the only forest of 

 Argania Sideroxylon is known. It grows upon the arid 

 plains and lower spurs of the foothills of the great Atlas 

 range, stretching from the river Taofiift on the north. 

 southwards past the walled city of Mogodor, to near 

 Agadir, where the Germans recently anchored their war- 

 ships. The Argan forests are confined to the two provinces 

 of Haha and Shiadhma. The forest is quite natural and 

 not cultivated in any way. and you may ride for miles and 

 miles among these trees. At a short distance the traveller 

 might think he was approaching a forest of olive trees, but 

 a little nearer the illusion is dispelled, as the leaf is different 

 and the fruit larger. The tree- are wide-spreading, thorny, 

 and most grow to a height of from 15 to 25 feet. One of 

 these trees is mentioned in Hooker's Journal of Botany for 

 185-4 (vol. vi. p. 97). which measured not more than 18 feet 

 in height, while its outer branches spread bo as to give a 

 circumference of 220 feet. Some are apparently of great 

 age, with gnarled stems and branches, into which goats 

 climb, as they, as well as camels, cows, and sheep, are very 

 fond of the fleshy pericarp. It forms for these animals a 

 valuable food, but is of no value otherwise. The ripe fruits 

 contain a stone which, when broken, is seen to contain a 

 kernel, and these kernels are of great commercial value. 

 Budgett Meakin, Land of the Moors, p. 42. says: — 

 "The nuts having been cracked between stones by the 

 natives, the kernels are roasted, pounded, and kneaded by 

 hand. first with the addition of a little hot water, then 

 with cold. The oil is then expressed, and the residuary 

 cake is given to cows and goats, as horses and camels 

 refuse it. Argan oil is really good, but suffers like that 

 of the olive from the primitive process employed. It is 

 necessary to clarify it and to burn off impurities before 

 use, unless one is hardened to its acrid taste and pungent 

 smoke. This is accomplished by boiling the oil with a 

 sliced onion and, when hot. dropping in a piece of crumb 



