252 



indigene sont a rejeter completement. Le serrage insuffisant 

 laisse trop d'huile dans les grignons. 



La culture de Tolivier est cependant en voie d'amelioration, 

 tout au moins dans la region du Nord, grace a 1'action du 

 gouvernement et des grandes societes agricoles. De plus, les 

 officiers chefs de district, a la fois soldats et agriculteurs, 

 enseignent aux Arabes les bonnes methodes de taille et 

 d'exploitation. Deja des progres ont ete accomplis, mais il 

 reste encore beaucoup de chemin a parcourir pour rendre a la 

 Tunisie le rang que sous 1'occupation romaine elle occupait en 

 Afrique du Nord. Cette renovation, commencee deja, est 

 tout a Thonneur des hautes competences du protectorat, qui 

 certainement ne s'arreteront pas en si beau chemin dans cette 

 oeuvre de civilisation et de progres. 



[TRANSLATION.] 

 THE CULTIVATION OF THE OLIVE IN TUNIS. 



Of all the arboricultural products of Tunis, the olive should 

 have the place of honour; unfortunately carelessness and even 

 unwillingness, on the part of the natives, are too often met 

 with. 



The following are the latest figures issued by the French 

 Customs administration : 



EXPORTS TO FRANCE IN 1911. 



Olive oils 2,486.580 francs ) ~, . , , , 



Olive oil cake 371,084 j Total 2,857,664 francs 



Figures showing native consumption cannot be given, as 

 it is impossible to procure the information, notwithstanding all 

 the zeal and intelligence of our Colonial administrators. 



The trees are generally planted 24 metres by 24 metres, or 

 17 olive trees to the hectare. This facilitates intercalary 

 cultivation, and is also rendered necessary by the dry ness and 

 heat of the Tunisian climate. 



It is necessary above all to endeavour to achieve a more 

 rational cultivation of the olive tree. Often the native is 

 content to gather the produce but not to take care of his trees. 

 Pruning is unknown, notwithstanding the efforts of the skilful 

 instructors provided by the Government. 



Further, the system by which twigs and broken branches, 

 which are chiefly a refuge for insects, are piled at the foot of 

 the tree, to avoid exposure of the roots, must be entirely 

 abandoned. Only earthing up is to be adopted. 



