253 



The varieties, which are very numerous but badly, or not 

 at all, selected, are to be replaced by well chosen and well 

 acclimatized varieties. Thus, in place of trees of small size, 

 stunted, and covered with mosses, we shall have young olive 

 trees of large yield, which owin-g to the height of the stems will 

 allow of easy remunerative intercalary cultivation. 



Harvesting by knocking down the fruit, which destroys the 

 trees, is to be replaced by hand-picking, which, though it 

 necessitates a little more labour, does not prejudice the suc- 

 ceeding crops. 



Finally, the processes of extraction of the oil by the native 

 method must be completely rejected. Inadequate crushing- 

 leaves too much oil in the cake. 



The cultivation of the olive tree is, however, in process of 

 improvement, at least in the northern region, thanks to the 

 action of the Government and of the large agricultural 

 societies. In addition, the chief district officers, who are both 

 soldiers and agriculturists, teach the Arabs g-ood methods of 

 pruning and working. Progress has already been made, but 

 there is still a long road to traverse in order to bring Tunis 

 to the high position it occupied in Northern Africa under the 

 Roman occupation. This revival, already commenced, is 

 greatly to the honour of the authorities of the Protectorate, 

 who certainly will not stop on the way in this work of 

 civilization and progress. 



RENDEMENT DU PALMIER A HUILE EN BASSE-GUINEE. 



Par L. NICOLAS, l 

 Sous-Inspcctciir d' Agriculture. 



[ABSTRACT.] 



L'on sait que YElacis guinccnsis est une des principales, 

 richesses de la Guinee franchise, et qu'on le rencontre en 

 abondance stir toute la cote de cette Colonie. 



Les operations faites par 1'auteur ont porte sur un total de 

 590 arbres recoltes d'octobre 1911 a mai 1912, et dont 

 1'huile, ainsi que les amandes, ont ete preparees suivant les 

 procedes indigenes. II ne - s'agit done pas ici de rendements 

 ayant toute la precision des recherches de laboratoire; mais 

 de rendements pratiques posscdant par consequent, dans les 

 circonstances actuelles, un tres reel interet pour rexploitant, 



1 This note was presented to the Congress by M. Prudhomme r 

 directeur du Jardin colonial, on behalf of the author. 



