90 



SOILS. 



The total area of the Regency is said to attain to 32 J million acres ; of 

 these about 12J million are arable ; about 7| million more or less sandy 

 wastes ; and the balance mountainous rocky country. The arable lands 

 include the usual mixture of heavy and light soils common to all countries, 

 although the heavier types would appear to predominate. As is the case 

 with us, most of the Tunisian soils would appear to be abundantly supplied 

 with both lime and potash ; in organic matter they are said to be somewhat 

 deficient, a natural consequence of prevailing climatic conditions ; whilst 

 in phosphoric acid, as is again the case with us, they are said to be generally 

 poor. 



THE MANURE QUESTION. 



From what has been said of soils and climatic conditions, it will be gathered 

 that the " manure question " is in Tunisia very much what it is in South 

 Australia ; little or no call for potassic or expensive nitrogenous manures 

 on the one hand, and great need on the other of soluble phosphatic 

 manures, such as superphosphate. And indeed on all hands one hears 

 the latter highly commended for local purposes, almost to the exclusion of 

 all other manures. The dressing usually recommended appears to be abo.it 

 2Jcwts. to the acre. Notwithstanding the academic praise bestowed on 

 superphosphates in this country, I could find no evidence of their having 

 entered into the general practice of the farming community, as has been the 

 case with us for some years past. Superphosphate is not manufactured in the 

 Regency ; hence local usage must be accurately reflected by the local imports 

 of this manure. I find Tunisian imports of superphosphate to have been 

 represented by the following figures within recent years : 



Year. Tunisian Imports of Superphosphate. 



Tons. 



1905 895 



1906 928 



1907 1,482 



1908 1,900 



1909 4,888 



It is clear that within recent years the imports of superphosphate have 

 shown a tendency to rise ; but how infinitesimal a quantity are 5,000 tons 

 for a country that has under crop each year between 2J million and 3 million 

 acres. 



In this connection it is worth noticing that within recent years Tunisia 

 has joined the ranks of the raw phosphate exporting countries. How im- 

 portant a source of wealth this has proved to the country the following data 

 will serve to show. 



