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other hand, we take an early variety of ours, such as King's White, over 

 the same period of years and grown under similar conditions, we find its 

 periods of vegetation to have been distributed as follows : 



Between germination and bloom 124 days 



Between bloom and ripening 46 " 



Between germination and ripening 170 " 



It will be agreed that a difference in development of 20 days may affect 

 yields very considerably in years of drought or of red rust. I conclude, 

 therefore, as much of my knowledge of the general circumstances of the 

 country permit me to judge, that the soft wheats are not likely to be accepted 

 to any extent in Tunisia until landowners shall have secured early-maturing 

 varieties such as those in common use in South Australia. 



The barley usually grown is an ordinary six-row barley, resembling our 

 Cape barley, but producing, as a rule, a better and plumper sample. Barley 

 in Tunis as is indeed the case throughout the Mediterranean country 

 completely supersedes oats as the corn of horses. And quite contrary to 

 what appears to be the common opinion in South Australia, one hears oats 

 and not barley objected to as having over-heating tendencies on the 

 horses of hot countries. Much of the barley grown in the Regency finds 

 its way, I believe, into England for malting purposes. I note that in 1909, 

 England absorbed in this way l,137,325bush. of barley, valued at 175,768, 

 or a little over 3s. a bushel. It is stated that European spring barleys and 

 two-row malting barleys have generally failed when tested in Tunisia. I 

 heard of an exceptionally early barley, known as Tripoli barley, occasionally 

 grown in the dry districts of the extreme south and in some salt localities. 

 It is said to mature its grain fully a month earlier than the ordinary local 

 barley, and as such is extremely valuable in dry seasons. The grain of 

 Tripoli barley, however, is said to lack the plumpness of the ordinary local 

 variety. 



Some French landowners situated in the heavy rainfall districts of the 

 North, have experimented with oats, and are apparently satisfied with the 

 results ; and it appears that efforts are being made to spread the cultivation 

 of this cereal, which is said to yield more heavily than barley. I doubt 

 much, however, that oats are ever likely to oust the latter from its present 

 position, excepting perhaps within the limited area of the heavy rainfall 

 districts. There is a curious advantage that attaches to the growing of 

 oats in Tun ; s'a, a cereal wholly unknown to the Arabs prior to the French 

 occupation. The growing of both wheat and barley is still subject to the 

 old native tax in kind nominally one-tenth of the yield. Oats, formerly 

 unknown to native chancellors of the exchequer, altogether escape direct 

 taxation, and start therefore with a distinctly favorable economic handicap. 



