14 TUNISIA 



These data for rainfall are typical of conditions in both Tunisia 

 and Algeria. They are especially significant in the former 

 country as showing the extent of the summer drought. Except 

 for this, since the valleys of Tunisia are usually a rich clay- 

 admirably suited to agriculture, the country would be an ex- 

 tremely fertile one the year around. As it is, the winter crops 

 alone are amply justifying a constantly increasing colonization. 



FOREST CONDITIONS 



Forests. — The forests of the regency cover approximately 

 650,000 hectares (1,606,150 acres), and are divided into two 

 distinct groups by the Niedjerda River. They are distinct, 

 also, by reason of the difference in timber species of the two 

 groups, the value of the timber, and the condition of the stand. 



In the north the forests of the Khroumirie are of chief im- 

 portance. These include the revenue-producing stands of cork 

 oak (Q. siiher) and zeen (Algerian) oak {Q. mirbeckii) of Ouchteta, 

 M'Rassen, Oulad-AH, Ain-Draham, Chiahia, Ould-Zeen, Frenana, 

 Tabarca, Houamdia, Mekna, and Aindoun. The cork oak is the 

 species of principal value, though the zeen oak, in the richer, 

 moister soils, sometimes attains a diameter of 0.91 metres and 

 over (3 feet and over). It is estimated by the Forest Service 

 that there are 10 million producing cork-oak trees and 40,000 

 cu. m. (1,412,560 cu. ft.) of zeen oak, excluding branch wood. 

 During the ten-year period ending in 1909 the average cut 

 apparently exceeded the increment. Incidentally, it may be 

 noted that yearly sales amounted to 20,000 cu. m. (706,280 

 cu. ft.) of zeen oak from 1883 to 1900; 396,000 cu. m. (13,984,344 

 cu. ft.) of zeen oak was sold for ties, and 30,000 quintaux 

 (6,613,860 pounds) of cork. 



In addition to the two chief species — cork oak and zeen oak — 

 there is along the valley bottoms of these forests, alder, willow, 

 black and white poplar, ash, holly, laurel, tamarind, black 

 bryony, and azerolier. The understory is often dense and 

 a possible fire menace appears in heather, myrtle, mastic, 

 cytisus, etc. 



