FORESTATION AND BETTERMENTS 41 



FORESTATION AND BETTERMENTS 



Government Forestation Policy. — The government's atti- 

 tude ^^ is favorable to artificial regeneration only so far as is 

 necessary to complete small blanks in a revenue-producing 

 forest. Instead of planting or sowing, the policy is to pre- 

 serve and improve existing forests by the gradual restriction 

 of harmful grazing, by very conservative cutting, and by the 

 erection of dams to conserve moisture, not only in the soil but 

 in the air as well. Occasionally it has been possible to wound 

 the soil, on ground where natural regeneration has been de- 

 ficient, in order to assist germination. The two most expensive 

 planting areas are for watershed protection and for cHmatic and 

 recreation purposes. 



In theory resinous species are to be avoided, because of the 

 fire menace; but in practice more aleppo pine has been sown 

 or planted than any other species, because it is found locally 

 and because it withstands droughts. The wild oHve, holm oak, 

 carob-tree, pifion pine, thuya, and eucalyptus (chiefly globulus) 

 have also been employed. The ohve withstands drought better 

 than any other species and sprouts very readily after being 

 dried out. The holm oak requires slightly better moisture 

 conditions. The carab tree withstands drought well and pro- 

 duces a leafy bush like a tree which shelters the soil. The 

 thuya is excellent for dry soils but grows very lowly. The pinon 

 produces an edible seed and for this reason encourages trespass 

 by the natives. The eucalyptus can only be used on moist 

 ground or where the subsoil is moist; no species of eucalyptus 

 has been found which will withstand droughts unless the roots 

 can penetrate the subsoil water. 



Seed Spots. — The seed-spot method of sowing is almost 

 invariably used; broadcasting or unprepared soil is never prac- 

 ticed except with aleppo pine immediately after a fire and, 

 thus far, even in that case, merely for experimental purposes. 



'5 These conclusions are based on a conference with the acting Director, M. 

 Delacourcelle. The description of methods in use is based on field inspections 

 at Hammam-Lif and Zaghouan. 



