MISCELLANEOUS ACTIVITIES 89 



average value per head is 12 francs ($2.32), as against a tax of 

 3.33 francs ($0.64) for a steer worth 80 to 100 francs ($15.44 to 

 $19.30). To discourage this form of grazing, the rate on goats 

 should, therefore, be increased as was done so successfully in 

 Bosnia and Herzegovinia. 



In all there are some i.i milHon hectares (2,700,000 acres) 

 open to grazing and of this area sheep are allowed on 600,000 

 hectares (1,500,000 acres). 



Owing to abuses of the privilege the gathering^ of alfa in 

 the High Plateau was forbidden from March i to July i, and 

 for the Tell from January 16 to May 15. On slopes bordering 

 the deserts and chotts (salt water lakes) the country is divided 

 into three zones, two of which are closed to harvest each year. 

 The collection is restricted to rolling or level land. Where 

 damage has been done collection is forbidden on sand. The 

 gathering of alfa can be only by hand or by small sticks, and 

 its use for fuel is forbidden. This pohcy, the result of experience, 

 serves to illustrate the need of precautions where an industry 

 denudes soil that is thus rendered Hable to erosion by wind or 

 water. 



Forest Houses. — Three distinct types of forest houses are 

 constructed by the Forest Service in Algeria. In constructing 

 a house of the first type, the ground floor plan allows for two 

 adjoining bedrooms, a small room for the inspecting ranger, a 

 hall, kitchen, a large room for visiting ofhcers, and a loft for 

 storage. It opens into a walled courtyard, which could be 

 used for defence in time of war, and which surrounds a forge, 

 tool room, loft, cellar, and stable. This arrangement, which has 

 been found especially convenient, is shown in Fig. 10. 



A second type has a courtyard arrangement similar to the 

 first, but only two adjoining rooms in addition. These are 

 within a hall and run parallel with the kitchen. This second 

 arrangement is now flexible and is only suited for one employee. 



A third plan provides for two families and is virtually two 

 one-family houses separated by a masonry wall which cuts the 

 courtyard in two, so that each family has its separate abode. 

 *" Decree of Aug. 20, 1904; see Arts. 134, 139, 140. 



