of the Kingdom of Algiers. 427 



sweet and very nutritious, although it is apt to disagree with 

 European stomachs, bringing on severe constipation, not from 

 any astringency in the fruit, but probably from a mechanical 

 cause, namely the seeds, which are very numerous, lodging in 

 the colon. 



The Agave americana serves to make hedges of, and the flow- 

 ering stem is much used in constructing huts, but no part of the 

 plant is edible : the fibres of the young leaves make a very du- 

 rable cordage, and many objects of ornament and utility are 

 made from it by the condamnes militaires, or soldiers condemned 

 to hard labour for infraction of military discipline. 



The brushwood which covers the hills in Barbary is princi- 

 pally composed of the following plants : Cytisus spinosus, Pista- 

 cia Lentiscus, Quercus coccifer, and many species of Cistus, the 

 most common of which are C. heterophyllus, C. monspeliensis, C. 

 salvifolius, and in certain localities C. ladaniferus and C. albidus. 

 Two species of heath are also common, Erica arborea flowering 

 in spring, and E. multifiora which covers the hills near Algiers 

 and flowers in October and November, Rhamnus Alaternus, 

 Arbutus Unedo, the fruit of which ripens in winter, and is very 

 good though not delicious ; Osyris quadridentata, Phillyrea lati- 

 folia and P. angustifolia, Asparagus albus, with occasionally, near 

 Algiers, some groups of Pinus halepensis. These plants form the 

 chief features of the vegetation of the uncultivated hills. 



The natural meadows in the neighbourhood of Algiers, and 

 indeed all the hilly parts of Barbary, afford excellent forage, being 

 composed almost entirely of Leguminous plants, amongst which 

 the genus Medicago holds the first rank, and is very rich in spe- 

 cies. Different species of Scorpiurus, Astragalus, Ornithopus, 

 Hedysarum and Onobrychis complete the list of meadow plants as 

 far as Leguminous species are concerned. Hedysarum coronarium 

 deserves a special notice, as it grows in immense quantities in 

 certain districts, and is much relished by horses. This plant 

 grow r s several feet high, and bears a beautiful spike of scarlet 

 flowers : it is cultivated extensively at Malta, under the name of 

 Silla. 



In the moist and marshy plains, such as that of the Mitidja, 

 the gramineous plants predominate, and the hay is not so much 

 prized. The principal species are Phalaris ccerulescens and Dac- 

 tylis glomerata, with many Junci and a few Carices in moist 

 places. The hay harvest begins towards the end of April, and 

 is succeeded by the cutting of barley in May, and the wheat is 

 got in in the month of June. The principal cereal crops are 

 barley and wheat, the former being of the variety called six- 

 rowed; and the wheat is red wheat, which is better suited 

 for making the national dish of couscoussou. White wheat is 



