428 Mi;. G. Munby on the Botanical Productions 



only cultivated by Europeans, and even by them on a very small 

 scale, as all the fine flour used in the colony comes from Marseilles 

 or other French ports. Rye is also cultivated by the colonists, 

 but principally for its straw. A field of oats is a great rarity, as 

 barley is the only corn given to horses. In reaping the corn the 

 ear only is cut off, and the straw left for the cattle : what is left 

 by them is burnt at sowing time, and the ashes afford the only 

 manure supplied to the land. There is no preparatory tillage of 

 the ground before sowing : the grain is thrown on the ground 

 and ploughed in by a very simple plough drawn by oxen or 

 horses, and sometimes by a horse and a cow yoked together. 

 The furrows run in all directions, and by their frequently crossing 

 one another, leave sometimes small triangular spaces unploughed. 



Maize or Indian corn is only cultivated in small quantities, as 

 it requires to be watered. The heads of maize are generally eaten 

 before they are ripe, by being roasted on hot cinders. Broad 

 beans are commonly cultivated in the open country. Peas and 

 potatoes are cultivated in inclosed gardens. Potatoes are planted 

 in September and are gathered in December ; a second crop is 

 put in in March and taken up in June ; and in gardens which 

 are easily watered, a third crop is planted in June and gathered 

 in September. The European colonists sow large quantities of 

 haricots or French beans, which are eaten either green or ripe, 

 but only in the latter state by the natives : chick peas or gar- 

 bancos are principally cultivated by the Spanish colonists, but 

 the Moors and Arabs eat great quantities of them ; they cook 

 them by roasting in an oven. Artichokes are very common in 

 the gardens, and are much used by the Moors both raw and 

 cooked : the Arabs, who have no fixed gardens (except in some 

 localities near springs of water), employ as a substitute for arti- 

 chokes the heads of Cynara Cardunculus, which is very abundant 

 in certain clayey soils of the Mitidja. Onions and carrots are 

 much used, and different kinds of lettuce. 



Asparagus is abundant in autumn and spring ; it is found in 

 the hedges, and is the produce of Asparagus albus and A. acuti- 

 folius : the former species produces larger turions, but they are 

 rather bitter to the taste ; whilst those of A. acutifolius are as 

 sweet as the cultivated A. officinalis : this last-named species I 

 have discovered in the marshes of the plain of Mitidja, but I 

 never observed the turions. 



Melons are not very abundant ; they are brought from Spain at 

 so low a price that no encouragement is afforded for their cultiva- 

 tion. Water melons are more common, and are a valuable fruit 

 in the warm summer months. Gourds of various kinds are cul- 

 tivated in great quantities by the Arabs in those gardens which 

 are situated near springs of water. Cucumber^ are also common : 



