THE TECHNOLOGIST. [April 1, 1864 



396 FRENCH COLONIAL PRODUCTS IN 



rated. In 1858 Algeria exported tobacco of the value of more than seven 

 million francs, and I need not add that the export increases every year. 



The abundance of the Algerian corn and vegetables has been alluded 

 by Pliny, in his Natural History, 'De Fertilitate triplici in Africa.' 

 The Algerian spirits and wines, with their peculiar strength and flavour, 

 may be incidentally alluded to. In the exhibition there are several 

 Herbaria, the most important having been selected and classed by M. 

 Hardy, director of the Government nurseries. I counted in all five, 

 the union of which will one day furnish a complete flora of Algeria. 



Algeria represents, in the composition of its soil, almost all the great 

 geological epochs ; and the numerous mines and quarries furnish a great 

 many useful and valuable metals, stones, and earths. In the environs 

 of Bone, Philippeville, Oran, Arzew, and Miliana, iron is found in veins 

 and masses which are often very rich. The most celebrated copper 

 mines are those of Mouzaia and Tenks, other silicious copper veins are 

 found close to Biidato, Dalmatie, and Soumah. The lodes, or strata 

 of lead, are widely diffused, and several of them were known and ap- 

 preciated many centuries ago. Antimony, or stibium, is especially met 

 with in the Province of Constantine, and lastly, we find silver, mercury, 

 manganese, zinc, and even some traces of gold. 



The coal formation is almost entirely absent, but still there is a hope 

 that a profit may be derived from coal seams of a secondary and tertiary 

 origin. Stone, marble, lime, parget, sea-salt, saltpetre, clay, &c, are 

 found. The marbles of Filfila are of an excellent quality and beauty, 

 the veins are very fine, and it is as easily worked as the celebrated marble 

 of Carrara. On entering the rooms of the Exhibition, among the first 

 subjects we meet with are two well-executed busts of the Emperor and 

 Empress, which I believe are made of Algerian maible. After marble 

 comes the granite and porphyry of Philippeville. Notwithstanding 

 the numerous efforts and researches made in several ages to discover the 

 quarries of the Numidian marble, so appreciated by the ancients, and 

 which exhibit a union of purple, rose and gold ; they have not yet suc- 

 ceeded. 



Several economic plants, cultivated throughout the greater part of 

 France, the products of which are regarded as indispensable to the 

 general welfare of the French people, have suffered much for some 

 years from diseases, or atmospheric influence. Whoever will take the 

 trouble to read the general annual reports upon this subject, will know 

 that the fruit of the vine, and the olive, wheat, and other grains, and 

 even the potatoe have at times failed both in quality and quantity. 

 Whether these diseases and other unfavourable circumstances will 

 increase or disappear, no one can predicate, but it has been a question 

 which has engaged the consideration of the Emperor's government, as to 

 what means might be taken to prevent these necessary products from 

 becoming objects of scarcity. The rich soil and the beautiful climate of 

 Algeria give the best solution to this question. In viewing the abund- 



