34 



DRY-LAND OLIVE CULTURE IN NORTHERN AERICA. 



inches above the normal) in 1897 doubtless had something to do with 

 the large crop of 1898, although the total rainfall of the first five 

 months of the latter year was less than half of the normal. Again 

 in 1901, when the crop was less than half the average of nine years, 

 the rainfall for the first five months was not greatly below the 

 normal, but that of the year previous was less than half the normal, 

 and during the three years previous the annual rainfall was only a 

 little more than half the normal. It is noteworthy that in 1900, 

 after two years of rainfall much below the normal, the crop was 

 about an average one. This was probably due to the heavy rainfall 

 of Xovember, 1899, which was more than three times the normal 

 for that month, while the precipitation during the first five months 

 of the year in which the crop was made was less than 40 per cent 

 of the normals 



That successful olive culture without irrigation is possible with 

 even a smaller rainfall than the normal for Sfax is indicated by the 

 fact that the oil production of 1903 was only a little below, and 

 that of 1904 was slightly above, the average, although following 

 periods of five and six years, respectively, during which the total 

 annual rainfall was only about 60 per cent of the normal. 6 



LABOR. 



While some of the French owners of olive orchards near Sfax 

 manage their own plantations directly or through foremen, the 

 majority have found it more convenient, and until very recently 

 more economical, to follow the practice of the native proprietors 

 and enter into contracts with tenants, or " m'rharcis." The latter 

 are natives more or less skilled in olive culture who undertake the 

 planting and care of the trees. It was formerly customary to ter- 

 minate the agreement between the proprietor and the m'rharci when 

 all gaps in the orchard had been filled by replanting, all Bermuda 

 grass had been extirpated, and the trees were beginning to bear, 

 which was generally accomplished eight years after the planting. 

 It is now more usual to continue the agreement until the trees begin 



a After this bulletin was in type, a report was received that the total exports 

 of olive oil from Sfax in 1906 (crop of 1905) amounted to 592,000 gallons, which 

 was below the average for the preceding ten years. Tbis is doubtless to bo 

 explained by the small rainfall of the years 1902 to 1904, wbicb averaged only 

 about 60 per cent of the normal. On the other hand, tbe total rainfall in 1905 

 was 9.9 inches. 



h This may have been partly due, however, to the rapid extension of the 

 orchards during tbe past twenty years having begun to make itself felt through 

 the increase in the number of bearing trees. It is to be regretted that no data 

 are available which would throw light on the influence of this factor as com- 

 pared with that of annual variations in the rainfall. 

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