Agriculture in Algeria. 
461 
some parts of wliicli some of the tribes claimed owiiersliip, wliicli 
claim would, no doubt, be recognised by the French Government. 
There was no finer part of the country than that which extended 
from I'hilipville to Constantino, and it appeared to be very suitable 
for European emigrants. 
Supply of Labour. 
Mr. Frere said that, when residing in Algeria for some time in 
1855, he had received a less favourable impression as to the supply 
of labour than that which Mr. Caird appeared to have received at a 
later date. There were at that period few French agricultural labour- 
ers. The Spaniards were in part the offscourings of the Spanish 
Peninsula, and the Maltese were but little better ; while the Arabs 
proper considered it beneath the dignity of their race to till the 
soil. The only race of labourers at all to be relied upon were the 
native Berbers, or Kabyles, who were conquered by the Arabs. 
Mr. Caird stated in reply, that the people whom the French 
Governpaent had the greatest difficixlty in subduing were the people 
of Kabylia, who occi\pied a tract of country lying near the sea, had 
a fixity of tenure, and were many of them persons of considerable 
property ; and it was a remarkable fact that, since they were sub- 
dued, the Kabyles had been the most peaceable and thriving portion 
of the whole population of Algeria. They furnished labour not only 
for their own district, but for other parts of the country as well. 
Breeding Horses. 
Mr. Frere said, with regard to the breeding of horses, national 
establishments do not practically afford as great advantages as 
might at first be supposed, the spur of personal interest being- 
wanted for their due regulation. On visiting an establishment of 
that kind in Algeria, he saw a very fine stallion, which had such 
a vicious temper that none of the grooms durst approach him till 
he was nearly exhausted. In his opinion it was quite as important 
to attend to the temper and disposition of a sire as to his form. 
Liebig's Mineral Theory. 
Mr. Frere also called attention to the statement of Baron Liebig, 
that those countries which had formed the granaries of ancient 
Eome had fallen into decay in consequence of the soil having been 
exhausted of its mineral matter ; and inquired whether the present 
state of Algeria supported that view. If Liebig's views were correct, 
the application of phosphates, lime, and even potash, would be bene- 
ficial to the modern crops in such countries as Algeria. 
Mr. Caird said in reply, that the crops of Algeria certainly exhi- 
bited no symptoms of exhaustion ; and he should be inclined to say 
that a rest of nearly 2000 years must have had the effect of restoring 
to the soil qualities in which it had become deficient. The only 
use to which he saw dung applied in Algeria was that of making 
embankments for the purpose of irrigation. He might add that the 
great valley of the North of Italy, which was just as much a granary 
of ancient Eome as Algeria, was as fertile now as it had been in the 
days of Julius Caasar. 
