379 
PEPPER, EDWARD.- ' The Eucalyptus in Algeria and Tunisia, from Hygienic 
and Climatological points of view," by Edward Pepper, M.D. (Paris). Proc. American 
Phil. Soc., vol. xxxv, 39-56 (read 6th March, 1896). 
This is a useful paper. It is divided into six chapters : 
1. Division of Algeria and Tunisia into three zones, as regards climate, water, 
trees, health, and population. 
2. Chronological facts relating to the growing of Eucalypti in Algeria and Tunisia. 
3. General and special advantages of these trees. Limitations of their uses, and 
objections to them. 
4. Species and varieties most serviceable in Tunisia and Algeria. 
5. When, where, and how to grow them. 
0. Commercial value of Eucalypti. 
Under (2) the statement is made " The first seeds of Eucalypti consigned to 
the earth in northern Africa were sown in the Jardin d'Essai of Algiers, in 1862, by 
Mr. Hardy, Director of the Botanical Gardens thus named, and in the same year by 
the Comte de Belleroche, who procured them from the director and sowed them in 
his property in the Commune of El Biar, 4 miles from town, now known as El- Ana, 
and belonging to the author." 
The author here adds a note in my copy : " In the same year (1862), Mr. E. 
Ramel obtained seeds from Australia and sowed them in his property at Hussein-Dey. 
This gentleman must also be recognised as being the first to plant Eucalypti on a 
forestrial scale in these Colonies." 
Malaria made cruel ravages in Algeria between 1867 and 1876, and Eucalypti 
were grown " in the. principal settlements infested by the disease, believing that they 
had at last discovered a panacea against the evil." 
In 1868 Mr. Ernest Lambert, Inspector of the Forests of Algeria, sowed a grove on the Bouzareah 
Mountain, above Algiers, where now is the forest, or rather wood, of Baihnen. Then Dr. Mares, at Boufarik, 
planted a grove on his farm, reporting to the Societe d'Agriculture seven years later, that the health of his 
neighbourhood was satisfactory. Malaria in its worst forms had constantly prevailed there until then, and 
until the land had been, succes^ulli] drained . (Author's italics.) 
During the two succeeding years, the Societe Algerienne planted 100,000 Eucalypti near Ain-Mokra, 
a village on the shore of Lake Fetzara. 
The mining company of the Mokta soon followed with many still larger plantations in the same 
region, where the public health improved towards 1875, the mines being thenceforth worked during the 
summer, an impossibility till then, owing to the excessive mortality among the workmen, due principally 
to pernicious forms of malaria. 
The latter plantations remain amongst the most extensive in Algeria, and offer a striking instance 
of the, frequently great aid given by F(Uoalypti against malaria. Thick curtains of the trees were grown 
between the lake and the village, while, at the same time, a draining canal was cut in the shallow bed of the 
lake, sufficiently deep and wide (so thought the engineers) to carry off the stagnant waters and dry up the 
swamp. This result, however, was not attained, but yearly thenceforth the waters of the lake were emptied 
early enough in the spring, and before the summer heats, for the spongy shores to be covered with an 
h -rbaceous veg.-tation, offering here and there comparatively fair pasturage. The coincidence of this partial 
draining with th planting of Eucalypti does not permit the conclusion that the improved sanitary condition 
ot Ain-Mol;ra is \vhollv due to those trees. 
