The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-01-05
AGRIcULTURE IN THE sAHARA.
Results OF Planting Mt OHrir, Sidi-
Yahia and Ayatn.
London Times

The South Algerian Agricultural Society
has created in the region of the Oued Rir'
Constantine Sahara) three GASES and new
centers of colonzation-Ourir, Sidi-Yahai
and Ayata-which form the subject of an
instructive communication by NJ. Georges
ROLAND to the Cosiete Rationale dAgri
date palm is the object primarily sought, the
tnterculture with other crops of the land
thus embraced affording the subsidiary mo-
tive. Hitherto the land around the palms
mas been worked by the natives with spades,
but the introduction of the pillow drawn
by mules has produced the same result at
half cost. The young palm shoots intended
for planting out are first raised in nurseries
and in pots. while the success of the planta-
lions is dependent upon irrigation.
the abundance of its subterranean waters,
but 1t is thought that these are now sufH-
GENTLY encroached upon by the numerous
wells that have been sunk Between the
palms and beneath their foliage the crops
most commonly grown are barley and lu-
horses, mules, donkeys, ostriches, etc. OF
fruit trees, the fig, the apricot and the
pomegranate are cultivated, though they
yield but little produce. The grape vine has
been tried, but the generous irrigation re-
CURED by the palms is found to be inimical
to its welfare
In the oasis of Ayata a meteorological sta
ton, the best equipped in southern Algeria,
has been established. and the observations
there recorded are found TO be extremely
useful IN atfording indications as to the kinds
of plants likely to be profitably acclimatized
Among all the efforts in this direction the
most successful is that with asparagus. "A
beginning was made in 1892 with ATgenteuil
asparagus, and in the following year en-
couraging results were obtained both at
Ayata and at Sid-Yahia, couch grass con-
sututing the chief difficulty to be encoun-
tered. In later years 1t has been possible
to cut the crops for period of from twenty
hve to thirty days in each season New
plantations at each of the two GASES were
added in the spring of last year, and the first
crops are expected to be gathered from them
seSses, it is stated, excellent flavor
me dIfhculty OF course, is to get the prod
uce TO market. Transport from the south to
Biskra occupies two days, and from the lat
ter place to the Algerian towns another day
or two, the same time being occupied from
the port of Phillippevile to Marseilles
Hence from Ayata to Paris the journey eX-
tends over five or six days which is hand
leap In the case of product like asparagus,
winch requires to be eaten fresh. Various
methods of packing are therefore being
tested in the hope of overcoming this diff
Guilty should they prove successful it is
canned that the asparagus of the Oued Rir'
earliest in Europe.
Far less success has attended the efforts
to establish other crops The deterrent
causes include the too sandy and saline
character OF the soil, the salinity of the ir-
rlSauon waters, the extreme dryness of the
atmosphere, the excessive heat in summer
and the inadequate manurial resources. Gar
oen vegetables, fruit and forest trees, forage
ana Ilbre plants have all been tried POta-
toes peas and beans have not so far sue
ceeded, thus differing from asparagus. The
same lack of success has resulted from the
attempts to cultivate various fruits of hot
and tropical countries. The banana, for ex-
ample, pined away in the absence OF the
humidity of atmosphere which is indispensa-
bic to its growth. OF forest trees an cx-
cepton must be made in favor of the
eucalyptus, which will thrive after being
protected through its earlier stages. Some
or the forage crops might succeed with prop
er manuring, but as much manure as can
be obtained is needed for the date palms
This, indeed, is the gravest obstacle to the
varied cultivation of these oases-the lack
OF manure. Trials have been made with
artificial fertilizers, but so far with little
success. The necessary frequency of irriga-
ton may partly account for this. though it
must not be overlooked that. in the absence
OF railways, the cost Of transport of chemi-
cal fertilizers cannot fail to largely prohibit
their employment. What the enterprising
French colonists are still seeking. and what
it may be hoped they will obtain, is a forage
crop which will grow naturally or with lit
tie demand upon precise conditions of soil.
water and climate, in the Oued Rir', and
VIII permit them to rear enough live stock to
furnish a sufficiency of manure for all such
crops as might then be cultivated.