River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1917-09-20

"NHE country of Algeria, with
its extraordinary variety of
scenery, Is of surprising inter
est to a naturalist. The ZoOlOg-
ist will find his interest keenly aroused
by the rich fauna, which, though gen.
orally Of the Mediterranean type, yet
possesses peculiar features, while the
bOtanist can rejoice in a wealth of
beautiful plants adapted to varieties
of climate seldom met with within SO
small an area.
Of all the varied natural features of
this wonderful country of Algeria per-
haps none can compare in beauty and
interest with the cedar forests, writes
Robert Quincy in Country Life. The
cedar of the Atlas was first discovered
in Morocco in 1927, but it is now
known to be widely distributed in the
mountains of Algeria at attitudes from
1000 to 1000 feet. The forests are,
however, scattered and usually not
very large, and they have in the past
suffered terribly from neglect and ill
treatment. Probably few Of the great
number of visitors to Algeria ever see
the cedars, since the forests are al
ways to some extent off the beaten
track, and a visit to them entails
good deal of hard walking.
The best-known forest is that OF
Tenet ell Had, about 40 kilOmeters
west southwest of Algiers. To reach
this forest requires drive of 80 kilo-
, meters, followed by long walk or
mule ride The cedars here occupy an
area of about $40 acres, mostly on the
north slope of the Djebel of Meddad,
and there are among them some trees
famous for their size.
DjebeI Touggour Forest.
The largest now standing is called
the Sultana, and the trunk has a cir
conference of seven meters. But the
most extensive forest is that. which
clothes the mountains to the west of
Batna and is probably seen at it's best
on the slopes Of Djebel Touggour. To
reach the forest Of Djebel Touggour 1t
is necessary to drive 10 kilOmeters to
the Maison Forestiere In venerable
cab drawn by antiquated horses which
perform the journey in something like
two hours. The road passes over roll
ing foothills into happy valley where
new irrigation works are being carried
on, and a number of new buildings
show the start Of thriving little COM
munity.
A striking feature of these hills in
the neighborhood of Batna is the rock
walls, which run PARALLEL to each other
for miles. These walls are the result
of the fitting up into a vertical posi-
ton of hard strata and the denuda-
ton of softer strata between. Usual
~ the result is a simple steplike ter
racing of the hill, but about a mile to
the west of Batna station the hill is
crowned by wall about ten feet thick,
which on the west side is about thirty
feet high. This same wall can be
traced for miles, now high, now low,
preached here and there, dipping down
into the hollows and rising over the
rounded knobs. A similar terracing
can be found in the hills of the East
between Batna and Lambessa, but not
In the mountain of Touggour.
Arrived at the Maisen Forestiere we
left our carriage thankfully and per-
suaded small Berber to accompany
us to the cedar forest itself. From
this point a mule track leads up the
mountain, and from this track our
small guide emphatically forbade any
attempt at deviation. So well is the
track engineered that the ascent of
nearly 5000 feet is made almost I'M
consciously, though the easy gradient
naturally involves walk of several
miles before the summit is reached.
The first cedars are reached at the
height Of about 1890 feet. Here the
sides Of the hill are clothed with a
dense growth of young trees 10 to 20
feet high, mixed here and there With
evergreen oak (Quercus lex, var, bal
lota) and looking very thriving.
Picturesque Old Trees.
The cedar is very different in youth
from its appearance in old age. The
young tree is regularly pyramidal, but
as it grows older the leading shoot
usually inclines, and the tree becomes
irregular and assumes nearly the
spreading heavy-branched shape of
the cedar Of Lebanon. Each old tree
has it's own individuality Of form, and
it is this variety which gives such pc
c1liar charm to a cedar forest. Elk
posed as they are at such an elevation
to storms and heavy snow, the trees
n old age present rugged and wealth
er-beaten appearance which is very
picturesque.
On the lower slopes the young trees