struction the native mind will realise the advantages accruing from a little more trouble and care and a little less reliance on Divine intervention; but with the fatalistic spirit of the average Arab progress will be very slow. The quantity exported is about the same as in 1912, but it does not give a real indication of the quantity grown, as the bulk is consumed locally.

Cork-wood and cork forests.-In 1912 I said the year had been a very good one as regards incendiary fires; 1913, I regret to report, was the reverse: it recalled the dark days of 1879 and 1881, when the whole of Algeria was ablaze from west to east and the air dark with ashes. Something of the sort occurred last year.

I have not the figures of the damage done by the fires in this district, but I can unhesitatingly say it is enormous. As far as my own property is concerned about 3,000 acres are rendered barren for the next 14 years.

In the following table is given the result of the annual sale of corkwood in the State forests which took place at Constantine in September.

It will be observed that the total quantity put up for sale was 1,023 tons less than in 1912, producing 22,0831. 13s. 6d. less, which is a very heavy difference for the country. There was a considerable fall in the mean price of 3s. 1d. for the marketable cork, whilst that of waste cork rose by 1s. 1d. per 220 lbs. The highest and lowest prices for each quality when compared with those in 1912 show great differences.

The quantity of cork-wood of all kinds exported amounted to 9,641 tons, being an increase of 710 tons on 1912. Of this quantity only 260 tons went to the United Kingdom. The largest amount went to Austria-Hungary, Germany and Russia coming next, these three countries taking two-thirds of the whole amount exported. I cannot explain the indifference of the British cork merchants to the Algerian article, which really is quite as good as the Spanish or Portuguese, and certainly superior to the Corsican or south of France.

Briar roots for pipe making.-Whilst on the subject of forests I may mention an industry which was established here about four years ago by an American firm for utilising the roots of the bruyère or white heather bush. These are cut into the rough forms of tobacco pipes, called ébauchons in French, and the quantities sent away amounted to 342 tons, which represent between 5,000,000 and 6,000,000 of the rough forms. To produce this quantity an immense tonnage of roots was required, because very often, owing to cracks and other faults, only one rough pipe is found in a fair sized root. This industry is an immense advantage to the country, as it tends to remove quantities of brushwood which otherwise are simply a danger to the forests, and can only be got rid of at a very great expense. It can, however, only be carried on where water is plentiful, as it is necessary to keep the roots thoroughly damp from the moment they are drawn from the soil until they are cut into the rough forms and boiled. Still, it appears to me, seeing the vast district covered with forest, that there is here an opening for capital in the hands of an intelligent young man willing to work.

TABLES showing the Quantities of Cork-wood Sold and Prices obtained at the State Sales during the Years 1912-13.

Mines and quarries.-The following table of the distribution of minerals shows a total decrease of 4,431 tons. The heaviest decrease is in zinc ore and phosphates of lime; the former is compensated by a similar increase of lead ore which is found in the mines worked for zinc :

The re-opening of the Ain Barber mines gave rise to the increase in the copper ores. The decrease in the antimony is due to the closing of the Taya mines, which supplied the usual exports.

As I say elsewhere, inadequate railway facilities are a great obstacle to any increase in the mineral trade, therefore to effect the necessary improvements in the line it is proposed to buy out the Bône-Guelma Company and work the line by the State.

The contract for the Ouenza iron mines having expired in 1913, a new contract was passed in October, 1913, with an entirely new group and approved by the French Parliament. The only thing wanting is the railway. As soon as that is ready an enormous traffic (said to be from 4,000,000 to 5,000,000 tons of ore), to be provided by the Ouenza and Bou Kadra iron beds, the Kouif and Djebel Onk phosphate beds and the usual little supplies from the various lead and zinc mines, can be got down to Bône Harbour annually.

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The Ouenza Company are about to put up the requisite buildings at the mines for housing the workmen, and it is said that the electric plant for handling the ores on the quays will be put up in the course of 1914-15. The company's address is 2 rue Blanche, Paris.

If all is carried out as is promised an era of prosperity and activity is about to open up for Bône, which will make the port one of the most important in Algeria.

The Questa and Meslouba, Ain Arko, Nador and Kef Oum Theboul mines have continued their operations on the usual scale during the year.

There are numerous mines being opened up under prospectors' permits, but until concessions are given no ore can be extracted. The existing mining laws, dating from 1810, are to be modified, but until that is done no new concessions are granted. This causes great prejudice to those who have advanced money in prospecting, and is not calculated to encourage others in such operations.

Public works.-The acquisition by the Chamber of Commerce of a tugboat, cranes, &c., of which notice was given to the Commercial Intelligence Branch of the Board of Trade, was decided on and the orders placed at the end of the year; they were given to French and foreign firms. The offers made by certain British firms were not taken into consideration, so I was informed by the Secretary of the Chamber of Commerce, because of the paucity of detail in the specifications submitted. The committee were not in possession of the necessary information to be able to appreciate the merits of the goods. offered. It would be advisable in future, in order to avoid such a complaint, to give full details of every description.

The warehouse erected on the quay in 1912 by the Chamber of Commerce for the Compagnie de Navigation Mixte was only taken over by that company in March, 1914. The Chamber is about to erect those needed for the Compagnie Générale Transatlantique.

Tenders were accepted for the building of the barracks for the customs employés and their families, and the foundations have been commenced on the reclaimed land of the new harbour.

There are certain improvements to the harbour under considera