From the category archives:

Tunisia

Anticipating Abyssinia

December 18, 2009

Vavilov’s general observations on agriculture in North Africa bring his journeys through the Maghreb, though not around the Mediterranean, to an end. Next stop, Abyssinia. Before we join him there, early in the new year, we have to chase a hare he set running with his description of “cous-cous”. That will appear next week.

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North African Agriculture

December 16, 2009

August 1926 Generally North Africa is a kind of unit of its own. A phytogeographical analysis clearly reveals specific Mediterranean crops, a dominance of original, local large-grained hard wheat and six-rowed barley. The cultivation of large-seeded leguminous plants and large-seeded flax is concentrated in the coastal zone. The mountain areas of the Atlas and the [...]

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The agriculture of Tunisia

December 11, 2009

August 1926 Just as in Algeria, the agriculture of Tunisia is rather primitive. The tools are the Arabian furrow-plow, a threshing board with pieces of flint driven into it and wooden spades for winnowing the chaff from the grain. The grain is scattered by hand. The sowing is done in the autumn. The usual three-crop [...]

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Carthage and El Djem

December 7, 2009

August 1926 Boeuf had planned a most interesting itinerary throughout Tunisia, including all the main agricultural areas. He even showed an interest in accompanying me, the more so since this was the very best season: the harvest had only just begun in the mountain areas and the wheat had not yet been cut. It was [...]

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Internationalism in Tunisia

December 4, 2009

August 1926 The road to Tunisia runs through a steppe-like area of Algeria which is planted with hard wheat. I had previously called the attention of Professor Boeuf, director of the botanical garden, to my expedition and was graciously welcomed in Tunis as an old friend. During my expeditions I had repeatedly seen with my [...]

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