EUROPE AND AFRICA
of the desert. The climate is delightful and the soil of the
valleys and plains exceedingly rich. Agriculture is now one
of the chief occupations of the inhabitants; and there is no
reason why Morocco cannot become a great grain-producing
region. Every known variety of vegetable and grain can be
raised there, and it could easily supply all the markets of
Europe with early spring vegetables.
The mountain pastures are among the finest grazing dis-
tricts of the world and the sheep industry is already exten-
sive. In 1911, $1,178,225 worth of wool and $1,594,150
worth of hides and skins were exported under unfavorable
conditions.! With proper methods for the development of
these industries, with adequate protection for life and pro-
perty, and with suitable transportation facilities, the trade
of Morocco could easily be trebled or quadrupled within a
few years. Regular steamer service has been established by
English, French, and German companies during the past ten
years; and the total trade of Morocco, which remained prac-
tically stationary in the decade prior to 1896, rose from
$13,000,000 in that year to over $23,600,000 in 1906-07.2
In the last quarter of the nineteenth century, Great Brit-
ain controlled the larger share of this commerce — about 40
per cent — while France came next with 20 per cent, and
Germany third with 9 per cent. In recent years Germany
has made determined efforts to increase her trade, and has
underbid the English and Spanish, whose percentages have
fallen, while her own rose to 12 per cent in 1906.2 Great
! The exportation of these commodities was nearly equal to the figures
for 1911, before the civil war in Morocco during 1907-08, and the subse-
guent troubles, occurred.
? By 1909, this total had reached $29,572,000, in spite of the civil war;
and $43,597,000 by 1911, notwithstanding the still unsettled condition
of the country, while the report for 1912 shows a further increase of 27.5
per cent.
3 Jt was only 9.5 per cent again in 1909.
