The Test Garden of Hamma () () is a

botanical garden A botanical garden or botanic gardenThe terms ''botanic'' and ''botanical'' and ''garden'' or ''gardens'' are used more-or-less interchangeably, although the word ''botanic'' is generally reserved for the earlier, more traditional gardens. is ...

( of gardens and of

arboretum An arboretum (: arboreta) is a botanical collection composed exclusively of trees and shrubs of a variety of species. Originally mostly created as a section in a larger garden or park for specimens of mostly non-local species, many modern arbor ...

) located in the Mohamed Belouizdad (formerly Hamma-Anassers) district of

Algiers Algiers is the capital city of Algeria as well as the capital of the Algiers Province; it extends over many Communes of Algeria, communes without having its own separate governing body. With 2,988,145 residents in 2008Census 14 April 2008: Offi ...

. It was established in 1832.

History

In 1832, Pierre Genty De Bussy, the Civil Intendant, and General Antoine Avisard, interim governor, decided to drain the marshes at the foot of the Arcades hill. The Botanical Garden of Hamma was then created on a area, to make not only a model farm but also a test garden. In 1837, the organization bought a site under the Fountain of Plane Trees. The garden grew westwards and became the Central Nursery of the Government. The initial site was renamed Little Test Garden until its exchange in 1848 for another piece of land inside the Nursery. The garden's principal activity is to provide trees to public organisations and to European settlers. From 1833, production of

carmine Carmine ()also called cochineal (when it is extracted from the Cochineal, cochineal insect), cochineal extract, crimson Lake pigment, lake, or carmine lake is a pigment of a bright-red color obtained from the aluminium coordination complex, compl ...

was added. Auguste Hardy was named director of the Botanical Garden in 1842. Many animal species were introduced to the garden at that time, and it expanded several times. As well as the animal and vegetable produce, industry relating to new technology occupied a lot of space, and employed a lot of people. Between 1848 and 1867 the garden expanded several times, until it arrived at its current configuration. In 1860, a lake was created and an exterior boulevard constructed. The garden was renamed the ''Acclimatization Garden'' () in 1861. In 1867, an estimated 8,214 species could be found in the garden.

The Garden in the 21st century

Between 2001 and 2009 the garden was closed for restoration work. Reopened in 2009, it is now home to the Algerian National Institute of Agronomical Research, and was opened to visitors. Botanical Garden of Hamma

There are currently an estimated 1,200 different species of plant in the garden.

References

External links

* (in French) 1832 establishments in Africa Botanical gardens in Africa Parks in Algeria Algiers Tourist attractions in Algiers {{garden-stub