About
The Test Garden of Hamma (Arabic: حديقة التجارب الحامة) (French: Jardin d'Essai du Hamma) is a 32-hectare (79-acre) botanical garden (38 hectares (94 acres) of gardens and 20 hectares (49 acres) of arboretum) located in the Mohamed Belouizdad (formerly Hamma-Anassers) district of Algiers. It was established in 1832.\n\nIn 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 5 hectares (12 acres) area, to make not only a model farm but also a test garden.\n\nIn 1837, the organization bought a 18-hectare (44-acre) 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.\n\nThe garden's principal activity is to provide trees to public organisations and to European settlers. From 1833, production of carmine was added.\n\nAuguste 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.\n\nBetween 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 (French: Jardin d'Acclimatation) in 1861. In 1867, an estimated 8,214 species could be found in the garden.