SPAIN. 21 



The almond orchards arc scattered through many provinces and 

 as a rule are small, the dry sierras and sheltered hillsides being pre- 

 ferred. There are several sorts which are shipped to the New York 

 market, but the West, and the one that formed the principal object of 

 my visit to Spain is the "Jordan." This has long been coveted by 

 Californian almond growers, and as it is a distinct variety I see no 

 reason, except the difficulty of finding valleys in California free from 

 January and February frosts, why the plants stmt will not srrow as 

 well there as they do in Spain. These are the finest almonds in the 

 world and enormous quantities are sent to America. 



The raisin industry has suffered very severely from Phylloxera, 

 and is localized in a few towns along the coast. Ahneria being" one of 

 the centers. Gradually all vines are being grafted on American resist- 

 ant roots. I understand that these raisin varieties have been already 

 introduced into California, but my time was so taken up with the 

 almonds that I did not learn much about this culture. 



Spanish wheat is not as a rule of first quality. The tender wheats, 

 I am told, are lacking in gluten, and the hard wheats make a variety 

 of macaroni inferior to that produced by Russian "Taganrog" wheat. 

 I made some small preliminary purchases of tender and hard wheats 

 which I believe will show resistance to black rust and be valuable on 

 the plains. 



There may be in the world other plains more fertile and hiffhlv cul- 

 tivated than that of Valencia, but 1 have never seen them. The orange 

 and lemon orchards extend on both sides of the railway as far as the eye 

 can see, and the train travels for hours through them. Last year over 

 three million boxes (of 100 fruits each) and thousands of freight cars 

 loaded with unboxed fruits were exported; largely to England. This 

 province of Valencia is the richest in Spain, except Catalonia, in which 

 Barcelona is situated. Unlike Catalonia, its wealth comes from its 

 exports to foreign countries, whereas Barcelona's wealth is built up 

 on the sales of manufactured articles sold in the other provinces of 

 Spain. Barcelona is said to have more industries than all the rest of 

 Spain put together. 



The methods of culture in Valencia are rational, and although the 

 land is in the hands of small owners, I am told, there is a uniformity 

 of varieties and more or less cooperation in the matter of shipping. 

 I do not believe they yet understand the art of shipping as Califor- 

 nians do. The difference in gauge of their railways from those in 

 France makes a transshipment at the border necessary, in which trans- 

 shipment much time is lost and damage done. 



The beet-sugar industry flourished very well for a few years, but is 

 now, I am informed, being greatly overdone. Nowhere in the world 

 does sugar cost more than in Spain. The import duty is something- 

 excessive, and it is no wonder the first beet-sugar factories made money. 



