8 May. 1908.] Yiticuliurc in Europe. 313 



Ije done \vith England as a Communion wine known as Rota Tent. At 

 >[alaga several distinct tyires are made \vhi(^h will be described in detail 

 later. 



Further north, in Catakuia, we find the wines now so largely shipped 

 to England under the name of Tarragon;; port, the name of the seaport 

 town whence they are shipped having displaced tlie older name of Priorato, 

 that of the district where they are grown. 



There are many other special wines made in different parts of Spain 

 limited to the small localities in which they are produced, and therefore not 

 of sufficient commercial importance to merit special mention here. 



This specialization in wine making is one of the striking facts in con- 

 nexion with Spanish viticulture. In most districts is has been found that 

 one type of wine can be produced of greater excellence than anv other, and 

 this is the type which is exclusively produced there. This is in strong con- 

 trast to our Australian multiplicitv of types turned out on each vinevard 

 and an object lesson we would do well to profit bv. 



Though it has taken time for the more modern ideas of scientific agri- 

 culture to be put into practice in Spain, perhaps owdng to the thorough 

 manner in which cultixation according to the ideas of the old school were 

 carried out, and perhaj)s also owing to political difficulties, the Government 

 of the country is waking up to the need to assist growers, chieflv in the 

 way of experimental and demonstrational work, and within the last few 

 years the Agricultural Department, under the ;.ble direction of the Visconde 

 de Eza. has done much to make \\\) for the delay in starting. The men in 

 charge of agriculture in each province whom I had the good fortune to 

 nieet impressed me bv their tfficiencv and keen interest in their work. An 

 increasing interest in the natural industries of the country is one of the 

 striking features of the Spain of to-dav. A gradual transformation is taking 

 place, the result of which is to be seen in the increased prosperity of the 

 country. 



As regards reconstitution, much good work has already been done, but 

 much also remains to be done. Spain remained free from the pest longer 

 than most of the vine countries of Southern Europe, but the insect eventually 

 found its wav thither. Its ])rogress has been verv irregular. Some of the 

 leading districts were destroyed long ago, and in these reconstitution has 

 lieen accomplished for a good many years ; others have only recently suc- 

 cumbed, and in them reconstitution on American stocks is now in full swing. 

 Others again are as vet free from the insect, but as it has already been 

 found in \ineyards situated on their borders, their ultimate destruction is 

 merely a matter of time. These doomed districts include very large areas 

 under vines, and the amount of reconstitution whicli will be carried out 

 will no doubt have a. considerable effect on the financial aspect of vine cul- 

 ture in Spain. It is doubtful if anything like the totalitv of 

 the vineyards will be replanted. This applies more especially to the 

 cheap " vins ordinaires," for at present prices their production scarcely 

 pays ; in many parts the cultivation of the olive is proving more profitable. 



Spain being attacked after reconstitution had teen an established fact 

 for a good manv vears in France, Spanish growers were able to turn to that 

 country for guidance in the work before them. The influence of French 

 experience is evident thronghout the country. The same stocks that one 

 meets with in France are again to be found in Spain. Their behaviour 

 under different conditions of soil, and more especially of climate, afforded 

 an object lesson of the greatest importance, and it was most instructive, 

 after studying these same vines in France, to again see them and be able to 

 inquire into their qualities and defects under conditions so similar to ours 



