lo Sept., 1908.] 



Viticulture in Europe. 



547 



The district is a most picturesque one, rendered so by the parrales, 

 or overhead trellises of vines and the prickly pears or chombos, which 

 abound everywhere. This plant is to be seen everywhere throughout An- 

 dalucia, but Almeria wa;s the first place where I found it planted in 

 regular lines and treated as a fruit tree. It is true that cultivation was 

 much simplified, as the prickly pear will thrive in land too dry for weeds 

 to grow. 



PARRALES BEFORE PRUNING, SHOWING SYSTEM OF TRAINING AND 

 ARRANGEMENT OF WIRE. 



The chombo plays a large part in the bill of fare of the poorer classes. 

 The fruit is verv different though from what we are accustomed to here, 

 being much larger and more succulent. One variety in particular is much 

 esteemed. I was assured by a local resident that if it were known in 

 Paris or London it would be considered a great delicacy. I noted, never- 

 theless, that the chombo seldom found a place among the fruit served at 

 the hotel tables. 



The vineyards are situated on the almost level land in the valleys 

 which wind about among the j-teep rockv hills, following the course of the 

 river, and of the smaller creeks which feed it in winter, though they are 

 dr\- during the summer months. The railway line to Guadix and Granada 

 runs for many miles through picturesque parrales or high o\erhead trel- 

 lises which are unique in construction and arrangement and give a special 

 character to these vineyards not easily forgotten. 



Several other localities in Southern and South- Eastern Spain also ship 

 fresh grapes. Alhaurin and Coin, near Malaga, have already been re- 

 ferred to. (See Fourth Repoxt.) Further round the South-East Coast, 

 near Alicante, this form of viticulture is an important industry ; but 

 Almeria is, without doubt, the most important centre, and the one where 

 it can be studied to greatest advantage. 



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