II Jan., 1909.] 



Valencia Raisins or Lexias. 



cut the skin of an odd berry of the bunch only. The strength should 

 be such as to only produce very fine but numerous cracks near the in- 

 sertion of the stalk and not to cause large cuts. A good deal of 

 skill and judgment is required to keep the lye at a proper strength and 

 at a proper temperature without losing too much time and keeping the 

 assistants idle. The addition of a little full strength lye and of a 

 little water everv quarter of an hour or so insures this. A cunning man 

 in charge may, occasionally, purposely allow his lye to become too strong 

 — the necessary reduction by a large bulk of water will lead to a fall 

 of temperature which will need correction and call a halt in the work 

 which leads to the smoking of cigarettes by all hands,. 





7. SPANJSII WELL AND ARRANGEMENT WHERE LYE IS PREPARED. 



Such is the he usually employed in Denia. Prepared, as above ex- 

 plained, it is often kept from one season to another in earthenware jars 

 or tinajas. The carefully sifted ashes needed for its preparation are 

 stored in bins in the storeroom of the homestead and have a regular 

 market price. Vine ashes are of most value; at the time of my visit 

 they were quoted at 7 reals per barchilla of 6-7 kilos, — this would work 

 out at a little under los. per cwt. Sifted wood, ashes were quoted at 

 2 reals. 



Photograph No. 7 shows, to the right, the jar built into masonry in 

 which the lye is made ; the bamlioo pipe by which it escapes passes 

 through the square hole rather less than half way up. In the centre, 

 leaning against a typical Spanish well, vaulted over to keep out dust and 

 rubbish, is a man holding by its handle a " cazo " or wire dipping 

 basket ; to the left is seen portion of one of the drying traxs. 



Other forms of Lye. 



Messrs. IMin.angoin and Couston mention several other sorts of l\e 

 which are used in Eastern countries, chief amongst which are: — 



Caustic Potash Lye. — Made bv dissolving i lb. of caustic potash rni 20 

 gallons of water which should be nearly boiling. 



