journal of Agriculture. [ii Jan., 1909. 



of the lexia having proved mare suitable for the district. At the present 

 time only a couple of hundred tons of dessert raisins are dried annually 

 in the neighbourhood of D^nia. In similar manner the extensive pro- 

 duction of j)udding raisins was attempted in Malaga in .a season of ex- 

 cessive \ield but success was not complete. Denia men tell one that the 

 Malaga lexia lacked substance &c. At any rate, the time hono\ired 

 practice has been in both cases reverted to, and to-day Malaga produces 

 almost exclusively the dessert raisin as Denia does the lexia. Nor is 

 wine produced to any extent near Denia — small quantities are made here 

 from such varieties as Marseguera and Bobal, but local requirements are 

 chiefly provided for with wine from other regions, the production of 

 pudding raisins and a few table grajx-s absorbing all the viticultural 

 energies of the district. 



Denia is as yet free from phylloxera, at least officially so. The 

 presence of the insect has not yet been observed in the raisin vir.e\ards 

 though it has made its appearance at Gata in one of the valleys, some 

 ten miles distant. The invasion of the whole district appears to be 

 merely a question of time and it is highlv probable that, within the next 

 few years, the production of raisins will be very considerably reduced. 

 Reccnstitutio'n on resistant stocks will, no doubt, Ije actively undertaken 

 though as yet but little preparation has been made for it, but this will 

 take time and a considerable shrinkage in the production of this, the 

 most important raisin district of Spain, .seems to be inevitable. Nothing 

 appears to have been done to prevent the introduction or spread of the 

 pest. It is true that a few growers are experimenting in a small way 

 with resistant stocks, but these are procured from infested districts, and 

 may even be the cause of the introduction of the insect. Numerous 

 healthv vineyards on their own roots are to be seen, often recent plan- 

 tations, as is evidenced bv the youth of the vines, and it is melancholy 

 to think that these are doomed to destriiction within the next few years. 



There was nothing to be learnt in this district so far as recnnstitution 

 is concerned but much of great interest in the wav of drving, j>acking and 

 marketing raisins. I reached Denia on i6th Januarv, igoS, by train 

 from Valencia, after breaking mv journev for a dav at the intervening 

 town of Gandia. I was the bearer of a letter to Senor J. Ramos who 

 was unfortunatelv unwell at the time. He referred me to Don Juan 

 Morand, one of the leading viticulturists, who received me most kindly 

 and to whom I am chieflv indebted for the information which follows. 



Denia is a picturesquelv situated town of great antinuitv being of 

 Phoenician origin. Like Sagunto (Murviedro), immediate! v north of 

 Valencia, it is one of the oldest towns on the east coast of Spain or 

 Levante. Its handsome old castle or rather fortress, situated on a high 

 hill, gives it a striking appearance. The greater part of the town itself 

 is modern and the result of the raisin industrv. Taken as a whole it 

 is well built and clean, with fairlv wide streets. 



Along the eastern coast of Spain, agriculture is confined to that strip 

 of land of varying width, between the sea and the high rockv hills wliich, 

 except near the mouth of a river or large creek, are never very far from it. 

 In places where it consists of (Si^f^y) alhnial soil this strip is often extra- 

 ordinarilv rich, bul immediatelv south of Denia <1tc hills run right down 

 to the .sea ending in the imposing headlands of Capes San Antonio and 

 San Martin : whilst near the town it.self the strip is narrow and most 

 of the land undulating, there beinc but little level land about. Water 

 for irriijation is scarce and the soil Ixmul: otiI\ of medium richness, it is 



