^6 



Journal of Agriculture. 



[lo Feb., 1909. 



Apart from consumption in the fresh state, there are no uses to which 

 the orange can be put in Spain. Spanish habits in the way of eatables 

 differ altogether from ours, and marmalade — in fact jam of any kind — is an 

 unknown commodity. The high price of sugar, kept up as it is by a pro- 

 tective tariff, prevents the manufacture of marmalade for export so that 

 shipment in the fresh state is the only outlet growers have for their 

 oranges, and this appears to have been somewhat injudiciously managed 

 in the early part of last season, the enormous quantities shipped at its 

 opening having glutted the market. 



It was at Gandia, a small town some 20 miles N.W. of Denia, that 

 I was able to see something of orange culture. The few notes that follow 

 Avere chiefly made there. They apply, how^ever, to the whole region of the 

 Levante, the same cultural methods being followed throughout. Intense 

 culture is everywhere the rule and it would be difficult to see healthier, 

 finer, or more heavilv laden trees. 



AX GRANGE PLANTATION IN EASTERN SPAIN. 



I arrived in Gandia on 14th January, 1908, bearing a letter to Senor 

 Romaguera, the British Vice-Consul in the town, whom I have to thank for 

 his kind assistance, and for what I was able to see of orange culture during 

 my brief visit. Sefior Romaguera drove me, in a galera, a sort of four- 

 wheeled tartana, to see one of the best orchards in the neighbourhood, that 

 of Don Jose Rausell, situated a mile or so from the town. This orchard 

 covers 500 hanegadas, or about 83 acres, under citrus fruits, chiefly oranges. 

 The whole of it is irrigated, a small portion situated at a higher level 

 than the district channels being supplied by a special pumping plant draw- 

 ing its water from these. From three to four waterings are usually given 

 per annum, the water being applied by flooding The land is carefully 

 graded and supplied from massive .stone channels. 



Several different oranges, including a fine " blood " variety, were 

 grown, as well as a good many lemons, but more numerous than any other 

 was the ordinary Valencia, almost oval in shape, known locally as the 



