264 Journal of Agriculture. [10 April, 1909. 



it evtntually absorbed the others. This count\ \aried greatly in si/e. 

 In Charlemagne's time its boundaries were mucli as they are at present,, 

 but sometimes it cinbraced tlie Roussillon, at one period extending even- 

 as far as Montpellier. In 1137 Raimond-Berenger, Count of Bar- 

 celona, a French subject, became King of Aragon and it was about this 

 lime that tlie name of Cataluiia came into general use. It is said to 

 be a corruption of Gothalania, a reference, no doubt, to the early Gothic 

 occupation. Raimond's son, Alfonso II., succeeded in freeing himself 

 from France in 1182 and henceforth Cataluiia formed part of the 

 Kingdom of Aragon; not without occasional revolts though, for on 

 several occasions it succeeded, for a time, in throwing off the Spanish- 

 yoke. Revolting against Philip IV. in 1641. it became French once 

 more for a period of eighteen years after which it reverted to Spain. 

 On several other occasions it was for a short time French, the longest 

 being from 1694 to 1697. 



Such is a brief historical sketch of these descendents of the Visigoths. 

 who e\-en at the present day constitute a distinct race, remarkable for 

 its industry, energv and business capacity. Personally, I found the 

 Catalans I met to be charming people, perhaps a little more brusque in 

 manner than the true Spaniard; in many w^ays verv similar to their 

 .southern French neighbours from across the Pvrenees. 



ACRICUI^TURE IN CaTATUXA. 



Agriculture generally, and viticulture in particular, have attained a 

 high stage of perfection in the region. Wherever water is available, 

 irrigation is practised and we lind Huertas reminding one of that of 

 Valencia, though on a .smaller scale, for the extent of irrigable land is 

 not nearly so considerable as in the Le\ante. In these Huertas one 

 finds the same intense culture and diversitx of crops that has already 

 been (le.scribeil. The Huerta del Llobregat, quite near Barcelona, is- 

 one of these. 'Here the land is worth smcral hundred pounds per acre- 

 and is leased up to ^"10 per acre exclusive of house rent. 



Where underground water is available, at a small depth, it is in- 

 variably utilized, the raising of it being effected bv Norias of similar 

 construction to those used by the Moors several centuries ago. A photo- 

 graph of one of these at Villafranca del Panades is here reproduced. 

 This shows the horse (or rather mule) works, wooden cog wheels, and lift 

 with earthenware buckets tied to an endless rope. 



It is, however, cultures of the Sccano or unirrigable t)pe which are 

 of most importance, chiefly vines, olives, cereals and se\eral other less 

 usual crops, some of which may be briefly described. 



The Cork Oak occupies a \ery considerable area, mostlv of p(K)r 

 land unsuitable for other crops. Cataluiia is one of the principal cork 

 districts of Spain and at present prices the results of this form of 

 forestrv (it can scarcely be classed as agriculture) are very profitable. 

 It is astonishing that we have so persistently neglected this tree, which 

 will thrive so well in Victoria and which demands no labour except at 

 the time of harvesting the cork crop. The value of acorns as pig food 

 should not be lost sight of. 



The AvELLANO OR Barcelona Nut {Corylus avellaiia). Large 

 orchards planted exclusi\elv with this sni;ill tree are to be .seen on the- 

 train journex from Zarago/a to Barcelona, after passing the Fbro at 



