no April, 1909.] 



Cataluha. 



26c 



Mora la Xueva, when one enters the Priorato district. Argentera is the 

 chief centre of this culture. In appearance the tree is ver\ like the 

 ordinary filbert ; the special Barcelona variety seems to thrive in much 

 drier situations. Several different sub-varieties are cultivated, the most 

 highly esteemed of which is that known as Negreita which is said to be 

 very prolific and to require little moisture in the soil. Some plants of 

 this variety have been introduced by the Department of Agriculture anrl 

 are now growing at the Burnley School of Horticulture. 



The production of Barcelona nuts was highly profitable last season : 

 the demand was brisk and at the time of my visit all stocks had been 

 cleared at satisfactory prices ; 40 sacks of 58 kilos each are obtained 

 from an hectare, eguivalent in English measures to 2,041 lbs. per acre. 



Algarrobos (Carob trees) are a familiar feature in southern Cata- 

 lufia. though north of Barcelona the climate seems to be too cold for 

 them. South of Tarragona, large areas of dry stony land are rendered 

 profitable bv fill' inlli\ation of this tree. 



NORIA (moorish WATER LIFT) AT VILLAFRANCA, 



The Garbanza or Chick Pea {Ciccr anctinum) is a typically Spanish 

 product which is grown in Catalufia though less extensively than in some 

 other parts of Spain, It was here, however, that I was able to learn 

 something about its culture. The Garljanza is a very important article 

 of human food in Spain. It is sold in the dry state and soaked in 

 water for a few hours before cooking. Garljanzas enter largely into 

 the composition of the Cocido — a form of stew which is the basis of the 

 food of the people. For this purpose they are as necessary to a 

 Spaniard as potatoes are to an Irishman. 



At the Government experimental farm near Barcelona, I was able 

 to obtain some information as to the culture of this plant, which may prove 

 a valuable introduction to Victoria. It is sown about tlie first week 

 in January, in this part of Spain, in drills i foot apart, at intervals 

 of 10 inches. The Garbanza is a peculiar crop, only doing well in 

 certain localities; in manv places it fails owing to a fungus disea.se 



