TO May, 1909.] Caialuna. 329 



stitution in the stiff primary soils I have already referred to, and which 

 I expected to find about here. Gerona is the capital of the province of 

 the same name and Figueras, also in the same province, is situated 25 

 miles further north and only a dozen miles from the French frontier. 



Figueras is in the centre of a rich agricultural district, known as the 

 Ampurdan — an alluvial plain surrounded on three sides by steep hills, the 

 lower slopes of which constitute undulating land admirably suited fox the 

 cultivation of the vine. Figueras is picturesquely situated with the 

 Mediterranean and the Bahia de Ro^sas on one side, and Canizcu, one of 



ALOES AS FODDER. FIGUERAS. 



the snow-capped giants of the Pyrenees away to the north-west. The olive 

 is also much cultivated in the neighbourhood, but the algarrobo is no longer 

 to be seen. I was told that it is here too cold for it. Further inland are 

 immense forests of cork oak. Maize is largely grown in the Ampurdan; 

 it appears to be the principal crop in the richer land. 



I presented a letter of introduction to Don Antonio Subias Gonzalvo, 

 by whom I was most kindly received and who took me for a long walk to 

 show me what was to be seen of most interest from a viticultural point of 

 view. I came across what w'as to me a new fodder plant. The season 

 had been a very dry one and hay being scarce and dear, anything that could 

 serve as a substitute w^as turned to account, even the aloe hedges (Agave 

 Americana) were used for fodder. The large fleshy leaves, after removal 

 of their thorny edge, were chopped up and fed to cattle. So far as I 

 could gather no ill effects followed the consumption of this strange diet. 

 The photograph shows some aloes from which the large leaves had been 

 removed for this purpose. 



So far as my quest for stiff Primary soils was concerned, my visit to 

 Figueras was a disappointment. Its vineyards are situated on Secondary 

 and Tertiary hillsides. It was to Llansa, still further north, that I would 

 have to go to find what I was looking for. Don Antonio very kindly gave 

 me a letter to a friend who owned vineyards at this place, and I decided 

 to visit him the following day. 



