"347* 



cultivated it ; ami lie considered the speculations of Lahat and 

 Lafitnu, on the supposed American origin of the^ cane, as very 

 inconclusive. 



The author's remarks on the Spanish cultivation of the cane 

 were the results of his personal observations during' a residence 

 of some months in Spain in the year 1814, and of some statistical 

 information afforded to him by the late VVm. Kirkpatrick, Esq. of 

 Malaga. The sugar-cane culture was introduced by the Moors, 

 .soon after their conquest of Spain, and flourished exceedingly 

 even after the overthrow of their empire in the Peninsula. Its 

 first serious check was from the cruel and impolitic expulsion of 

 the Moriscoes in 1609; its second, from the enormous extension 

 of sugar plantations in the West Indies and South America. Yet, 

 notwithstanding the capricious oppressions of a tyrannical go- 

 vernment, it has subsisted to the present time as a considerable 

 branch of Spanish agriculture, with periodic fluctuations in its 

 prosperity, for two hundred years since the expulsion of the most 

 industrious inhabitants of Spain. 



He described the district producing sugar, at the period of his 

 visit, as extending along the shores of the Mediterranean, from 

 Adra to Man'dha, a distance of 130 miles. The breadth of this 

 track, however, is small — not more, on an average, than four or 

 five miles, being hemmed in on the west and north by the rugged 

 mountains of Andalusia. These ranges screen it from the west 

 and north winds ; but as the most lofty are crowned with peren- 

 nial snow, occasional frosts are injurious to the sugar planter. 

 The general climate of Andalusia was shewn by Dr T. to be re- 

 markably mild throughout the year ; as is proved by the luxuriant 

 growth of Chamcerops humilis. Cactus Opuntia, Af/ave Americana, 

 the orange and the lemon, and the date-palm, in Southern Anda- 

 lusia. 



Along the track in question there are many sugar plantations, 

 and a considerable number of sugar-mills, moved either by water 

 or by mules. Most of the plantations are small ; but one estate 

 made 4600 loaves of white sugar annually, each of the value of ten 

 dollars. Most of the Spanish sugar, however, was either Musco- 

 vado or clayed sugar. The statistical remarks shewed that a 

 well-managed estate, near Marbella, returned in the worst years 

 7 per cent, on the capital employed, in middling years 11 per 

 cent., and in good years from 16 to 20 per cent., after deducting- 

 all charges. 



