BULGARIA 



BULGARIA 



is a lowland region which slopes to the Aegean 

 Sea. 



Differences in climate are as well marked as 

 those in surface. 

 The territory 

 north of the Bal- 

 kans is colder 

 than that of the 

 south, as the Bal- 

 kan Mountains 

 protect the latter 

 from the north 

 winds. Forests of 

 oak, pine and LOCATION MAP 



beech grow on the northern slopes of the 

 mountains, which are also known to be rich 

 in minerals. South of the mountains a fine, 

 temperate climate is found, but only in the 

 extreme south, in the Aegean coast land, is 

 there such a climate as, for instance, prevails 

 in Italy. Bulgaria lies in about the same 

 latitude as the middle regions of Italy, but 

 much of it is shut off by the mountains from 

 the warm, moist Mediterranean winds. 



The country in late years has witnessed a 

 steady development of the mining industry. 

 Between 1892 and 1915 over 2,200 permits for 

 mine-prospecting were granted by the govern- 

 ment. Three coal mines, two copper mines, 

 one lead and one zinc mine were in operation 

 in 1916. Agriculture, however, is the chief in- 

 dustry, almost three-fourths of the population 

 maintaining themselves by it. Modern farming 

 implements have taken the place of crude 

 wooden plows, and reaping, threshing and win- 

 nowing are now performed with the aid of 

 efficient machines instead of by hand. The 

 land in Bulgaria belongs to the farmers and 

 not to the government; there are no large land 

 proprietors, and out of nearly 934,000 farms, 

 905,965 have less than fifty acres each. 



By far the most important crops are the 

 grains, which are grown in quantities large 

 enough for export. Potatoes are also grown 

 extensively, and in Eastern Rumelia rice and 

 cotton flourish. Tobacco-raising, the produc- 

 tion of cocoons for silk, and apiculture (bee- 

 raising) are also important. The most inter- 

 esting industry to a visitor is the raising of 

 roses for the perfume "attar of roses." In the 

 southern valleys of the Balkans roses grow 

 everywhere in profusion, scenting the air long 

 before the traveler comes close enough to see 

 them. Great quantities of them are needed, 

 for it takes over 6,000 pounds of rose leaves to 

 make one pound of attar, and Bulgaria pro- 



duces 9,000 pounds of attar annually. See 

 ATTAR OF ROSES. 



Transportation and Trade. Had Bulgaria 

 been off the direct line of trans-European 

 travel, it might have remained obscure and 

 unimportant; however, the shortest route from 

 Western Europe to Asia lies through its terri- 

 tory. Branch roads run from this, but it is 

 not on these or on the main line that Bulgaria 

 depends for transporting its products. A large 

 part of its exports go by way of the Danube, 

 and much of the foreign trade is with Austria- 

 Hungary and Germany. 



Cereals make up over two-thirds of the ex- 

 ports, but attar of roses, fruits and animal 

 products are also exported, while the chief 

 imports are textiles, metal goods, petroleum 

 and coal. Although the bulk of the population 

 is busy with agriculture, the Bulgarians have 

 shown themselves proficient also in commerce 

 and trade, as is proven by the many and 

 various commercial and industrial enterprises 

 and the number of its banks. 



The People and Their Condition. Bulgarians 

 constitute about three-fourths of the popula- 

 tion of the country, and the second race in 

 point of numbers is the Turkish, of which 

 there are about 466,000. The native Bulgarians 



OTHER COMPARATIVE AREAS 

 Pennsylvania is slightly larger, with 44,832 

 square miles, while Bulgaria has 43,310. 



are not a quick, brilliant race, but they are 

 determined and are willing to work very hard 

 for anything that seems to them desirable. 

 One of the things which has seemed most desir- 

 able to them is education. Even while the 

 Turks were crushing them, schools were main- 

 tained, and with freedom these increased and 

 improved rapidly. Primary education is free 

 and compulsory, and there are normal schools 

 and colleges of excellent grade, commercial, 

 industrial and trade schools and a number of 

 agricultural schools, including stations where 

 practical instruction in agriculture is given. 



