6 



the first half of the nineteenth century important vine 

 yards were planted especially in the neighbourhood of 

 Rabat and Notabile, at Imriehel, at " ta Bria " near 

 Siggieui etc., but a fresh impulse to cotton growing was 

 created by the shortage of cotton during the American 

 war of Secession, and the vineyards were destroyed once 

 more, and the number of olive groves was still further 

 reduced. The production of olive oil and of wine had 

 ceased altogether in the beginning of the nineteenth 

 century, the produce of the remaining olive trees being 

 consumed pickled or salted, and only a few table grapes 

 were henceforth planted, although the manufacture of 

 wine in small quantities was again resumed about the 

 middle of the nineteenth century to be discontinued soon 

 after when the vines were removed again to make room 

 for cotton. 



In the nineteenth century the cultivation of the 

 carob tree was extended on rocky and shallow soils 

 all over the Island ; the hill sides around Gargur, 

 Naxaro, Birchircara, Maghtab, St. Julians, Halluka, 

 Zabbar, Krendi, Rabat, Siggieui etc., became clad with 

 the dark glossy foliage of this evergreen tree, but 

 unfortunately the high cost of fuel during the Great 

 War 1914-18 and afterwards, induced many owners to 

 fell their carob trees, until the Government stepped 

 in and by Government Notice No. 378 of the 22nd 

 November, 1917, put an end to this ruinous practice, 

 but many carob trees had been felled in the meantime, 

 and some olive-trees, almond-trees etc., were also 

 sacrificed. 



The cultivation of Citrus trees, particularly of the 

 orange, in enclosed or walled-in groves began to assume 

 importance early in the eighteenth century when many 

 groves were planted at Lia, Balzan, Attard, Siggieui, 

 Zebbug, Curmi, and wherever it was possible to make 

 provision for the storage of water required for irrigation. 

 The cultivation of the orange continued in favour until 



