120 



HISTORY OF AGRICULTURE. 



r^HT I. 



SuBSEcr. 1. Present Slate of Agriculture in European Turkey. 



729. The Turkish empire inchules a variety of climates and countries, of most of which 

 so little is correctly known, that we can give so satisfactory account of their agriculture. 

 Asiatic Turkey is nearly three times the extent of the European part ; but the latter is 

 better cultivated and more populous. European Turkey, Thornton observes, depends 

 upon no foreign country for its subsistence. The labor of its inhabitants produces in 

 an abundance unequalled in the other countries of Europe, all the alimentary productions, 

 animal and vegetable, whether for use or enjoyment. The corn countries, in spite of the 

 impolitic restrictions of the government, besides pouring plenty over the empire, secretly 

 export their superfluities to foreign countries. Their agriculture, therefore, though 

 neglected and discouraged, is still above their wants." {Present State of Turkey, vol. i. 66.) 



730. The climate and seasons of European Turkey vary with the latitude and local cir- 

 cumstances of the different provinces from the Morea, in lat. 37 \ and surrounded by 

 the Mediterranean sea, to Moldavia, between Hungary and Russia, in lat. 48. The 

 surface is generally mountainous, with plains and vales ; some rivers, as the Danube 

 in Wallachia, and numerous gulfs, bays, estuaries, and inlets of the Adriatic, the 



^ Archipelago, Mediterranean, and Black Seas. The soil is in general fertile, alluvial in 

 some of the richest plains of Greece, as Thessaly ; and calcareous in many parts of Wal- 

 lachia and Moldavia. These provinces produce excellent wheat and rich pasture ; while 

 those of the south produce maize, wheat, and rice. The vine is cultivated in most 

 provinces ; and there are extensive forests, especially in the north. The live stock is the 

 horse, ox, camel, sheep, and swine. 



731. Some traits of the agriculture of the Morea , the southernmost province of European 

 Turkey, has been given by Dr. Pouqueville. The climate holds the exact medium 

 between the scorching heat of Egypt and the cold of more northern countries. The 

 winter is short, but stormy ; and the summer is hot, but tempered by breezes from the 

 mountains or the sea. The soil of the mountains is argillaceous ; in some places in- 

 clining to marl, and in others to peat or vegetable earth : the richest parts are Arcadia 

 and Argos. The plough consists of a share, a beam, and a handle, (fg. 103.) ; the 

 share is shaped somewhat like the claw of an anchor, and the edges armed with iron. 

 In some cases it has two wheels. It is drawn by ^^^.^^^^^ 103 

 one horse, two asses, or by oxen or buffaloes, ^^^^^ 

 according to the nature of the soil. The corn 

 grown is of excellent quality, though no at- 

 tention is paid to selecting the seed. The rice 

 of Argolis is held at Constantinople the next in 

 excellence to that of Damietta. The vine is 

 successfully cultivated ; but at Corinth, " situated in a most unwholesome atmosphere," 

 the culture of that sort which produces the raisins of Corinth is less attended to than 

 formerly. The olive-trees (Olea Europtea, fig. 104.) are the .q. 

 finest in the world ; the oil of Maina is the best, and held in 

 esteem at all the principal markets of Europe. The white 

 mulberry is extensively cultivated for the support of the silk- 

 worm. Ellis yields the best silk. The cotton is cultivated in 

 fields, which are commonly divided by hedges of Nepal or | 

 Indian fig, which is eaten, but is here more vapid than in Egypt. 



732. The figs of the Morea " are perhaps the most exquisite 

 that can be eaten. " The tree is cultivated with particular care, 

 and the practice of caprification adopted. They collect the 

 little figs which have fallen from the trees while very young, and 

 which contain numbers of the eggs of the gnat insect, (Cynips). 

 Of these they make chap lets, which are suspended to the branches 

 of the trees. The gnats are soon hatched, and spread themselves 

 over the whole tree. The females, in order to provide a nidus 

 for their eggs, pierce the fruit with their sting, and then deposit 

 them. From this puncture a gummy liquor oozes ; and after 

 this the figs are not only not liable to fall, but grow larger and 



finer than if they had not undergone this operation. It is doubted by some modem 

 physiologists whether this process is of any real use, it being now neglected in most fig 

 countries where it was formerly performed. Some allege that it is merely useful as fecun- 

 dating the blossoms, which most people are aware are situated inside of the fruit, (fig. 1 05. ) ; 

 others that it promotes precocity, which the puncture of an insect will do in any fruit, 

 and which any one may have observed in the gooseberry, apple, or pear. 



733. The almond-tree is very productive. Tlie orange tribe abound ; and the pomegra- 

 nates, peaches, apricots, grapes, &c. are of the finest flavor. The banana is cultivated 

 in the gardens, as are melons, dates, and many other fruitt;. Carobs (Ceratonia), 



