Book I. AGRICULTURE IN SPAIN AND PORTUGAL. 115 



ful to tl.em, that they raise the brightest and firmest wheat of any in Christendom." 

 (Essays, i.) 



715. A general spirit for improvement seems to have sprung up in Spain with the nine- 

 teenth century, though checked for a while by the wars against Bonaparte; subsequently 

 retarded by internal discords; and again by the cruel interference of the French in 1823. 

 In the midst of these troubles, economical societies have been established at Madrid, Valen- 

 cia, and Saragossa. That of the latter place is connected with a charitable bank in favour 

 of distressed farmers. Money is advanced to defray the expenses of harvest, and two years 

 allowed for returning it. It commenced its operations in June 180i, and then dis- 

 tributed 458/. 2s. to one hundred and ten husbandmen. In the August following 

 it had furnished sixty-two horses to as many indigent farmers. The Patriotic Society 

 of Madrid distinguished itself by a memoir on the advancement of agriculture, 

 and on agrarian laws, addressed to the supreme council of Castile, in 1S12. It 

 was drawn up by a distinguished member, Don G. M. Jovellanos, who recommends the 

 enclosure of lands, the enactment of laws favourable to agriculturists, the prevention of the 

 accumulation of landed property in mortmain tenure ; exposes the noxious state of the 

 estates of the clergy, of various taxes on agricultural productions, and of restrictions on 

 trade and the export of corn. His whole work breathes the most liberal, enlightened, 

 and benevolent spirit, and was in consequence so offensive to the clergy, that they pro- 

 cured his condemnation by the inquisition. (Ed. Rev- ; Jacob's Travels ) 



716. The climate of Spain is considered by many as superior to that of any country in 

 Europe. It is every where dry, and though the heat in some provinces is very great in 

 the day, it is tempered during the night by breezes from the sea, or from the ridges of 

 high mountains which intersect the country in various directions. In some provinces 

 the heat has been considered insalubrious, but this is owing to the undrained marshes, 

 from which malignant effluvia are exhaled. The mean temperature of the elevated 

 plains of Spain is 59°; that of the coasts, from 41° to 36° of latitude, is between 

 63^° and b8 u , and is therefore suitable for the sugar-cane, coffee, banana, and all plants 

 of the West India agriculture, not even excepting the pine-apple. The latter is cultivated 

 in the open air in some gardens in Valencia and at Malaga. 



717. The surface of Spain is more irregular and varied by mountains, than that 

 either of France or Germany. These intersect the country at various distances from 

 east to west, and are separated by valleys or plains. The strata of the mountains are 

 chiefly granitic or calcareous ; but many are argillaceous, some silicious, and Mont- 

 serrat, near Cordova, is a mass of rock salt. A remarkable feature in the surface of 

 Spain is the height of some of its plains above the level of the sea. According to 

 Humboldt, the plain of Madrid is the highest plain in Europe that occupies any 

 extent of country. It is 3098 fathoms above the level of the ocean, which is fifteen 

 times higher than Paris. This circumstance both affects the climate of that part of the 

 country, and its susceptibility of being improved by canal or river navigation. The rivers 

 and streams of Spain are numerous, and the marshes not very common. Forests, or 

 rather forest-wastes, downs, and Merino sheep-walks are numerous, and, with o.her un- 

 cultivated tracts and heaths, are said to amount to two-thirds of the surface of the 

 country. Some tracts are well cultivated in the vine districts, as about Malaga ; 

 and others in the corn countries, as about Oviedo. The resemblance between the 

 Asturias and many parts of England is very striking. The same is the aspect of the 

 country, as to verdure, enclosures, live hedges, hedge-rows, and woods ; the same 

 mixture of woodlands, arable, and rich pasture ; the same kind of trees and crops, and 

 fruit, and cattle. Both suffer by humidity in winter, yet, from the same source, find 

 an ample recompense in summer ; and both enjoy a temperate climate, yet, with this 

 difference, that as to humidity and heat, the scale preponderates on the side of the 

 Asturias. In sheltered spots, and not far distant from the sea, they have olives, vines, 

 and oranges. (Townsend's Spain, i. 318.) 



718. The soil of Spain is in general light, and either sandy or calcareous, reposing on 

 beds of gypsum or granite. The poorest soil is a ferrugineous sand on sandstone rock, 

 only to be rendered of any value by irrigation. The marshes, and also the best meadow 

 soils, are along the rivers. 



719. The landed property of Spain till the late revolution was similarly circumstanced 

 to that of France and Germany ; that is, in the possession of the crown, great nobles, 

 and religious and civil corporations. Tithes were more rigidly exacted by the clergy 

 of Spain, than by those of any other country of Europe (Jacob's Travels, 99-), and a 

 composition in lieu of tithes was unknown in most provinces. Great part of the 

 lands of the religious corporations are now sold, and a new class of proprietors are ori- 

 ginating, as in France. Some of these estates are of immense extent. The monks of 

 Saint Hieronymo told Jacob that they could travel twenty-four miles fiom Seville on 

 their own property, which is rich in corn, oil, and wine. Such was the corruption 

 of this convent, that, notwithstanding all their riches, they were deeply in debt. Lands 



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