Book 



AGRICULTURE IN ASIA. 



139 



Iiowever, is during this period excessive in the low countries bordering on the Indian 

 Ocean and Persian Gulf, in Chusistan, the deserts of Kerman, and also in some parts of 

 the interior, particularly at Tehraun, the capital. From September to November the winds 

 again prevail. In the centre and south the air is generally dry ; thunder and lightning 

 are uncommon, and a rainbow is seldom seen ; earthquakes are almost unknown ; but 

 heat is often destructive in the spring. Near the Persian Gulf the hot wind, called 

 " samiel," sometimes suffocates the unwary traveller. The summers are, in general, 

 very mild, after ascending the mountains. To the north of Shiraz the winters are severe, 

 insomuch that, in the vicinity of Tehraun and Tabreez, all communication is cut off for 

 several successive weeks between these cities and the adjoining villages. The climate, 

 notwithstanding this sudden transition from heat to cold, is singularly healthy, with the 

 exception of the provinces of Ghilan, and Mazanderam. The air is dry ; the dews not 

 insalubrious. The atmosphere is always clear, and at night the planets shine with a 

 degree of lustre unknown in Europe ; and as it seldom rains, here are none of those 

 damps or pestiferous exhalations so common in the woody parts of Hindustan. 



864. The surface of Persia is distinguished by a deficiency of rivers and a multitude 

 of mountains ; its plains, where they occur, are generally desert. So that Persia may be 

 divided into two parts by deserts and mountains ; and this division, it is said, has generally 

 influenced its history and destinies in all ages. It is every where open, and no where 

 presents a thriving populous appearance. Even the cities and their environs have some- 

 thing of desolation and decay in their aspect, and many of them are actually ruined or 

 neglected, of which Buschire and its territory {Jig. 106.) is an example. The most fer- 

 tile and thriving provinces are those on the north. 



865. The soil may be regarded as unfertile, and, according to Chardin, not more than 

 one tenth part was cultivated in his time. The mountains of this country, which are for 

 the most part rocky, without wood or plants, are interspersed with valleys, some of which 

 are stony and sandy, and some consisting of a hard dry clay, which requires continual 

 watering ; and hence the Persian cultivator is much employed in irrigation. In general 

 the soil of Persia is light and sandy in the south and east ; hard and gravelly in the west, 

 and rich and loamy on the borders of the Caspian Sea. 



866. The landed property of Persia, like that of other despotic countries, is considered 

 as wholly the property of the sovereign ; and held by the proprietors and occupiers on 

 certain conditions of military service, and supplies of men and provisions in time of war. 



867. The agricultural products of Persia are as various as the climate and soils. The 

 wheat is excellent, and is the common grain used in bread-making. Rice, which is in 

 more universal use, is produced in great perfection in the northern provinces, which are 

 well watered. Barley and millet are sown, but oats are little cultivated : in Armenia 

 there is some rye. The vine is generally cultivated ; but in the north-west countries they 

 are obliged to bury the shoots to protect them from the frost. The silkworm is culti- 

 vated in most parts of the country ; cotton and indigo are also grown ; and no country in 

 the world equals Persia in the number and excellence of its fruits. 



868. The date tree is grown in plantations in the proportion of fifty females to two 

 males. The natives begin to impregnate the females with the blossoms of the male in 

 March and April, alleging that their proximity is not suflScient to insure the produce of 

 fruit : this practice has been cai'ried on among them from the earliest ages. {Scot Waring s 

 Persia, chap, xxix.) 



869. The most esteemed of the cultivated fruits of Europe are indigenous in Persia, and 

 have probably been hence diffused over the western world. These are the fig, the pome- 

 granate, the mulberry, the almond, peach, and apricot. Orange trees of an enormous 

 size are found in the sheltered recesses of the mountains, and the deep warm sand 

 on the shore of the Caspian is peculiarly favourable to the culture of the citron and the 

 leguminous fruits. Apples, pears, cherries, walnuts, melons, besides the fruits already 

 mentioned, are every where to be procured at very low prices ; the quinces of IspaJjan are 



