BARILLA. 263 



stronger salt. It rises only about two inches from 

 the ground, spreading out into little tufts. The 

 sprigs are much flatter and more pulpy than barilla. 

 This is sown but once in three or four years, accord- 

 ing to the nature of the soil. 



Soza, the second of these plants, when of the same 

 size, has exactly the same appearance as gazul ; but 

 at full growth it is much larger. The soil most con- 

 genial to its growth is a strong salt marsh, where 

 it is found in large tufts of sprigs treble the size of 

 barilla, and of a bright green colour, which it retains 

 to the last. 



The salieor is the largest plant of the three, grow- 

 ing upright and resembling a bush of young rose- 

 mary. Its colour is at first deep green, tinged with 

 red, which latter hue becomes by degrees that of the 

 whole plant. Its natural situation is on the declivi- 

 ties of hills, near the salt marshes, or on the edges of 

 the small drains or channels, cut for the purpose of 

 irrigation. 



All these kinds are sometimes promiscuously used 

 for obtaining their soda; but the barilla and the salsola 

 soda are held in the highest estimation. The soda 

 produced at Alicant is considered the best and purest 

 of Spain, and these are the only two plants cultivated 

 there, from which soda is procured in large quanti- 

 ties. Barilla contains less alkali than the others, but 

 it is of a much better quality. It requires a richer 

 soil than the salsola soda, but the manner of its cul- 

 tivation is the same. 



The land having been prepared by manure, and 

 frequent ploughings, is sown at the latter end of the 

 year with barilla. The seeds after being scattered 

 on the ground are barely covered with earth ; a day 

 is chosen for this work, when the weather gives indi- 

 cations of being showery and unsettled, as such wea- 

 ther is most favourable to the early germination of 



