58 IN THE LAND OF THE BORA. 



more or less success, to increase trie prosperity of 

 Zablace. His greatest idea was to recommence 

 the old Venetian salt-producing industry. After 

 almost endless delays and correspondence, the 

 Austrian Government sanctioned the undertaking, 

 provided the salt produced was not sold in Austria 

 nor in any country supplied by Austria, so as not to 

 interfere with the government monopoly. This, of 

 course, was prohibitive. Signor Fontana, how- 

 ever, was not discouraged, but, turning to the next 

 best thing, proceeded to bring the old " saltings" 

 under cultivation. The result of hard work and 

 expensive drainage is that a large tract of useless 

 land is fast becoming productive vineyard. 



Another of his ideas was the improvement of 

 the oil-producing methods. This has been a 

 triumphant success, and the Zablace oil is now the 

 best in Dalmatia. 



The wine also has been much improved. As a 

 rule, however, Dalmatian wine does not appeal 

 greatly to the English palate, being both sweet 

 and fiery. It must be admitted, nevertheless, that 

 it is very inexpensive, good sound wine costing 

 twopence a bottle. These low prices are of recent 

 origin. The admission duty free into Austria of 

 Italian wines has been a sad blow to Dalmatia, and 

 has brought down prices immensely. The best 

 ordinary wine is that made in the island of Lissa. 

 In the Sebenico district there is a celebrated wine 



