116 Geography, Geology, and Vegetation of Sicily. 
Feet Feet 
St. Martino, Convent - 1659 Citadel of Cocalus at Girgenti 1240 
Mola Village, above Taormina 1585 Parco monastery - 1115 
Highest of the Gibel manna Mount Calogero at Sciacca —- 1035 
hills - - 1519 Ancient Theatre at Taormina 847 
Moorish Castle at Taormina 1305 Bocca di Falco, near Palermo 430 
The principal vegetable exports from Sicily are 
p p s i 
Almonds Cork Limes Oil Squills 
Barilla Cotton Linseed Olives Sumach 
Brandy Figs Linseed oil Oranges Timber 
Canary seed Flax Liquorice Pistachio nuts Tobacco 
Capers Fruit Lupines Pulse Wheat 
Caroub pods Hemp Maccaroni Raisins Wines 
Chestnuts Lemons Madder roots Rice 
Citrons Lemon juice Manna Soda : 
The soil of Sicily is for the most part remarkably rich and 
fertile, and consists of a great variety of earths, and is often of 
great depth: but agriculture is unfortunately in a very pri- 
mitive state, and, therefore, it is difficult to conjecture what 
the produce might be, if a good system were enforced. At 
present, ‘the usual process,” as Capt. Smyth observes (p. 11, 
12.), ‘after clearing away the stones from the ground, is, to 
commence with sowing wheat, of which the best kinds are the 
Farro (Triticum Spelta), and the Majorca (Triticum hybér- 
num). The crop of wheat is succeeded by hemp, maize, 
lentils, or other pulse; and, in the ensuing seasons, generally 
by barley and beans, followed by mixed esculents and a 
fallow. ‘The harvest begins in the latter end of June *, and 
continues through July and August; nor are there two suc- 
cessive crops of any one thing i in the year, except what are 
forced in such grounds as are artificially irrigated, called 
Ortaggi. Indeed, in many parts, from the scarcity of manure, 
the peasants are reduced to the necessity of leaving their fields 
fallow every other season. It is customary to sow a salm of 
wheat (20 Eng. bushels) on a salm of land (53 Eng. acres), 
but the quantity of seed is lessened in proportion as the soil is 
more fertile. ‘The usual produce is from 10 to 16 salms, and, 
in the most favourable years, 28 for 1; but no part of Sicily 
can pretend to the once boasted hundred fold, which I am in- 
clined to receive as a poetical metaphor.” 
I am, Sir, yours, &c. 
Joun Hoee. 
* J. H. arrived in Catania, May 25. 1826; some wheat had then been cut, 
and most of it was ripe: but when he had reached Palermo, June 10., the whole 
of the corn harvest was nearly finished. 
